MINUTES OF 12 FEBRUARY 1982 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING: INFORMATION HANDLING

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP83M00914R000700090018-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 19, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 10, 2006
• Sequence Number: 18
• Publication Date: February 23, 1982
• Content Type: MEMO

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EXCOM 82-7004
23 February 1982
MEMORANDUM FOR: Executive Committee Members
FROM: Executive ssis ant to the Executive Director
SUBJECT: Minutes of 12 February 1982 Executive Committee Meeting:
Information Handling i I
1. The Executive Committee met on 12 February 1982 for a progress
report from the Information Handling Systems Architect (IHSA). Mr. McMahon
(ExDir) chaired the session; participants included Messrs. Fitzwater (DDA);
Gates (DDI); Taylor (ADDS&T); George (A Briggs (IG); Lipton (Comptroller);
and Directorate staff representatives.
2. Mr. McMahon noted that he wanted to reach agreement on the acceptability
of the IHSA's proposed goals for planning purposes and on a mechanism for
keeping Executive Committee members apprised of major information handling
developments. Mr. Briggs emphasized the importance of the latter, given the
significant long-range implications and.the difficult issues that needed to be
tackled. (IHSA) then reviewed how the goals had been developed,
noting that their overall thrust points toward a fully automated office
environment for the future. Members generally concurred with the overall goal
of office automation but cautioned that the im lications would have to be
fully aired during subsequent sessions.
3. In response to Mr. Briggs' comment, Mr. McMahon said that the IHSA
should include Community systems in his frame of reference for planning
purposes. He should not, however, hold up Agency planning waiting for
s
ith the Agency'
k
d li
.
up w
n
ity systems woul
specifics regarding how the Commun
bility among Agency information handling centers initially and eventually
between Agency and Community centers. Members expressed concern about the
related costs and whether or not subscribing to the goal of "interoperability"
--
--~estimated the cnsts to be about 25x1
uld limit their options later. F
I I and did not think options wou be limited. 25X1
then highlighted the DDO's security concerns in this area.
(D/ODP) noted the advantages of "commonality" among systems in cases o
emergency. Noting that commonality would not always be sufficient, Mr. Gates
cited examples of systems that DDO should be able to access. Mr. Briggs
suggested that "r asonable interoperability" should provide the flexi-
bility required. I
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7SVI
4. acknowledged that the goals did not deal directly 25x1
with the impac or.au omation on organizational structure or personnel. He
suggested that prototyping would be necessary to ease the transition.
Mr. McMahon said that he was optimistic that the transition would be a smooth
one. Placing the estimated costs represented by the goals in perspective,
said they would represent a 15-30 ercent increase over current 25x1
funding, ~r ich he considers to be inadequate. 25X1
5. In response to Mr. McMahon's request for members' overall views on
the proposed goals, Mr. Gates said that they were going in the right direction
and he was supportive. On behalf of the DDO, noted "reasonably" 25x1
in Goal 1.1 (Interoperation of All Major Centers) had to e thoroughly understood.
He also expressed reservations about Goal 8.3 (Agency-wide Data Base Administra-
tion Capability which he did not think accurately reflected the views of the
working group. then explained that components 25x1
would not lose control o tneir EaTa . A stronger system was believed to
be necessary, however, to pull them all together. Mr. Taylor said that he
generally supported the goals but hoped there would be later opportunities to
debate alternatives for pursuing them before they became cemented into a
plan. Mr. Lipton concurred with Mr. Taylor, adding that he would like to know
more about the "management commitment" required for Goal 2.1 (Office Automation
by 1989). Messrs. Briggs and Fitzwater both supported the goals, noting the
need for the Committee to spend more time on this issue. advised 25x1
that ongoing efforts to develop standardized word processors would ease the
transition-to automated offices. I 25x1
6. Mr. McMahon concluded that the goals were approved for planning
purposes. He then tasked the IHSA with developing an annual review, beginning
next year, of information handling in the Agency for the Executive Committee.
He asked the DDA to provide any staff support required. The review should
take place about January or February and highlight major projects and the
overall direction of the Agency's information handling program. Mr. McMahon
also requested that the DDA complete coordination and publication of the
proposed Headquarters Notice on policies and procedures for managing information
handling systems. He then adjourned the meeting. 0 25X1
cc: O/DCI
O/DDCI
IG
Comptroller
Distribution:
1 each - DDI, DDA, DDO, DDS&T
1 - O/DCI 2 - O/ExDir
1 - O/DDCI
1 - IG
1 - Comptroller
1 - ES via ER
1 - IHSA
EA/EXDIR
(23 February 19821
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sks that you have someone hand-carry
these around as time is getting short.
Thanks,
Pat