GLOBAL SURVEY GROUP

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP84-00022R000200040064-9
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 21, 2000
• Sequence Number: 64
• Publication Date: April 1, 1949
• Content Type: REPORT

} Approved For Release 2000/09/14: CIA-RDP84-00022R000200040064-9
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GLOBAL SURVEY GROUP
The Global Survey Group is the component of ORE responsible
for constant surveillance of the developing situation in its global
aspects transcending specialized regional and functional responsi-
bilities. The essence of the concept is recognition of the need
for a small, select group of broadly experienced and highly qualified
analysts who, being free of administrative functions and of the re-
strictions imposed by a real or functional specialization, can
devote their attention to the perception and appreciation of the
interrelationships and global implications of trends and tendencies
apparent at the regional branch and functional group level.
Within the context of this general concept, the functions of
the Global Survey Group are advisory and consultative, representative,
and productive.
In its advisory and consultative capacity, the Group advises the
Assistant Director and the Current, Staff, and'Basic Intelligence
Groups on all substantive matters, with particular reference to the
global significance and relative importance and priority of develop-
ments in different areas, and is consulted by regional branches and
functional groups with respect to the broader implications of develop-
ments within their several jurisdictions. The Group also advises
the Assistant Director and the Plans and Policy Staff regarding the
efficient functioning of the Office from the point of view of its
wide contacts both within and outside the organization.
Related to the consultative function is the Group's conduct of
a weekly meeting of Branch Chiefs at which current developments are
reviewed and emergent trends discussed. The function of the meeting
is to make each Branch Chief aware of developments in other areas,
to direct his attention toward the implications of these develop-
ments with respect to his. own area, and to give the Chief responsible
for the area concerned the benefit of his colleague's views on
aspects of the matter perhaps not apparent from the local point of
view. The function of member of the Global Survey Grouprresiding
is to lead the discussion in such a way as to accomplish these
purposes and to develop the global implications of the developments
considered.
Members of the Global Survey Group normally represent CIA (ORE)
in attendance on certain high-level policy planning bodies, such as
the National Security Council Staff, which require the participation
of a substantively competent intelligence advisor, but desire to
limit this participation to the regular attendance of a single
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individual. Such a representative must obviously be one familiar
with all situations of current importance in relation to the national
security and specially qualified to discuss their global implica-'
tions rather than a specialist in any particular area or functional
discipline. His responsibilities are two-fold: (a) immediate
participation in the discussion of policy problems, presenting
extemporaneously the available intelligence bearing on the subject;
and (b) the suggestion of contributions which might be made by CIA
in the form of reports and estimates to be prepared by ORE,
consultation as to the precise definition of the problem to be
presented to ORE, initiation of the project within ORE, and either
primary or consultative and monitory participation in the production
of the required estimate.
A similar representative activity based on the global competence
of the Group is the customary designation of'one of its members as
chairman of any joint ad hoc committee established by the several
departmental intelligence agencies and CIA to deal with a particularly;
pressing intelligence problem of global rather than regional or
functional significance.
The participation of the Global Survey Group in the production
of reports and estimates has five aspects: initiation, consultation,
review, monitorship, and primary production.
It is a responsibility of the Group to propose the initiation
of projects as it perceives the need for them as a result of either
its general surveillance of the developing situation or its contacts
with high-level policy planning agencies. Its endeavor is to
anticipate these needs, so far as practicable, in advance of the
receipt of any formal requests for action on short notice. (Ad-
ministrative initiation or projects recommended by the Group is
through the Staff Intelligence Group established to administer staff
intelligence production.)
The Group collaborates with all producing components of ORE
in affording consultation with respect to the preparation of any
report or estimate, with particular reference to implications of the
subject extending beyond the jurisdictional limits of the unit
primarily responsible. This collaboration may include the actual
drafting of appropriate sections of the report.
The Group reviews, for the Staff Intelligence Group, the finished
drafts of all reports and estimates to ensure adequate coverage of
any aspects of the subject having significance beyond the jurisdictional
limits of the unit primarily raponsible.
The Group (or one of its members) is normally designated to
monitor the preparation of reports and estimates which require the
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collaboration of several regional branches and functional groups.
In this case it is the function of the monitor to apportion tasks
among the several participating units with respect to the initial
preparation of material, to supervise their execution of these
tasks, to review and combine the contributions submitted, and to
produce a coordinated and homogeneous draft covering the whole
subject with due proportion and emphasis.
Whenever appropriate (generally with respect to projects under-
taken for the NSC Staff), the Group itself undertakes primary
responsibility for the preparation of reports and estimates. In
this case it may levy upon regional branches and functional groups
for contributions with respect to particular aspects of the subject,
but the Group itself prepares the first draft, which is subsequently
coordinated with other units concerned. A recurring appreciation
prepared on this basis is the "Review of the World Situation as it
Relates to the Security of the United States" produced monthly for
the National Security Council.
From the foregoing it will be seen that the Group is not capable
of hierarchical organization on the basis of a progressive division
and subdivision of responsibilities. On the contrary, each member
is the peer and potential alternate of any other, qualified to
perform any of the tasks indicated, the special function of the
Chief being only tonsure proper coverage of all requirements and
an equitable distribution of the load, on the analogy of the Chief
Justice and his Associates.
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