LETTER TO MR. S.JEFFERY FROM (Sanitized)

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP84-00933R000300200008-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 15
• Document Creation Date: December 12, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 18, 2001
• Sequence Number: 8
• Publication Date: May 13, 1976
• Content Type: LETTER

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OJCS 976-76
13 MAY 1976
Mr. S
Chief, System and Software Division
National Bureau of Standards
Washington, D. C. 20 234
Eery,
I regret to inform you that CIA is not in a position
to help fund the joint8S/ACtM/sv project to identify
descriptions of tasks and associated skills relevant to
computer systts. analysts. The research funds which we
budget are for projects in areas of unique interest to this
Agency. Tie have traditionally looked to other government
agencies, such as ARP A, -MS and CSC, and professional socio-
tiess and computer user groups, such as AC'4, STIARE aid GUIDE,
to do research on projects of common interest to the federal
government and computer community.
CIA believes the project described in your letter of
aril 9, 1976 is worthwhile, and we would be interested in
the results. Our computer professionals found the results
of a previous project of this type on computer prograaers
very enhighting. Short of providing money, CIA would like
to cooperate with .NIBS in any way we can to bring the project
to a successful conclusion.
Please keep us advised of the progress of this project
and let us know if we can assist with surveys, job descr
STATINTL
Office of Joint Computer Support
Distribution:
Orig & 1 - adse
2 - O/D/OJCS
1 - OJCS Registry
STATINTL O/D/OJCS :kso (13 May 76)
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April 9, 1976
STATINT
Central Intelligence Agency
Headquarters-Building, Room 2E23
Washington, D.C. 20505
STATINTL
IA-RDP84-00933RQp300200008-1
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Bureau of Standards
Washington, D.C. 20234
In her phone conversation with you today, miss Walkowicz summarized
briefly one of the NBS/ACM/NSF "Conferences," or cooperative ventures
which have been continuing over the past several years. This one has
to do with job descriptions for computer-related occupations. A
summary report of that meeting is enclosed, together with a list of
participants.
As so many worthwhile endeavors, this project has continued to operate
on the proverbial shoestring, with participants contributing their
time and effort. The Action Plan that was developed at the Planning
Workshop meeting is being implemented slowly. The Workshop participants'
decided to use a technique developed by one of the participants,
Dr. Raymond Berger, for the description of three computer-related
occupations: programmer, systems analyst, and computer operator. The
technique consists of identifying descriptors of tasks and associated
skills relevant to each occupation. This collection of descriptors,
then, can be combined and assembled to fit the requirements of indi-
vidual jobs in the relevant occupation category.
The programmer job has been completed. However, the systems analyst
job is in need of $25,000 in order to bring it to completion. The
enclosed Proposal gives a more detailed description of progress to
date, and plans for completion of this phase of the effort.
The total cost of the project is estimated at $25,000. AFIPS will
provide $10,000, NBS will provide the technical support required, and
we are looking to other agencies to supply the remaining $15,000.
The monies would be pooled and forwarded to AFIPS for completion
of the project.
I would appreciate your consideration of this request, and will be glad
to supply any additional information you may require. I may be reached
on [phone].
Sincerely,
S. Jeffery; Chief
Systems and Software Division
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7 +, YEARS
NOS
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CONFERENCE ON COMPUTER-RELATED PERSONNEL
Twelve invitees to the Planning Workshop for the above Conference
met at NBS on April 16 and 17, 1974, to study how best to achieve its
objectives. The principal of the assigned objectives was the identi-
fication of basic computer-related occupation categories and the
definition of each in terms of job titles, work content, responsibilities
and skill requirements. Once this basic structure was defined, a frame-
work would be provided for other needs such as the identification of
criteria for development and evaluation of educational and training
facilities, for correlation of these facilities with changing skill
requirements, identification of emerging changes or new occupations
within the basic structure, and identification of forecasting
capabilities and requirements.
After considerable and vigorous discussion of these objectives,
the Planning Workshop decided that the primitives of concern were jobs
and skills, that a set of definitions could be developed, based on an
initial core of skill descriptors which could be correlated with actual
jobs. A certain set of such descriptors common to actual jobs in many
organizations could then be used as standard descriptions for these
jobs. The Planning Workshop then established three Task Groups each
of which was assigned responsibility for developing a set of descriptors/
skills for describing one of the three occupations to which the members
decided to devote first attention: programmers, systems analysts, and
computer operators. Chairmen were appointed and tentative meeting dates
were set. The Task Groups for programmers and operators will meet
concurrently in late May or early June; the Task Group for Systems
Analysts is tentatively planning to meet in September 1974. The Groups
will meet at locations that will minimize travel for participants.
Mr. J. David Benenati of The Bendix Corporation, Southfield, Michigan,
agreed to serve as Chairman of the Task Group for Operators; and
Dr.. Raymond Berger, President of Psychometrics, Inc., Los Angeles,
will be Chairman of the other two Task Groups.
The Task Group meetings comprise Step I of the Action Plan developed
for achieving Conference objectives. Three other Steps complete the
Plan:
Step II - Disseminate material developed by the Task Groups
for critique and assessment of impact
Step III - Reconvene Planning Workshop for review of results
of Steps I and II
Step IV - Decide on Follow i.-tion Plan
Activity under Step I is pr .!eding slowly. To date, the programmer
occupation was completed; the job descriptors developed are presented in an
AFIPS Report entitled, "Computer Programmer Job Analysis. Reference Text,"
by Raymond Al. Berger. Analysis of the systems analyst occupation is
nearing completion. The Task Group on Computer Operators met once and
developed a plan for proceeding with their assignment. However, because
of budgetary and other constraints, considerable additional effort is
still required on this occupation.
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 NBS/ACM Planning Workshop
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April 16-17, 1974
Mr. J. David Benen?ati ~?
The Bendix Corporation
Bendix Center
Southfield, Michigan 48076
(313) 352-5000, ext. 5293
Mr. Robert W. Benton
Assistant Director
Financial & General Management
Studies Division
General Accounting Office
Room 6335, 441 G St., N.W.
Washington, D. C. 20548
.[phone]
Dr. Raymond M. Berger**
President
Psychometrics, Inc.
10889 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 909
Los Angeles, Calif. 90024
.(213) 477-4249
Mr. Walter M. Carlson
IBM Corporation
Armonk, N. Y. 10504
(914) 765-4240
Mr. William R. Collins
Chief,=Management and Social
S eience Occupations Section
Standards Division, Bureau of
Policy and Standards
U.S. Civil Service Commission
Washington, D. C. 20415
(202) 632-5631
Mr. Frank DeVolder
Acting Regional Commissioner, ADTS
General Services Administration
7th and D Sts., S. W.
Washington, D. C. 20407
(202) 963-6138
Dr. Paul S. Herwitz
IBM Corporation
Bldg. 706, Dept. D59
Poughkeepsie, N. Y. 12602'
(914) 463?-2191
Mr. Seymour Jeffery
Chief, Systems & Software Division
Inst. for. Computer Sciences
and Technology
.National Bureau of Standards
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Mr. Edward 0. Lineback , Chairman
Manager, Program Planning
and Control
Boeing Computer Services
Box 24346
Seattle, Wash. 98124
(206) 773-1507
Mr. Paul D. Oyer
Computer Systems Directorate
U.S. Bureau of Census
Washington, D. C. 20233
(202) 763-2698
Mr. Paul M. Pair
Senior Staff Consultant
Education Division
Control Data Corporation
430 N. Michigan Ave.
Chicago, Ill. 60611.
(312) 329-0100
? Dr. Robert W. Rector
AFIPS
210 Summit Ave.
Montvale, N. J. 07645
(201) 391-9810
Mr. Joseph Rooney
Office of Manpower Structure
and Trends
Bureau of Labor. Statistics
Washington, D. C. 20212
(202) 961-2541
Mr. Gilbert Saunders
College of the Redwoods
Eureka, Calif. 95501
(707) 443-8411
Mr. Norman Seltzer
Division of Science Resource
Studies
National Science Foundation
Washington, D. C. 20550
(202 ) 282-7720
Miss Josephine L. Walkowicz
Systems & Software Division
Inst. for Computer Sciences
and Technology
National Bureau of Standards
CIA-RD R A0 PI1 QQP30W00@08-10 2 314
[phone]
 Kirkeby Center, 10889 Wilshire Boulevard
I?^s Angeles, Calif. 90024 '213)477-4249
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Proposal
SYSTEMS ANALYST JOB DESCRIPTION PROJECT:
SURVEY OF NATIONAL SAMPLE
Introduction
This proposal concerns the completion of the Systems Analyst
Job Description Project. Attachment A is an outline of the
working model of the project as approved by the AFIPS Exe-
cutive Board. This model follows the procedure used success-
fully in the AFIPS Cor'puter Programmer Job Description.
Much of the work accomplished to date has been facilitated
by the cooperative effort of an NBS review committee. Tasks
4 and 5 in Attachment A are the focus of this proposal.
The proposal is divided into two sections: Work Accom-
plished, Work in Progress, and Plans for Completion (the
national survey of systems analysts). A cost estimate is
attached.
Work Accomplished.
Two major tasks were undertaken in the preliminary phases
of this project. The first was to develop a taxonomy for
the cateclorization of systems analysis (SA) tasks and
skills, and the second was to develop a general list of SA
task and skill statements and an appropriate Background
Data Form. .
As part of the effort to accomplish these goals, meetings
were held with a California review committee in Los Angeles
and with the National Bureau of Standards SA Job Descrip-
tion Committee in Washington, D.C. In attempting to re-
solve the differing philosophies and approaches on the SA
job structure, the taxonomy underwent continuous modifica-
tion. A "life-cycle" taxonomy received general favor, but
in applying, this kind of categorization it was found by
the NBS committee that the life-cycle structure did not al-
ways fit the various tasks and skills.
A second problem became apparent with the list of general
SA tasks that had been developed. Systems analysts who
were business applications oriented. found (in a pilot study)
that much of the task list was more applicable to scienti-
fic or military systems than to their particular systems
area.
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As a result of these difficulties with taxonomy and task
orientation, it was decided that a second list should be
developed for-systems analysts in business applications,
and that the life cycle approach would influence but not
,rigidly prescribe the categorizing of the tasks.
The principal effort in recent months was the generation of
a business applications SA task list. To avoid the scien-
tific and military systems bias of the first list, it was
decided to start from scratch in developing the new list.
The sequence of work events below resulted in a list of
such merit that the original scientific list was revised
along the same lines.
(1) A review was made of the literature dealing with
the business SA job and a preliminary list of
task statements was derived.
(2) A committee was formed with Harold Ellis of the
L.A. DWP and UCLA, Douglas Meecham of Hughes, Dr.
Norman Willmorth of SDC, and Dr. Ray Berger. Six
day-.long working sessions and several night ses-
sions were held from March to just prior to the
NCC meetings in May. Using the preliminary list
as a starting point, the committee restructured
the taxonomy into a modified life cycle and pro-
duced extensive revisions and additions to the
task list.
(3) The skills list developed in the previous phase
of the project was reviewed by the above commit-
tee to see if it could remain applicable as a
common list to all the-systems analysis applica-
tions (scientific, military systems, business, or
other). It was decided to retain the single
skills list but to amplify and restructure it..
This work was accomplished subsequently by Will-
morth and Berger, and the resulting list was re-
viewed by Elizabeth Alexander of Con Ed in New
York, an NBS committee member. Ms. Alexander
made some useful suggestions that went into a
further revision.
(4) The list of scientific/engineering/military SA
tasks was restructured and augmented to make it
consistent with the form and content of the bu-
siness applications list.
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Work in Progress
The work in progress is concerned primarily with the Delphi
or expert opinion phase of the project. At the May 1975
NCC, systems analysts were asked to participate in the
evaluation of the SA task and skill lists. The greater
proportion of volunteers were involved in the business ap-
plications area, but there were sufficient numbers of re-
spondents to conduct Delphi evaluations for both task
lists, especially when augmented with people recommended
by the NBS committee.
in allowing for vacation schedules it was decided not to
try to conduct the Delphi during the summer. Efforts in
July and August included further refinement of the Scien-
tific/Engineering/Military SA list, and a meeting with some
of the NBS committee on July 15. Josephine Walkowicz of
NBS, Nancy Ayer of the Dept. of Agriculture, Paul Oyer of
the U.S. Census Bureau, and Ray Merger met in Washington,
D.C., to review the SA task and skill lists. The reviews
resulted in some further editing. Additional Delphi parti-
cipants were recommended by the committee.
A "mini-Delphi" was held in Los Angeles with three scienti-
fic/military and three business SA experts to discover
problems that might arise (with respect to wording, redun-
dancy, etc.) in the national Delphi effort. The results of
the mini-Delphi have been incorporated into a major editing
effort of the lists just prior to conducting the national
Delphi evaluation.
The edited lists are to he mailed to the Delphi partici-
pants shortly. The returned evaluations will be tabulated
and the results mailed to the participants along with in-
structions for making second iteration evaluations. The
results of the second iteration will be tabulated and ana-
lyzed. Tasks and skills receiving moderate to high impor-
tance ratings will constitute the "Ideal" Systems Analyst
Job Descriptions in the scientific and business areas.
Proposed Plans for Completion of the
National Survey of Systems Analysts
It is planned to submit essentially the same lists used in
the Delphi phase to a representative national sample of
systems analysts. The importance of a field survey is to
establish what a systems analyst does on the job (as op-
posed to what the Delphi experts believe he should do,
ideally). The AFIPS Computer. Pr.ogranunr_r Job Analysis de-
monstrated the utility of the national survey.
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The steps in conducting the survey will be: (Steps 1, 2
and 3 are parallel activities in terms of time.)
(1) Revision of SA Job Description Lists. The results
of the Delphi evaluation will be used to revise
specific items of the task and skills lists. it
is planned that few substantive changes in the
item content will be made so that Survey and Delphi
results may be directly compared. Generally, these
changes will entail clarification of terms and ad-
dition of examples to individual items. Complex
items may be broken up in cases where some SA's re-
spond positively to one feature of a task defini-
tion, and others respond negatively to another fea-
ture.
The Delphi participants will be asked to recommend
other tasks and skills that,should be on the lists.
These will be added to the Survey lists if general-
ly deemed important.
(2) Preparation of the Survey Booklets. The tasks and
skills lists will be compiled in booklet form with
complete instructions for rating the items. A
mark sense sheet will accompany each booklet so
that the responses can be processed for computer
analysis easily and economically.
Two Survey booklet forms will be prepared: one for
the business applications SA, and the other for the
scientific/engineering and military systems SA.
(3)- Selection of National Sample of SA's. The SA's
will be sampled by using the stratified-random me-
thod. This will be done in two steps:
(a) Organizations with data-processing facili-
ties will be randomly sampled within seve-
ral strata. The stratification will be in
terms of organizations of different sizes,
different applications, and geographic
areas to assure representativeness.
(b) A specified proportion of the SA's in each
organization in the sample will be select-
ed. Variables such as amount of experi-
ence and application area will be factors
in the selection. The target sample size
is 500 to 700 in the two major groups (Bu-
siness and Scientifi.c/Engineering/Military).
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(4) Contacts with Organizations. Contacts will be made
with organizations through the auspices of AFIPS
and NF3S to enlist cooperation for the Survey. Ano-
nymity will be assured to organizations and to in-
dividual participants.
(5) Analysis and Reports. The analysis and reports
will follow the model for the Computer Programmer
Job Analysis and the final report will be format-
ted to be in publishable form. A draft of the re-
port will be prepared for review by appropriate
committees at NBS and AFIPS prior to final editing.
Duration of Project
Sampling, data collection, and analysis of survey results:
5 months
Preparation of report: 3 months
Total estimated duration: 8 months
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OUTLINE OF SYSTEMS ANALYST JOB DESCRIPTION PROJECT
Task J.: Define the taxonomy and scope of systems analysis
activities and skill.
1.1 Prepare categorizational framework of systems
analyst's job.
1.2 Compile relevant tasks and skills for the various
categories.
1.3 Preliminary review and revision of taxonomy and
descriptors by systems analyst managers and sen-
ior systems analysts.
Task 2: Establish job activities
and skills lists.
2.1 Assessment of the preliminary tasks and skills
lists by a panel of individuals actively engaged
in systems analysis work.
2.2 Revise and consolidate the systems analysis task
and skills lists.
Task 3: Conduct evaluation of job activities and skills
`Delphi a proaciz) .
3.:L Arrange for groups o'f recommended systems analy-
sis experts to participate in the Delphi evalua-
tion of the job descriptions.
3.2 Conduct Delphi evaluation of job activities and
skills by panels of business applications and
scientific/engineering systems analysts.
3.3 Analysis of results and revision of lists for
survey in Task 4. 0
Task 4: Conducta survey of a national sample of systems
analysts.
4.1 Prepare survey booklets with lists of job acti-
vities and skills to be rated.
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4.2 Sample systems analysts by using stratified-random
method in which organizations with, computer faci-
lities are randomly sampled.. A proportionate num-
ber of systems analysts from each organization will
be asked to participate anonymously. Target sam-
ple size will be 500 to 700 for each of the two
systems analyst areas. This number will allow re-
liable segmentation into subgroups of interest.
4.3 Data collection and analysis of survey results.
Task 5: Preparation of report to NBS and AFIPS on the systems
analyst fob description project.
5.1 Write draft of the project report.
5.2 Review of draft by NBS and AFIPS committees.
5.3 Editing of revised draft.-
5.4 Preparation of final report. Camera-ready copy
will be submitted to Ni3S and AFIPS for printing.
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Systems Analyst Job Description Project:
Survey Phase
COST ESTIMATE
Professional and Technical
Project Director, R.M. Berger, Ph.D.
46 days @ 200. (includes office facilities,
equipment, and other overhead items)
Consultants (systems analysis experts)
5 days @ 150.
9#200.
Research Associate, 50% time for 8 months 4,000.
@ 12,000. (annual rate)
Data Processor, 100 hours @ 10. per hour 1,000.
Clerical
Typist/clerk, 20% time for 8 months
@ 8,400. (annual rate)
Employee Benefits
1,320.
10% of professional and clerical sal'aries 1,452.
(non-consultant)
Computer Time
Long distance calls to participants, etc.
Supplies and Postage
Printing
Survey booklets and Op Scan Sheets (also 4,500.
includes miscellaneous Xerox duplication)
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COST ESTIMATE (Cont'd)
Two trips, L.A. to East, for project conferences
$ 988.00
with NBS/AFIPS committee:
1. review proposed survey materials
prior to printing
2. review draft of final report
_
Round trip air coach; ground transportation;
hotel accomodations
Total
$25,000.00
Cost to NBS:
15,000.00
Cost to AFIPS:
10,000.00
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