LETTER TO BRUCE COVILL (SANITIZED)

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP88-00428R000200070060-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: October 20, 2010
• Sequence Number: 60
• Publication Date: December 21, 1984
• Content Type: LETTER

. Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/10/20: CIA-RDP88-00428R000200070060-9
"W1 - Central Intelligence Agency a
OTE 84
Mr. Bruce Covill
Manager of Newspaper Systems
Times Journal Company
6883 Community Drive
Springfield, Virginia 22159
iw
Thank you for agreeing to participate in a panel discussion
on management issues in automation. The Seminar participants
will be senior CIA managers facing the impact of automation.
Your panel will meet in the Chamber of Commerce Building,
4600 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, Virginia, from 1:30 until
4:30 p.m. on 22 January. Our building is near the Ballston
station of the Metro and at the Glebe Road/Fairfax Drive exit of
Route 66.
We ask that each panelist take five to ten minutes to
provide a little background on his/her organization, the history
of automation there, and the personal and organizational impact
it has produced. We are looking for an informal discussion and
hope to stimulate dialogue with the CIA executives. Dr. Lois
Graff, from George Washington University, will act as modern-
tor. If you wish, you may join the Seminar Chairman,
and Dr. Graff for lunch at the Lamplighter Restaurant,
3501 North Fairfax Drive at 11:30 before the session.
In order to focus on the kinds of issues we hope to discuss,
we ask that you consider the following questions:
Personal Issues
How has automation changed the way that you work as a senior
manager? Has it changed the nature of the work, or simply the
tools used?
Have you had any difficulties with micro-management--with an
increased capability for getting into more details? How much of
a temptation is that for you and for the people over and under
you?
STAT
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/10/20: CIA-RDP88-00428R000200070060-9
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/10/20: CIA-RDP88-00428R000200070060-9
w W
Organizational Issues
How-has automation changed your work environment? Has it
been necessary for you to consider changes in organizational
structure due to the advent of automation? How did the need for
change evidence itself? How were the changes planned and
implemented?
Was there a long-range plan for the implementation of the
automat1on? Did you participate in that planning activity? If
so, how? Were "people" issues considered in that planning--
training and education needs, personnel skills requirements?
Was it necessary to make any changes in job descriptions as
a result of automation? Was the size or nature of your work
force changed in any way? How did you handle employee concerns
about automation?
What changes have been made in either organizational
policies or procedures? How were these made?
We have enclosed a Seminar schedule listing the other
panelists plus a brief description of your session. If you have
any questions relatin ?to the substance of the Seminar, please
call ive matters, please
call
We are looking forward to afrank and open discussion pf.the
issues and a very productive Seminar. Again, we thank youtt~or
accepting our invitation.
Sincerely,
Director
of
Training and Education
OTE/EDSI I(21 December 1984)
DISTRIBUTION:
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Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/10/20: CIA-RDP88-00428R000200070060-9