"THOUGHT PROVOKERS: FOR DDA OFF-SITE CONFERENCE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP89G00643R001300080002-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 23, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 8, 2011
• Sequence Number: 2
• Publication Date: October 14, 1987
• Content Type: MEMO

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/12/08: CIA-RDP89G00643R001300080002-3
DDA 87-2181
MEMORANDUM FOR: Associate Deputy Director for Administration
Director of Communications
Director of Finance
Director of Information Technology
Director of Logistics
Director of Medical Services
Director of Personnel
Director of Security
Director of Training & Education
Special Support Assistant to the DDA
FROM: William F. Donnelly
Deputy Director for Administration
SUBJECT: "Thought Provokers" for DDA Off-Site Conference
Enclosed is a list of several "thought provokers" that I would like to
discuss at our off-site conference 28-30 October. I urge you to give some
thought to the topics prior to our meeting
William onnelly
Distribution:
Original - Each Addressee
1 - EXA/DDA
1 - DDA Subj
1 - WFD Chrono
STAT
STAT
d~ /~ ~ ~ ~'Yr -~
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/12/08: CIA-RDP89G00643R001300080002-3
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/12/08: CIA-RDP89G00643R001300080002-3
Thought Provokers
1. It has been more than four years since Bill Casey tried to institute
in the CIA a "search for excellence." Do you think it worked? Was it worth
the effort?
2. Image, perception, responsiveness, customer relations, service
standards and quality control. When you look at the DA what reaction does
each of these words or phrases cause in you?
3. Looking into the future-=say-five to ten years--where .should the DA of
that era look to find candidates ;to run your current office? How will the job
you now hold be different in those days? What should we be doing now to groom
those future leaders? Should we start an executive development program?
4. Some companies, such as Frito-Lay, make it a practice to hire many of
their mid- and senior-level managers from outside the company, rather than
promoting from within. Would such an approach be practical in the CIA?
5. What does the concept of an MG service mean to you? Is it an
executive development program? Could it be?
6. It is frequently stated that the current generation entering the work
force is different from those of us in this room. Do you think this is
correct? And, if it is, what should that mean to CIA managers?
7. Let us assume that CIA has reached the political limits of new
resources--people, space and funds. What actions would you foresee in your
office to cope with such an environment?
8. Forgetting about the impending change of Administration, if you were
the DCI, what one major action would you take in the next year?
9. Looking just at the DA, if you were making a list of our strengths and
weaknesses--ability, traits, cultures, interests and so on--which of these
would be our "anchors"--hold us to the past, and which would be our
"sails"--moving us into the future? Is the MG career service an "anchor" or a
"sail?"
10. In our efforts after the Howard case to identify unsuitable employees,
we have intruded--even if only slightly--more deeply into the lives of our
employees. Future efforts may pressure us to intrude further. Can we go too
far? What is an appropriate point between personal privacy and our need to
know about our employees for security and suitability reasons?
11. What would happen in the DA if we did away with the technical category
of personnel? Why should we? Why shouldn't we?
12. The DA is the biggest directorate in the CIA. We're also the most
geographically-dispersed directorate. That makes it extremely difficult for
us to communicate within and among our offices at all levels. What can we do
to improve our communications?
'13. It has been said that several offices in the DA,.are too big. Should
we divide.them-up into smaller organizations? Have 10 or 12 offices rather
than eight? - - _
- 14._ What-is your biggest work-related pet peeve?
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/12/08: CIA-RDP89G00643R001300080002-3