MINUTES OF THE GEOGRAPHIC RESEARCH AREA STAFF MEETING, 4 MARCH 1957

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP60-00346R000100330020-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: November 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 2, 1998
• Sequence Number: 20
• Publication Date: March 4, 1957
• Content Type: MIN

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MINUTES OF THE GEOGRAPHIC RESEARCH AREA STAFF IvTING, 4 March 1957
25X1A9a
1. Acting DD I
Huntington B. Sheldon, AD/CI, is the Acting DD/I during
Mr. Amory's illness.
2. 1958 Budget
The ORB briefing paper prepared for DCI use in defending the
1958 budget will b25Ata for information to all divisions.
3- Meeting with 25X1A9a 25X1A9a
Acting Chief/G will meet with on Saturday, 9 March.
Anyone who wishes to transact business with at that time
should contact
I+. Fitness Reports
25X1A9a
The group discussed at some length the revised version of the
Fitness Report currently in use. It was the consensus that the
following are weaknesses and should be corrected:
a. In general, the form appears more suitable for DD/P
than DD/I or DDS.
b. The appraisal system does not yet provide sufficient
safeguards against non-uniform performance by the raters.
Consistency is lacking as between raters, and can be lacking
as between times of rating by the same rater. In addition,
ratings of professional personnel seem to differ from those
of clericals. Stronger guidelines on performance standards and
on rating procedures are needed if ratings are to be both honest
and fair.
c. More emphasis needs to be given to the notation of
employee weaknesses; raters slur over this, despite the fact
that the form is intended to serve as a tool of personnel guidance
as well as performance appraisal.
d. There appears to be too big a gap between the following
appraisal choices: Section C.1. -- choices 3&4
Section D -- choices 2&3, 3&4, 4&5
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e. A long, hard look should be directed at Section G.l.,
choices 5,6, and 7.
f. More guidance is needed on Section G.2. with respect to
the use of zeros. "Not frequent" seems appropriate to DD/P, but
not to the rest of the Agency.
g. Improvement can still be made in Section I. Items 23 and
26 should be deleted. Items 4 and 19, 10 and 24, 16 and 30 are
too similar or else easily mis-interpreted. The intent of Item 10
is unclear.
5. Library Survey
The OCR Library Consultant Panel will visit the Geographic Area on
Thursday, 7 March, between 1400 and 1700. D/GG will be the only Division
visited during the present briefing period.
6. Use of Map Library by Economic Area
25X1A9a
indicated that use of the Map Library by Economic Area
personnel has fallen to about 15 requests per month. Talks will be held
with the AD/RR and ERA division chiefs on the problem.
7. IGU
25X1X4
Notice was taken of the regional conference of the International
Geographical Union to be held in Tokyo next fall. A suggestion that
D/GG send an observer was made.
9. Personnel Change
25X1A9a
will transfer from D/GG to Procurement Branch, D/GL,
on or about 1 April.
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