DISCUSSION OF PROJECT TO PROVIDE REMOTE INPUT/EDIT/UPDATE CAPABILITIES WITHIN THE NPIC MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM

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Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
CIA-RDP73T00325R000100020032-6
Release Decision: 
RIPPUB
Original Classification: 
K
Document Page Count: 
34
Document Creation Date: 
December 28, 2016
Document Release Date: 
June 3, 2008
Sequence Number: 
32
Case Number: 
Publication Date: 
April 17, 1970
Content Type: 
MEMO
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PDF icon CIA-RDP73T00325R000100020032-6.pdf1.23 MB
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Approved For Release 2008/06/03: CIA-RDP73T00325R000100020032-6 SPEED LETTER REPLY REQUESTED DATE 17 April 1970 YES NO LETTER NO. TO : FROM: ATTN: SUBJECT: Project to Provide Remote Input/Edit/Update Capabilities within the MIS 1. Attached is a memoraildun for your review - written by and ::1 It gives a preliminary readout of our assessment of the system you have proposed - and contains references to matters requiring decision before proceeding too far. 2. After you have had an opportunity to digest the contents - suggest we get together for an informal discussion as to where we go from here. b SIGNATURE REPLY DATE SIGNATURE us; Approved For Relea 2008/06/03 CIA-RDP73T00325R000100020032-6 Approved For Release 2008/06/03: CIA-RDP73T00325R000100020032-6 a 7 APR, 1970 ME,MORANU111 FOR: THROUGH: SUBJECT: thief, Information Systems Branch, AID/PSG/NPIC Discussion of Project to Provide Remote Input/Edit/Update Capabilities within the NPIC Management Information System REFERENCE: Request for Programming Support., dated 12 March 1970, Project Number 920073 1. The purpose of.this memorandum is to draw--out a broad outline of: a. The goals and objectives of the proposed system. b. The assumptions AID personnel will be using as a basis for --their system design. At this'time our discussion is.being limited to comments on points b and d above, and phase one of the. proposed system, since decisions and specifi- cations for phases two and three. are contingent on the groundwork laid by the resolutions reached in phase one. 2. The goal of this system is to make the input to the MIS update cycle timely, accurate, and readily available for analytical and statistical evaluation. The objectives by which we hope to reach this goal.are: -a. The creation of a drum base file of-the MIS update input data. b.- The creation of supplementary tables that would allow valida- tion.of the MIS input and accordingly will contain all active project Approved For Release 2008/06/03: CIA-RDP73T00325R000100020032-6 c. The functional provisions applicable to the system. d. 'Any problems and/or ambiguities that present themselves; Approved For Release 2008/06/03: CIA-RDP73T00325R000100020032-6 niunbers, valid activity codes, NPIC skill codes and designation of DIA personnel. c. To provide programming for a remote access system that would utilize these files to verify and edit the input to the MIS update cycle. '(1) The use of this system utilizing drum based files would allow for the insertion into the system of time card data no later than 1600 hours on Tuesday of each week thus increasing the timeliness of input to the system. (2) The system iaould perform-edit and verification on the .input data immediately upon its receipt, prior to. its input to .the MIS update cycle thus increasing the accuracy of the data being finally input to the update. (3) The system would provide an error listing of cards that failed the pass edit and verification checks and which are to be corrected and re-input to the system. This listing would hopefully--act as a help in decreasing the time needed to track down errors and correct input cards. 3. The assumptions being used as the basis of our systems design a. Operational considerations such as responsibility for input and output, and updating supplemental tables will be able to be fulfilled. b. The time card input will reside on a drum based file. ..(l) Provisions will be made for the procedures and criteria which a -file'of,time card input is deemed as historical and Approved For Release 2008/06/03: CIA-RDP73T00325R000100020032-6 Approved For Release 2008/06/03: CIA-RDP73T00325R000100020032-6 transferred either to a temporary file or tape for use by PPB in analytical studies. Provisions must also be made for file readiness-for input to update, status of supplemental tables, etc. (2) The time card input will be reduced to one project number and activity entry per card. (3). There will appear on the file as-many records for each person as the number of different project and activities that he used that week. (4) The basic record will contain the person's name, badge number, grade, component, project number, activity, regular time and overtime 'hours, skill and DIA indicators. (5) The DIA indicator and NPIC skill code will not be carried over as input to the actual MIS update cycle, to allow compatibility with current system. -.(6)- One item on this file will be made up of 11 words and thus three items'will comprise .a. sector. c.. The system will contain supplemental tables, based on drum files, that will contain all active project numbers, all valid component codes, all valid activity codes, NPIC skill codes for each individual badge number and DIA personnel by badge number. (1) After its initial formation, the-active project file will be updated via Project Notice input for the_.MIS update cycle, (Note Section IV, Point-B) by designated personnel at a pre=determined time prior to the-.start of time card input for the week and"following the previous week's update. Approved For Release 2008/06/03: CIA-RDP73T00325R000100020032-6 Approved For Release 2008/06/03: CIA-RDP73T00325R000100020032-6 (2) Provisions will have to be stated in order to allow for the other supplemental tables to be updated prior to the start of time card input. We assume input to this table update will be made'by a predesignated person most able to monitor the information needed to affect changes in a timely and accurate manner. d. Input to the system.will be via a number of DCT-2000s. In the case of time card input, it will be done by the predesignated person or persons; for such activities as table updates, it will be ..by the individuals held.responsible for said input. e. Update data input in the system will result in the trans- mission to the originating LEN of a listing of the error cards which failed to pass the edit and verifications necessary. Such error cards will not be added to the drum file as only cards that pass the edit and verifications will be transferred to the drum file. It will be the responsibility of the representative of the organizational .units to correct the error cards and re-input the corrected. cards to the system. We assume that-all corrections will be made by a -time. . - - - which PPBS will designate as a cut-off point. Statistics will be kept as to error activity that can be requested by AID/SIS and PPBS/RAD in lieu of two additional copies of each individual error listing. (note Section IV, Point f). 4. The functional provisions that are to be resident within the- system are:' ? . . a. Edit of the following conditions: Approved For Release 2008/06/03: CIA-RDP73T00325R000100020032-6 Approved For Release 2008/06/03: CIA-RDP73T00325R000100020032-6 (1) Badge number-alpha positions 15, numeric positions '16-18. (2) Grade- numeric positions 19-20. .(3) Component - alpha positions 21, numeric positions x;23. (4) Week Ending date - numeric positions 24-29. (5) Project number - numeric positions 30-35, blank or alpha positions 36-37. (2) Valid. activity number. ,(1) Active project. number. (6) Activity -:numeric. positions 38-40 (7) Time - numeric in some position in the positions 41-46 (8) Positions 47-80 blank Verification of the following conditions: (3) Valid component code. (4) Does card have a valid combination in:., (a) Project number and component? (b) Project number, component, activity? (S) Is badge number-in skill code look-up table? (6) Does badge number indicate'DIA personnel? c. The system will provide the capability for inputting time card data via the DCT-2000 both initially and reinserting for error cards or'additional cards. d. It will provide for the transmission of an error listing of'.cards that fail to pass the edit or validation to the originating LEN. Approved For Release 2008/06/03: CIA-RDP73T00325R000100020032-6 Approved For Release 2008/06/03: CIA-RDP73T00325R000100020032-6 e. It will provide for the compilation of statistics for reference of. AID/SIS and PPBS/ RAD. (see Attachments I-IV) f. The system will allow for updating of all supplemental table files. S. The following comprises a list of the systems and procedural problems encountered thus far and. additionally some suggestions and pro- posed solutions concerning these problems. a: Is the group level the optimal breakdown point of responsi- bility with respect to MIS time card-input? The attached-graphs based on the MIS update as of March 7, 1970 provide some statistical data illustrating the apparent uneven workload distribution present when responsibility is relegated on the group level. The data pre- sented here is verified by other recent MIS weeks. b. There is a question of how other MIS update data, such as project notices and workphase notices, will enter the system. In order to be . consistent.. and to permit all input data to be pre-edited 'and.accura.te, perhaps the best solution is to input this other MIS data in the'same manner as time cards are input, and to store this - data on the same or separate drum file. In any case, this still leaves the question of who is responsible for the input and verifica- tion of this data. c.. How are co-operative and contractor personnel to be handled and whose responsibility are they? d. Wit], respect to the DIA designator and the skill codes, it is felt that a more detailed description of their function and the analysis to be enacted upon them is required before certain system n ldecisions can be made. .Such desi g Approved For Release 2008/06/03: CIA-RDP73T00325R000100020032-6 Approved For Release 2008/06/03: CIA-RDP73T00325R000100020032-6 questions such as should these designations be carried over to the Master Tile and thus create e-a new level of "D" records, should skill code perhaps replace activity code in-the Master File? Also, should skill code and DIA designator be dropped in the carryover of information to the Master File? e. The MIS drum files, need both historical and backup capabili- ties. The basic questions here are the timing and the method. If magnetic tape is to serve as the historical and/or backup file, this must. be accomplished through. PAS.. At what point in the weekly MIS cycle is the MIS drum file to be retired or backed up? -f. What would be done with the two extra copies of the error listings?. The statistical analyses outlined in Section 3 would seem to provide equivalent data in.a more readable .form. g `How is it to be determined when the MIS input is completed and ready for update? Perhaps a better (or additional) means than verbal or written acknowledgement from each MIS structural unit would be an -ability to query the file to dete.rmine.whether-.the file. is complete, and,. if not, which parts of the file are not complete. What criteria would then be required to indicate the relative com- pleteness of the file? Furthermore, what would the deadline be for all error corrections to be made and the file to be complete? h. The supplemental tables of project numbers, and badge number skill codes and DIA designator seem better suited to storage as per- manent drum files, since as card files or as internal program tables they, would be difficult to update and maintain. Specifically, a card file would present the problem of each group having to input the up- program would require reassembly of the..prograi.for each Approved For Release 2008/06/03: CIA-RDP73T00325R000100020032-6 Approved For Release 2008/06/03: CIA-RDP73T00325R000100020032-6 change made to the file. On the other hand, a drum-file for these tables could be updated by MIS input of specified format; for example, project notices would update the active project file. In any case, who would then have responsibility for maintenance of these files and when in the-MIS cycle should these updates' occur? 1.. Current time card input to MIS card-to-tape program is about 5,000 single entry format cards. Thus, the Fastrand drum required for the MIS remote analysis should be about 1,700-2,200 sectors for time card input. j, The possibility exists that time cards-could accidently be input to the system more than once. For example, on an error correction run, a time card which has already made the drum file might be re-input along with the corrected error cards. If a time card is input which is a duplicate of one previously input, what procedure should be followed? For example, if both cards are exactly the same should the last one input be flagged as an error and not. be added to the drum file? Also, if both cards are the same except for the amount of time, should the last one input overlay the previous one on the drum file? k. Since badge numbers are reassignable, would a unique entity such as serial number or social security number be a better method for employee identification? Approved For Release 2008/06/03: CIA-RDP73T00325R000100020032-6 Mhat procedure is to be followed in the handling of late cards Approved For Release 2008/06/03: CIA-RDP73T00325R000100020032-6 ISB/AID tional elements ISB/AID A/S Attachment I - IV Sample of compiled statistics for reference of AID/ SIS and PPBS/RAD Attachment V Graph of average transaction/employee by major organizational elements Attachment VI Graph of sample distribution of MIS input (time sheet transactions) by major organizational elements Attachment VII' Graph of distribution of employees by major organiza- Approved For Release 2008/06/03: CIA-RDP73T00325R000100020032-6 Approved For Release 2008/06/03: CIA-RDP73T00325R000100020032-6 ) T 1 .. ~ TYPE ~ 2 "x' . Pe". 4 20 30 40 50 01 02, 03 :DI-iISIO T TOTAL I'VISION TOTAL 20 21 23 14.1S REI.k)TT: APIALYSIS TIi'ts CARD r/' OI" I NTRIES T';r'LMETSS OT !O T f~i1~~i~1~J RU!-:S h., Approved For Release 2008/06/03: CIA-RDP73T00325R000100020032-6 Approved For Release 2008/06/03: CIA-RDP73T00325R000100020032-6 i'iPi;3 TPI1,4 1' :?i; C:,?'2; ~T' RT ENTRIES _F,MFLO' Ei"' S f 1J S rye, !ii>?)7S RIT"S YI?S`P ij_; L/. '.i ?'J., 30 31 32 40 hi 42 IVISION TOTAL ----'UP TOTAL 20 21 22 23 30 31 32 . 33 34 40 141 42 43 Approved For Release 2008/06/03: CIA-RDP73T00325R000100020032-6 Approved For Release 2008/06/03: CIA-RDP73T00325R000100020032-6 ST l~l ll? T 1 H Z, i! i,?' vF, l~ II (? ~.,, ~" 'RS 60 61 62 63 70 71 72 DIVISION! TOTAL GROUP TOTAL Approved For Release 2008/06/03: CIA-RDP73T00325R000100020032-6 Approved For Release 2008/06/03: CIA-RDP73T00325R000100020032-6 OF LAST UPDATE TI.`'r, OF LAST UPDAT'E' CURRENT # OF ENTRIES MIS 1 E; O'TE ..i1ALFS i_S SUP?LEi T ;Tt.L TALE SIATISTICL:L :REPJRT r p',; C TABLE ITPIC SKILL CODE TABLE DIA PE i'RSO''~:T: TA., ATTACHMENT IV Approved For Release 2008/06/03: CIA-RDP73T00325R000100020032-6 Approved For Release 2008/06/03: CIA-RDP73T00325R000100020032-6 TIME CARDS (PROJECT- ACTIVITIES) PER EMPLOYEE AVERAGE TRANSACTIONS/EvIPLOYEE - BY MAJOR ORG.. ELFMENT '5.82 05.875 MIS Average = 3.938 --------- ----------------------------- ----------------------------- ----------- 3,..306 X2.971 X1.935 0 /OID PBBS IEG . IAS PS iG Attachment V Approved For Release 2008/06/03: CIA-RDP73T00325R000100020032-6 Approved For Release 2008/06/03: CIA-RDP73T00325R000100020032-6 TOTAL TIME CARDS ,. 2000 t 1500- 500.} SA'1PT.F TITSTRTRITI'TON OrIMTS TNPITT (TIMESHEET TRANSACTIONS) BY MAJOR ORG. ELBE\\T IEG . 1260 - 1496 -329 rM?rim` 18 518 PSG Approved For Release 2008/06/03: CIA-RDP73T00325R000100020032-6 Approved For Release 2008/06/03: CIA-RDP73T00325R000100020032-6 EMPLOYEES REPORTING TO MIS 500 1 DTSTRIRIJTTON OF EMPLOYEES BY MAJOR ORGANIZATIONAL ELEMENT 150 TPBBS 15 IAS' 31 PIN Approved For Release 2008/06/03: CIA-RDP73T00325R000100020032-6 Approved For Release 2008/06/03: CIA-RDP73T00325R000100020032-6 SIGNATURE RCTU;?P! TO GftlGlilA102 SPEED LEE TER SUBJECT: Piro ject, to Provide Rcr to Input/7Ed t/tUpdate Capab~ilipies iai hin the MIS 1 fattached is a rnarnomiPvw, for your 2'CrC~ie m written by It, gives a pb eii.m .nary readout of our assessment of the systeri you have proposed - and contains references to matters requiring decision before pracceding too faro 20 Af~.e you have had an epp~rtunity to digest the contents suggest we get together for an in for not discuss ion as to vaicre ~ e . go fre;n i here o FORM 1831 USE PREVIOUS 5-67 VJ EDITIONS Approved For Release 2008/06/03: CIA-RDP73T00325R000100020032-6 Approved For Release 2008/06/03: CIA-RDP73T00325R000100020032-6 . t 1:'I 1970 Tl-11'UUC:1 S. : Chief 1:1) o 'm; :i n S 1~ S ,.k ia:1' ? ]) i..S personnel? Approved For Release 2008/06/03: CIA-RDP73T00325R000100020032-6 C??. it t`.i.1 pro,-1d. )tai' {.l a"' Ca~'~''t~li]atJ.~}l o a'i:iii..i.itius aa rcfc'rem-c: of Al))/;:')IS and 1'11111"/)+Ai), (see Ai:"t".acimii1}:"i:, 1 I~!) 5t1pplt:.meniii"~_ f. The System 1,.,11 1 ll.o',t for of all S following COaip:t is ;s list Of the s")''S i:ene~ i:!??.C). ))):'C?': CCiura l problems ?C e;r thus far aid cl' :1 all\ some a l.lgo-St eri cI .c~,.;'ir. ?i ~ -~. ui_i .ci)~ :i.c?;1 ~, ct pro - p.) solutions r s e'.,,,.j rCG, -?.CC;Y' wt-,'l~ e ``:. , s ii?-1iE; ., a. Is the Tovei the optimal. of ).'O.`:;pon it bi.lit:y with respect: to MIS t me ca rd input? The attacked: graphs based on the MIS update as of March 7, 1970 provide some statistical data il_lus t.ratipg Vie apparent, uneven workload di.s t:ribu.ti cm pr. esen.t ti;'hen re-sr onsi.b:il.ity is relegated on the group l:evel.. The data pre- serited heir: Is verified by other recent MI5 1 eeks . 1). There is a questi_a?n of other MiS update data, sud.li as pc?ojcc..t: notices and. worrkphase notices, will. enter the system. In. ord r to be, consistent... a and. to permit all input data to be pre-edited hnd~ accula t:e, perhaps the best solution is to input this other. HIS data iri the same manner as time Cards aie inp'ut, and to si.o c, this data. on. the same or separate (1ruli Mle. In. any sass', this still leaves the question of who is responsible for the input and verif i.ca-'- tioil of this data. C. How are CO-ol,),prati_vc and contractor personnel to be handled and whose responsibility are they? ? . d. 1~'i.tln resp ct to the DIA designator and the, skill codes, it is felt that V. )'",Ore detailed description of their function and the ailalvsi.s to be enacted upon them is roc uir~ed be ore: certain .5ys`ccrn desij;n decisi. Approved For Release 2008/06/03: CIA-RDP73T00325R000100020032-6 Approved For Release 2008/06/03: CIA-RDP73T00325R000100020032-6 e1tr . historical LGaI and 1)i.i,.1-l11) c~,1:~~a17ia.i ties. Iiie LasI quest ons here t .he G:L1117.1]~; and the method. If 11k+?;Ii.C'ti c t:31):'? is to serve "s, the historical and~oC'. baclal ") f l..l.e, this must: be accomplish c1 through NS, At 1,11h at pol.n.;c in the, 1:cc:1;1.y MIS cycle is the MIS dim};?1 f le to be yeti reel or backed u1:p? f. What would be done with the i:.l':o extra. copies of the error listings? The statistical.. analyses outl:i.ned in Sect .ion. 3 would seem to provide equivalent data in. a more readr-tbie .f o7:'in. f;. 1-1a is it to be determined when the 14 IS input is completed and r~ 3dy for update? Perh :p5 abet:l:e'1' (or add+%i.onal.) mioans LIYn verbal. or written ~:ckno le:l~;t;ment from c ch MIS struCtural_ unit would be an ab:i_li.t:y to query the file to de't:cr111ine >>1)et.her. the file, ~ r file s complete, and,, if not, winch parts of the fiare not conipi.ete. 1`\giat criteria. would tisen be required to indicate the relative co)1]- pleteness of the file? T'IIL'%}~e "Tl1f)'r.'ey what would the deadline be for all error corrections to be made and the file to be ccnplete? h. The supi)l.Ca11ental tables of project numbers, and badge number -. skill. codes and I)IA designator stem better suited to storage as per- manent drum files, Since as card fl-l.es or as internal.. program tables they, would be difficult to update and maintain. Specifically, card file would present the problem of each group having to inp)1It the 11))-- t 6 - d a t o card file for each run.-0 cy m dc.~ and a :i.lc i.n ernal to t:he prugrdn ldould rcqu 7. rc ):'cas se-iilbly of the, proL,1'r:'11 for C` Z.Cll Approved For Release 2008/06/03: CIA-RDP73T00325R000100020032-6 Approved For Release 2008/06/03: CIA-RDP73T00325R000100020032-6 ~ r. Cllii11g J ade o the :L1Ie. On the othe'k' I'1::111CLy C( (.L'!' A:J..Ie 7i' the: e t`.l)l!:., C0.1 1(l. be Cl by 1'i.~ nput of sp '.:1.7 .[.CCU. fCJ1mat V):' C:)~ lli!1)1( , I):l C)J e.c l?tat:Lces 1';Ol)J_Cl tlj)Cl ttC' the ect 1.VC In any Case, who w ul . ta1C'.l). ~1c11'G 7:'e5~ (il"I ial?a.~_'L"i;)r o J:~ l:LJ1lCil.;.'(7.CC`. (?f th se files and. w9he11 in the MSS cyclC should %1",ese updates' occur? . Current, time card input to HIS Carci-?t.o?-tape program is about 5,000 single entry format cards. Thus, the Ias~.)rand drLuu required for t:11e ;,i:( S ,emote analysis should be about 1,700?-2,200 sectors for tulle cad j Possibility exists that. time card.. could accidently be input to the system more than once. For example, on m). error corxec'ti.OYl run, a time card whi.ch has already made the drum file might be re. -inpu.t along w., i.th the corrected error cards . If a time curd is input which is a duplicate of one previously input, ,(hat Procedure should he followed? For example, if bot.h cards are exactly the same should the last one ilnlput be flagged as an error and not be added to the drum file? Also, if botal. cards are the, same except. for the am-,mount of time, sho..zld. the last one input overlay the Previous one on the drum file? I, Since b,:ldge numbers are xeassignable, would a unique entity such as serial number or social se-U?"1.t.)' n~rnl:)e) be a hettei method for ca~lpl.ayee ide ntifiC .3 t.i.ol1? pa?ocedlz)lc i..s W be folloz':ed in t:he handling of late cards Approved For Release 2008/06/03: CIA-RDP73T00325R000100020032-6 Approved For Release 2008/06/03: CIA-RDP73T00325R000100020032-6 ISIS/A 11) /,,/S Atta.chm ilt J - IV Sa.ilmipl.e of C o;')i):i..1.(d st itistics for reference of AID/ SIS and PF,3S/1j1D Attacinnerit V Graph Of avc ?af;e by ma..}U?" orl?;,il]7.'Ldi:Jonal. e1em n`ls Attachment VT Graph of s,-)rnpic distribution of MIS input (time sh et t.):an , ctioii~ by major UA' ~Ilil.zationa.i elements Attachment I'll Graph of distr .bui::i.on. Of CMp1o)'ees by i ,~i..jor ox'gurli7,a- t.iona1. elements Approved For Release 2008/06/03: CIA-RDP73T00325R000100020032-6 Approved For Release 2008/06/03: CIA-RDP73T00325R000100020032-6 Approved For Release 2008/06/03: CIA-RDP73T00325R000100020032-6 Approved For Release 2008/06/03: CIA-RDP73T00325R000100020032-6 Approved For Release 2008/06/03: CIA-RDP73T00325R000100020032-6 Approved For Release 2008/06/03: CIA-RDP73T00325R000100020032-6 Approved For Release 2008/06/03: CIA-RDP73T00325R000100020032-6 Approved For Release 2008/06/03: CIA-RDP73T00325R000100020032-6 NTTP.CHI E'a Ili Approved For Release 2008/06/03: CIA-RDP73T00325R000100020032-6 Approved For Release 2008/06/03: CIA-RDP73T00325R000100020032-6 AVERAGE TRANSACT:C\S/'IPL OYEZ - BY 1'AJO . ORG. EL VIEN .8'12-~ I S -,verage = 3.930 ------ I ----------------------------------------- ---------I---------- 1.935 11.520 1 O,/OID EBBS !AS Actacrment V Approved For Release 2008/06/03: CIA-RDP73T00325R000100020032-6 Approved For Release 2008/06/03: CIA-RDP73T00325R000100020032-6 SA'v"2i.F. PTSTRTR?1TTON O1 MTS INPUT (TIMES:EET TRANSACTIONS) BY M,IkTOR ORG. CLEMENT lEG 329 Approved For Release 2008/06/03: CIA-RDP73T00325R000100020032-6 170 Approved For Release 2008/06/03: CIA-RDP73T00325R000100020032-6 DTS 4 r%i TIO\' Or EMPLOYEES BY MAJOR ORGANIZATIONAL ELEMENT 15.0 Approved For Release 2008/06/03: CIA-RDP73T00325R000100020032-6 195