COMPUTER SERVICES

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP84-00780R001300060022-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 17, 2002
• Sequence Number: 22
• Publication Date: June 14, 1966
• Content Type: MFR

1 4 JUN 1966
SUBJECT: Computer Services
1. On Wednesday, 8 June 1966, I met with Mr. Bannerman to discuss the
general subject of problems in the computer support to the Support Directorate
rendered by the Office of Computer Services in relation to the Support System
Study, on-going programs, and the possible conversion of 501 programs to 360
hardware.
2. With regard to the question of converting present programs from the 501
to the 360, I reported to Mr. Bannerman that this had come up in a discussion
I had with Chuck Briggs I on Monday. They are considering
the feasibility of taking this approach but have not yet reached any conclusions.
Among the problems is the fact that there is not a one-for-one relationship
between programs and files on the 501. Each file of data in the 501 system is
manipulated by several programs in order to produce different reports. Some
of the programs used to manipulate data in File A may also be used together
with other programs to manipulate data in File B such that there is an extensive
overlapping and inter-relationship among several files and many programs.
OCS is not in the position to say at this time whether or not it is feasible to
identify a package of files and programs with definable parameters which would
permit them to be lifted from the 501 and reprogrammed for other equipment.
Even if they were able to define such a package, however, there is some doubt
in my mind about whether they would be any better equipped to respond to re-
quests levied against those files on the 360 than they are at present on the 501
because they do not yet have any great depth or breadth in personnel competent
to program the 360. This is at least in part because IBM has over-extended
itself and cannot accommodate all of the people who require training in pro-
gramming for the System 360.
3. While the 501 is very nearly saturated, the essential problem is not
with the time available on the equipment but is with the availability of people
competent to program it. On the other hand, if we were able to produce enough
programmers to satisfy the requests being levied against them, it is quite like-
ly that the additional burden they would generate for the hardware would soon
exceed the time available. Still another factor relating to this problem is the
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time it would take to reprogram the 501 applications for the 360 in relation to
the time when the Support System Study will begin to produce applications which
can be run on the 360 and thereby grant some relief to the 50.1. The personnel
part of the problem is further complicated by the general shortage of 501 pro-
grammers in the employment market. The 501 is considered obsolescent and
people interested in learning programming and becoming computer programmers
are studying newer equipment. No one is interested in learning how to program
equipment that is on the way out.
4. These are perhaps the most serious problems confronting the new
management in the Office of Computer Services and they have not been in posi-
tion long enough to be able to produce any conclusions or solutions. Apart from
rendering support to the Office of Computer Services in whatever actions they
recommend, about the only position action available to the Deputy Director for
Support is to take a hard-nosed attitude toward the review of requests for com-
puter services addressed to OCS which will result in new programming in an
effort to reduce the demands for programming support and programming man-
hours.
5. Mr. Bannerman agreed that we should take a more hard-nosed approach,
recognizing that this will tend to detract from the overall effort in the Support
System Study because requests for computer support must be staffed out before
intelligent judgments can be made and this staffing inevitably takes the time of
members of the Support System Staff.
6. In discussing the problem of personnel shortage in the Office of Com-
puter Services, Mr. Bannerman referred to the personnel status report which
shows that OCS has a ceiling of =positions with [=~eople on board. He
telephoned Mr. ~nd asked him to review the recruitment situation to
determine what we might have in process which would grant some relief.
Mr. Dagreed to look into it and report to Mr. Bannerman.
7. I had also reported to Mr. Bannerman that the Office of Computer
Services had requested additional positions in their Fiscal Year 1967 budget
but these had been denied. Mr. Bannerman telephoned John Clarke who agreed
that he would join the DD/S in giving whatever support seems appropriate to
the Office of Computer Services in obtaining men and money to solve their
problems. Mr. Clarke assured Mr. Bannerman that money could be made
available from year end funds to purchase another 501 if that was the action
OCS decided was most appropriate.
8. At Mr. Bannerman's suggestion, I invited Chuck Briggs to come to the
Office of the DD/S to discuss some of these questions. Mr. Bannerman explained
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that he had invited Mr. Briggs here to give assurance of complete support from
the Deputy Director for Support in any reasonable actions proposed to ease the
501 situation. Alluding to some of the points I had discussed with him earlier,
Mr. Bannerman told Mr. Briggs about his conversations with I land
John Clarke and reiterated the assurance that they are interested in doing what-
ever they can in whatever capacity is appropriate to assist the Office of Computer
Services in meeting its obligations to provide computer support after Mr. Briggs
has had an opportunity to become fully acquainted with the situation in his new
position. Mr. Briggs reported that they had asked for an increase in ceiling of
about 100 positions and had gotten none; that they had about 60 people in the
pipeline of which they expect to lose about 60 per cent; and that is
completing a classification survey which probably will not provide all of the
relief needed. Mr. Bannerman said that as ground rules which he is
obligated to observe but if the survey did not deal adequately with all of the
problems he would be willing to review them with the Director of Computer
Services and the Director of Personnel.
9. Mr. Briggs expressed his appreciation for Mr. Bannerman's interest
and support and indicated he would be in touch again as soon as he has studied
the situation thoroughly enough to reach any conclusions.
Special Assistant to the
Deputy Director for Support
SA-DD/S:RHW:dek (14 Jun 66)
Distribution:
Orig - DD/S Subject
1 - DD/S Chrono
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