BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING ON STRATEGIC PLANNING

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP95-00972R000100160012-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: December 27, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 27, 2012
• Sequence Number: 12
• Publication Date: September 10, 1980
• Content Type: MEMO

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/08/27: CIA-RDP95-00972R000100160012-1
MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD
STAT FROM
10 September 1980
Planning Officer, ODP
SUBJECT: Board of Directors Meeting on Strategic Planning
1. Meeting was held 25 August 1980, in Room 2D03,
Headquarters. Attendees were:
STAT
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2.
and made
distributed a revised agenda (attached)
the following introductory observations:
- ODP is losing funds for new initiatives and also
flexibility to reprogram existing funds.
- Forces from several levels are converging to call
for the production of a joint OC/ODP
Telecommunications Plan.
The establishment of the Information Services
Architect will present a unique opportunity and
some problems.
The adoption of as a world standard
terminal requires a new look and a new plan as to
how ODP executes its responsibilities.
1. Shrinking Resources and Budgetary Flexibility:
- Problems of anticipating demands.
- Terminal funds and requirements are
especially vulnerable.
- Many projects arise after budget preparation
time--a serious time lag problem.
- Applications develops systems without
adequate concern for final resources.
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/08/27: CIA-RDP95-00972R000100160012-1
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/08/27: CIA-RDP95-00972R000100160012-1
Solution:
- Do a better job planning.
- Identify committments of funds early in the
FY.
- Reprogram at beginning of fiscal year to
extent possible.
- Develop a standard resource impact statement
for Applications projects--Maloney.
2. Joint Teleprocessing Plan:
- The current OC Strategic Plan does not
contain sufficient detail to lead to
meaningful planning by ODP.
- How should SAFE be incorporated into a joint
OC/ODP plan?
- A joint plan should be developed. The
suggested areas to be covered:
- CDS/MPS/DATEX
- Front End/COMTENS/Multiplexors--a strategy
for aggregation of terminal support.
- Networks/Bus Commo/Mercury/Grid
- Remote Printing
- Electronic Mail
- SAFE (Related to much of the above).
- Sources of personnel (specialists) needed
by both offices.
Solution:
- Develop a joint OC/ODP Strategic Plan--Plan
would be in three sections, a joint section,
OC and ODP section.
- ODP/PO has primary responsibility. Input is
the discussion and comments on this item.
2
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/08/27: CIA-RDP95-00972R000100160012-1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/08/27: CIA-RDP95-00972R000100160012-1
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3. Information Services Architect Staff:
- To be in the DDA. (Probably 4-6 members.)
- Presents a great opportunity to standardize
and approve existing ODP systems and plans.
- Does not have review of procurement
responsibility. (See attached draft of
missions/functions).
- ODP will provide a qualified analyst for
assignment to the staff.
4. Minicomputer Plans and Policy:
reported on the GIMINI project.
Terminal support a problem. TEMPEST testing
is underway. Could place a system in
operation now.
- Review of current mini operations, success
and failure.
PERINSUR
CAPER
P&PG
PEGASUS
FAR
MEDICAL
FBIS
SACS
ADSTAR
WATCH OFFICE
- Problem is closely related to End User
programming.
- Space and money problems.
- ODP has been a prime instigator (pusher) for
minis.
Solution:
- Review experiences and rewrite policy as
stated in the old Plan. ODP/P0 has action.
- ODP will publish a guide on the use of
minicomputers.
5. End User Programming:
- Some of our users want control of their own
environment and computing resources.
3
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/08/27: CIA-RDP95-00972R000100160012-1
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/08/27: CIA-RDP95-00972R000100160012-1
STAT
- ODP should encourage minis to relieve
pressures on Applications.
- Applications should look for a commonality of
requirements--not design individual systems
of limited use, e.g., Virtual PERSIGN, a
general personnel utility.
- Query-By-Example and other new tools should
be studied.
- Training should be reviewed and upgraded.
- Anything acquired or developed should be
first class all the way.
Solution:
- Applications will prepare a position paper
for inclusion in Strategic Plan.
6. ODP Terminal Policy:
- The expanding acceptance of the new DD 7260
has led to a reevaluation of how terminals
are installed and supported.
- The new CRT will place a powerful tool at the
end users desk.
- Large software support requirements will
become the rule.
- New roles for the Delta Data are:
- Installations are running too far behind.
Not enough contractors.
- How will new terminals be justified?
- When should Applications start writing
software for the new terminal? In what
languages?
- How and why will old terminals be replaced?
Do we need a cut rate cheaper version?
4
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/08/27: CIA-RDP95-00972R000100160012-1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/08/27: CIA-RDP95-00972R000100160012-1
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- What happens when we put BASIC on the
terminal? Level of support for
user-originated program?
?
- Keep questionnaire and project on terminals.
Solution:
will form a subcommittee to
develop a new policy and answer the above and
other questions.
7. SAFE Integration:
- DDA looking to D/ODP for integration plan.
paper raised pertinent issues.
What have been the changes since?
- Is NFAC as a customer office concerned? No.
- Who provides Data Base
Integrity? Interface?
Management?
- How can we most efficiently use the manpower
available?
- What kind and how much training by whom? For
whom?
- Interface with GC-03 at what level?
- Printing--A common set of printers with
ODP. A part of interface problems. Cut
paper Xerox 9700.
- Is interface to be by terminal only or will
data be passed?
Solution:
- Await selection of hardware vendors; convene
a special meeting to discuss SAFE
integration. Post-meeting note: CSPO and
Processing should work together to identify
any management issues to be discussed at that
meeting.
5
?
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/08/27: CIA-RDP95-00972R000100160012-1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/08/27: CIA-RDP95-00972R000100160012-1
STAT
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8. Office Automation:
reported on the status of AIM.
- Applications has five people reviewing
requests for word processing equipment.
- A large amount of time is spent helping
offices develop requirements according to GSA
and OL regulations.
- This is a non-productive effort for
programmer/analysts.
- Should users do their own studies and
evaluations? Applications could provide
procedures.
- Should more effort be spent on software?
- The new DD will alter this process anyway.
- Should ODP interest be limited to cases where
the word processor attaches to a CPU.
Solution:
- Applications will study problem and recommend
policy and solutions.
STAT oDP / PO d
17 September 1980
Distribution:
1 - Ea. Member ODP Board of Directors
2_7 ODP Registry
O/D/ODP
/' 115 6,4t742
6
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/08/27: CIA-RDP95-00972R000100160012-1