CONVERSION OF COMPUTER APPLICATIONS FROM THE RCA 501 TO IBM 360

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP84-00780R001300060009-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 17, 2002
• Sequence Number: 9
• Publication Date: August 18, 1966
• Content Type: MF

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0*T
18 August 1966
MEMORANDUM FOR: Deputy Director for Support
SUBJECT Conversion of Computer Applications from the RCA 501
to IBM 360
1. In response to your request, the following represents the
opinions of the Support Systems Staff with regard to the impact i
straight one for one conversion from the 501 to the 360 will have-e
on the Support Directorate. This study was made solely "in house"
without benefit of any current OCS planned conversion schedules or
specific conversion objectives.
a. Impact on Regulations Handbooks, Operating Procedures,
Very little, if any, change is anticipated in existing regula-
tions or procedures due solely to conversion. A straight con-
version effort generally is accomplished by using the same in-
puts and we should expect this to remain so in any OCS conver-
sion plans.
b. Conversion Versus New Design
(1) A straight one for one conversion at this time
could materially hinder the total systems study now being
made by the Support Systems Staff. While we recognize the
current maintenance and production problems faced by OCIS,
we feel that hardware oriented solutions offer few benefits
beyond the very immediate future. The systems study now
under way is directed toward the long range goal of creating
an integrated data processing and management information
system to solve the deficiencies in our present system.
We must look to OCS to provide the technical expertise if
the study is to be completed within reasonable time frames.
The total system study would suffer to the extent that
necessary OCS participation in the long range goal might;
not be available due to its concentration on a straight
conversion. In addition there are important considerations
from the overall Agency viewpoint in terms of economics
and timing.
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(2) OCS planning information available to this Staff
indicates a requirement for fifty additional OCS Analysts
Programmers to effect a conversion with possible completion
early in fiscal year 1968. Assuming this requirement would
be met by hiring staff personnel in the GS-grade levels of
9-13, personnel costs alone would amount to approximately
$500,000 for the one year period.
(3) Notwithstanding the possibility that a straight
conversion might eventually result in improved computer
techniques to the point that 005 could better respond to
users' current needs, such conversion would retain all of
the system limitations of the present 501 system. None of
the improvements envisioned in the new integrated management
information system would be accomplished at this time. It
is our understanding that a newly designed system would
require additional reprogramming approximately equal to
that devoted to conversion.
(Li) The OCS' estimate for completion of conversion
within a one year period is based on the availability of
50 people to concentrate on conversion. Presumably any
delay in hiring personnel will extend the completion pro-
portionately. If we consider the time required for ad-
vertising, recruitment, security clearance, and EOD pro-
cessing, we automatically extend the completion date by
4-6 months. This, coupled with the overall industry com-
petition for analyst/programmer talent could well extend
a planned one year conversion into two or possibly three
years.
(5) We estimate that the Material Resources portion of
a newly designed Support management information system can
be ready for programming by June 1967 with the Financial and
Human Resources portions following in three to six month
intervals. To do this, however, will require the assign-
ment of at least six OCS Analysts/Programmers to work with
the Support Systems Staff.
2. We believe the commitment of approximately $500,000 in funds
and one to three years in time to accomplish a straight one for one
conversion without any significant progress toward our goal of an
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integrated system is not justified and the Agency's best interest would
be served by concentrating on completing the new system within the
above time frame. It is recognized that some relief must be found for
the 501 workload to permit OCS to respond to users' current system
needs until a new system is implemented. Hopefully, relief can be
obtained by providing some method of tie-in between the 501 and 360 to
handle the 501 overflow. In addition, OCS personnel eventually ear-
marked for the 360 might possibly be trained in 501 programming as
an interim measure. These possibilities, however, involve questions
beyond our capacity to evaluate without discussion with OCS. It is
likely that such ideas have already been considered by OCS. A OCS/DDS
effort to explore these and other possibilities could be of mutual
benefit.
25X1
DDS Support Systems Staff
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