A. D. LITTLE, INC. SAFE EVALUATION PRESENTATION

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP95-00972R000100120009-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 19
• Document Creation Date: December 27, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 19, 2012
• Sequence Number: 9
• Publication Date: June 28, 1984
• Content Type: MEMO

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/01/19: CIA-RDP95-00972R000100120009-9
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SAF-E195-84
2 8 JUN 1984
MEMORANDUM FOR: Director of Data Processing
Director, onso i ated SAFE Project Office, ODP
SUBJECT: A. D. Little, Inc. SAFE Evaluation Presentation
The results of the recent evaluation of the SAFE Project by
A.D. Little, Inc. were presented in a briefing on 15 June 1984
by The briefing was given to senior CIA and
DIA managers. A copy of the presentation is attached for your
information.
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/01/19: CIA-RDP95-00972R000100120009-9
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/01/19: CIA-RDP95-00972R000100120009-9
1. OBSERVATIONS AND IMPLICATIONS
1.1 USER REACTIONS
? GENERAL SATISFACTION WITH MAIL/TEXT FUNCTION GROUP
- DIFFICULTY MASTERING ALL CAPABILITIES
- VARIOUS IDEAS FOR ENHANCEMENTS
? DESIRES FOR NEW SERVICES DIVERSE
DIFFERENT WORD PROCESSING, CMS TOOLS
MORE INTEREST IN COMMUNICATIONS SCOPE AND
INTERFACES THAN FUNCTIONS
? DIA USERS FRUSTRATED WITH "SEEDING" APPROACH
C
- NEED FOR ROUTING, SHARING, HELPING
? MANAGERS USING SAFE VERY LITTLE
AL Arthur D. Little, Inc.
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/01/19: CIA-RDP95-00972R000100120009-9
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/01/19: CIA-RDP95-00972R000100120009-9
REVIEW OF PROJECT SAFE
By ARTHUR D. LITTLE, INC.
15 JUNE, 1984
1. OBSERVATIONS AND IMPLICATIONS
1.1 USER REACTIONS
1.2 SUL vs. AIM
1.3 CONTRACTOR ROLES
1.4 RELEASE SCHEDULES
1.5 SCHEDULE REALISM
1.6 DEGREE OF SOFTWARE UNIQUENESS
2. OVERALL RECOMMENDATIONS
2.1 FUTURE SAFE
2.2 PROJECT PERFORMANCE VS. ORIGINAL GOALS
2.3 ORGANIZATION CHANGES
AL Arthur D. Little, Inc.
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/01/19: CIA-RDP95-00972R000100120009-9
 _J 11 1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/01/19: CIA-RDP95-00972R000100120009-9
IMPLICATIONS
? MORE EMPHASIS ON RATE OF TERMINAL INSTALLATION,
LESS ON NEW FEATURES*
- BUT D2, 3, 4 CANNOT BE DELAYED FURTHER. MAYBE
D5 CAN,
- DIA INSTALLATION RATE SHOULD BE ACCELERATED, IF
POSSIBLE.
- TRAINING SHOULD BE MORE MODULAR WITH
SELF-TEACHERS AND BUDDY SYSTEM.
? FUTURE PLANS SHOULD BECOME MORE RESPONSIVE TO USAGE
THAN TO A PRIORI DESIGNS.
*REPEAT FROM EARLIER REPORT.
/id Arthur D. Little, Inc.
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/01/19: CIA-RDP95-00972R000100120009-9
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/01/19: CIA-RDP95-00972R000100120009-9
1.2 SUL Vs. AIM
? AIM "LANGUAGE" HAS APPROACHED UIRS BK, 1.
? AIM ARCHITECTURE BEING RE-BUILT FOR FLEXIBILITY,
THROUGHPUT.
? D2-3 NOW MAJOR EVOLUTIONARY STEP FROM AIM RATHER
THAN ALL NEW: BETTER UNDERSTOOD.
? OMISSIONS FROM SUL ARE UNIMPORTANT (AND INTERFACE
IS SIMPLER)
AL Arthur D. Little, Inc.
Declassified in Part -. Sanitized Copy.Approved for Release 2012/01/19: CIA-RDP95-00972R000100120009-9
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/01/19: CIA-RDP95-00972R000100120009-9
IMPLICATIONS
- D2-3 OUGHT TO WORK; SHOULD MEET USER NEEDS WELL;
SHOULD BE CONSIDERED FIRST RELEASE OF BASIC OR
CORE SAFE.
BUT
WILL BE FIRST REAL CHALLENGE TO SOFTWARE
INTEGRATION, QA AS SUCH, DOCUMENTATION. (ALL OF
THESE LOOK OK, BUT ARE NOT PROVED YET.)
PERFORMANCE LIMITATIONS ARE UNKNOWN (MODELLING
HAS NOT BEEN DANE AND SHOULD BE.*
*REPEAT FROM EARLIER REPORT.
At Arthur D. Little, Inc.
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/01/19: CIA-RDP95-00972R000100120009-9
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/01/19: CIA-RDP95-00972R000100120009-9
1.3 CONTRACTOR ROLES
? QA CONTRACTOR NOW PERFORMING PROJECT MANAGEMENT OK
- MORE TECHNICAL INVOLVEMENT DESIRABLE
? DEVELOPMENT CONTRACTORS SEEM TO BE OK
- OUR REVIEW VERY LIMITED, BUT FEELS REASONABLE
? CSPO HAS OVERMANAGED (E.G., DOCUMENTATION
STANDARD), BUT
- BETTER NOW
- DIA NEEDS SPECIFICITY
- PROJECT CREDIBILITY REQUIRES COMPLETENESS
AL Arthur D. Little, Inc.
. i Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/01/19: CIA-RDP95-00972R000100120009-9
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/01/19: CIA-RDP95-00972R000100120009-9
IMPLICATIONS
? No CHANGES IN ROLES OR REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS,
EXCEPT
- QA BECOME MORE TECHNICAL
- SOMEBODY DO PREDICTIVE PERFORMANCE MODELLING
? CAN ANY CONTRACTOR TAKE OVER CORE SAFE AS A
PRODUCT? (WE -DOUBT IT.)
/id Arthur D. Little, Inc.
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/01/19: CIA-RDP95-00972R000100120009-9
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/01/19: CIA-RDP95-00972R000100120009-9
1.4 RELEASE SCHEDULES
? SPECS FOR D2-3 NOW CLEAR AND BOUNDED.
? DIA-CRITICAL REQUIREMENTS FOR D4 NOW CLEAR AND
BOUNDED, BUT SOME LOOSE ENDS REMAIN (RELATED TO
CONTENT AND SEQUENCE OF D5).
? D5 NOT PRECISELY DEFINED, BUT CONSISTS MAINLY OF
ENHANCEMENTS TO CORE SAFE.
AL Arthur D. Little, Inc.
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/01/19: CIA-RDP95-00972R000100120009-9
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/01/19: CIA-RDP95-00972R000100120009-9
IMPLICATIONS
? D4 SHOULD BE FIRMED UP INDEPENDENT OF D5, WITH
PRIORITY FOR RESOURCES.
? D5 SHOULD BE VIEWED AS HAVING TWO PARTS:
AN EVOLUTIONARY ADDITION TO CORE SAFE (A NEW
RELEASE).
A SET OF CIA-SPECIFIC ADDITIONS AND INTERFACES.
THESE CAN BE SCHEDULED INDEPENDENTLY.
AL Arthur D. Little, Inc.
Declassified in Part -Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/01/19: CIA-RDP95-00972R000100120009-9
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/01/19: CIA-RDP95-00972R000100120009-9
1.5 SCHEDULE REALISM
? D2, 3 & 4 TASKS APPEAR FEASIBLE (INCLUDING 204
MODIFICATIONS).
? CONTRACTORS APPEAR TO BE ON SCHEDULE (ON SURFACE).
? SYSTEM TEST ALLOWANCES SEEM CONSERVATIVE.
? IDB IS IN GOOD SHAPE CONCEPTUALLY.
? DoDIIS WILL HAVE A NFE/MVS/204 MODULE.
AL Arthur D. Little, Inc.
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/01/19: CIA-RDP95-00972R000100120009-9
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/01/19: CIA-RDP95-00972R000100120009-9
IMPLICATIONS
? IF RELEASE PRIORITIES ARE FOLLOWED AS RECOMMENDED,
D2, D3, AND D4 OPTION B DATES SHOULD BE MET.
? 10/86 SHUTDOWN OF DIALOS FEASIBLE.
- NFE/MVS CONTINGENCY PLAN ADVISABLE.
At Arthur D. Little, Inc.
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/01/19: CIA-RDP95-00972R000100120009-9
 . Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/01/19: CIA-RDP95-00972R000100120009-9
1.6 DEGREE OF SOFTWARE UNIQUENESS
? ABOUT AS NON-STANDARD AS IN FIRST REVIEW
- AIM, SUL EQUALLY UNIQUE
- INQUIRE MORE STANDARD, 204 LESS SO
? SAFE CORE WILL NOT BE OVERTAKEN BY COMMERCIAL
PRODUCT FOR AT LEAST FIVE YEARS
- ELECTRONIC MAIL MARKET EVOLVING SLOWLY
- PC USER STATE MACHINE CONCEIVABLE
AL Arthur D. Little, Inc.
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/01/19: CIA-RDP95-00972R000100120009-9
 . Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/01/19: CIA-RDP95-00972R000100120009-9
IMPLICATIONS
? CIA RESOURCES WILL HAVE TO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR CORE
SAFE FOR AT LEAST FIVE YEARS, UNLESS
- CONTRACTOR CAN TAKE IT OVER (UNLIKELY), OR
- DIA DUPLICATES CIA CAPABILITY AND SUPPORT SPLITS
(WASTEFUL, UNNECESSARY)
? STANDARDIZE TO IC, DOD SPECS IF MORE APPROPRIATE
THAN COMMERCIAL ONES SAS LONG AS EXISTING
COMMERCIAL SOFTWARE REMAINS STANDARD). IF THIS
HAPPENS, CORE SUPPORT MIGHT BE MOVED.
AN Arthur D. Little, Inc.
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/01/19: CIA-RDP95-00972R000100120009-9
 , Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/01/19: CIA-RDP95-00972R000100120009-9
2.1 FUTURE SAFE
1. FUTURE OF CORE SAFE SHOULD BE IN FORM OF
EVOLUTIONARY RELEASE PACKAGES (ANNUALLY?)
- D2-3 PROGRAM AND USER INTERFACE STANDARDS
SHOULD BE DESIGNED TO ACCOMMODATE EVOLUTION
- "MARKET-ORIENTED" APPROACH DESIRABLE AFTER D4
- MORE CONTRACTUAL EMPHASIS ON SUPPORT AND
EVOLUTION VS. NEW DEVELOPMENTS
- DEVELOPMENT AND CONFIGURATION CONTROL SHOULD BE
STREAMLINED
AL Arthur D. Little, Inc.
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/01/19: CIA-RDP95-00972R000100120009-9
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/01/19: CIA-RDP95-00972R000100120009-9
2. AGENCIES SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR
ADDITIONS TO CORE SAFE.
- DIA TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AFTER D4 (EARLIER FOR
DoDIIS INTEROPERATION). SHOULD BE FEASIBLE; IF
CSPO PEOPLE RETURN.
- CIA TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR D5 AFTER D2 (UNLESS
D5 IS PART OF CORE SAFE: APPEARS TO BE EXCEPT
FOR INTER- FACES).
CORE SAFE GROUP RETAIN RESPONSIBILITY FOR CORE,
-- MAY INVOLVE ARCHITECTURE CHANGE TO USE OF
PERSONAL COMPUTER FOR USER STATE MACHINE.
-- MAY BECOME IC STANDARD FOR CIRS.
-- MAY PHASE OUT IN FAVOR OF COMMERCIAL
PRODUCT.
AL Arthur D. Little, Inc.
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/01/19: CIA-RDP95-00972R000100120009-9
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/01/19: CIA-RDP95-00972R000100120009-9
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/01/19: CIA-RDP95-00972R000100120009-9
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/01/19: CIA-RDP95-00972R000100120009-9
2.2 PROJECT PERFORMANCE VS. ORIGINAL GOALS
(REF. PROJECT SAFE REPORT TO CONGRESS 23 SEPT. 1982)
? SAFE WAS TO BE COMPLETE IN FY 1987 FOR $192 MILLION
ADDITIONAL.
1. ITS FUNCTIONS WILL BE SOMEWHAT DIFFERENT
- FEWER FEATURES;
- MORE INTERFACES.
2. IT WILL CONTINUE EVOLVING.
3. SUBJECT TO THESE PROVISO'S, IT WILL BE "COMPLETE."
4. $192 MILLION SHOULD BE ENOUGH:
- UNLESS MAJOR UNFORESEEN COMPUTER POWER
ADDITIONS NEEDED (SHOULD BE OFFSET BY PRICE
DECLINES).
AL Arthur D. Little, Inc.
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/01/19: CIA-RDP95-00972R000100120009-9
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/01/19: CIA-RDP95-00972R000100120009-9
2.3 ORGANIZATION CHANGES
1. NEAR TERM
- CSPO QA BECOME MOSTLY DIA.
- SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT, SYSTEM ENGINEERING,
OPERATIONS SUPPORT ASSIGN AGENCY PERSONNEL BY
DELIVERY (D2 & 5 CIA PEOPLE, D3 & 4 DIA PEOPLE).
- D2-D5 TEAM PREPARE TO BECOME SUPPORT GROUP FOR
CORE.
2. AFTER D4 DELIVERY (BY END 1986)
- CSPO DISSOLVE. QA & D3-4 TEAM RETURN TO DIA,
D2-5 TEAM RETURN TO CIA.
- D2-5 TEAM CONTINUE AS'MARKET-ORIENTED CORE SAFE
EVOLUTION GROUP WITHIN CIA (AT LEAST INITIALLY).
- SINGLE BOARD REPRESENTS CUSTOMERS, PROVIDES
FUNDS.
AL Arthur D. Little, Inc.
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/01/19: CIA-RDP95-00972R000100120009-9