COINS EVALUATION PANEL MINUTES OF MEETING OF 6 FEBRUARY 1968 1330-1600 HOURS, AMES CENTER BUILDING, ROSSLYN

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80B01139A000100120010-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: January 4, 2017
• Document Release Date: July 14, 2005
• Sequence Number: 10
• Publication Date: February 6, 1968
• Content Type: MIN

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COINS EVALUATION PANEL
Minutes of Meeting of 6 February 1968
1330-11600 hours, Ames Center Building, Rosslyn
Present
1, . asx5 a.Li L 1111-
of the newly constituted panel and briefly
tin
g
opened the first mee
discussed the panel's charter. The members had no questions that
would seem to require clarification of the tasks and responsibilities
assigned to the panel. A lively discussion ensued, however, when
raised a question as to what was expected of the panel
in the way o: value estimates and cost figures. It was pointed
out that the panel's charter requires it to develop a plan for
gathering, analyzing and presenting data of certain kinds that
presumably others will use in deciding questions as to the potential
value of the system; and that the PFIAB had directed the establishment.
of COINS as an experimental system without regard to economic
justification. It is expected that the plan developed by the panel
will provide for the gathering of data that will contain clues as
to value. As for the modus operandi of,the panel,
indicated that it may be advisable to divide the panel into smaller
groups to work on the various parts of the evaluation plan. Considera-
tion will be given to the use of outside assistance (e. g. , behavioral
scientists), should the need arise.
dus operandi of the panel.
tated that DIA had recently completed
evaluation of its on-line system and that he would provide the
panel with copies of the report. This information led to a dis-
cussion of whether the panel should consider intraagency aspects
of COINS or should confine its efforts to interagency use and
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performance of the system. The view was expressed that both
aspects need to be considered particularly if we think it important
to be able to compare interagency with intraagency use of the
files. The panel will be concerned primarily, however, with
data on COINS as a means of interagency communication.
2. Considerations involved in selecting period(s) of time
for data gathering. xplained that this item had
been included on the agenda in order to provide for general
discussion of the pros and cons of selecting different time periods
for data gathering before getting down to specifics on the plan
to be developed. There was relatively little discussion of this
topic. It will be dealt with as the components of the plan are
developed.
3. COINS system logs as data sources. Copies of the
lists of data elements to be included in the CIA, NSA, and NPIC
system lo _as were distributed for the panel's information.
I Iexplained the use of the switch log and distributed
samples of some of the printouts that can be obtained. Questions
were raised but not answered at this time as to the uses that
might be made of the log data and also the need for compatibility,
or convertibility, of log formats. stated that we must
first determine what questions are to be answered before we
consider whether the logs will contain the data required and
whether they can be used to advantage. There was some discussion
of the difficulty of "massaging" data from the logs, particularly
when the entries on any particular interagency interrogation
and its response will be scattered over a period of time in
several different logs.
4. Next steps in developing components of the plan.
A draft plan prepared some months ago by had been
distributed to the panel, but there was not sufficient time to
discuss it in detail. It was agreed that all panel members
would review it and be prepared to discuss it as the first item
on the agenda of the next meeting. In addition,
suggested that a small group of panel members'give some
thought before the next meeting to the possibility of gathering
a minimal amount of information from the users of COINS
on each instance of use. olunteered
to work with her on this topic.
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5. Other data acquisition and analysis that may be necessary
or desirable in connection with system evaluation (task 3 of the
panel's charter). Time did not permit discussion of this agenda
item. It will be considered as the panel continues its work.
6. The next meeting, it was decided, will be held at
1330 on 21 February 1968 at the Ames Center Building, Rosslyn.
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