Assessment of information systems capabilities required to support U. S. materials policy decisions
The purpose of this assessment is to provide background and analysis so that Congress can consider; (1) the adequacy of existing materials information systems in supporting governmental policymaking, particularly in regard to potential scarcities or outright shortages; (2) improvements, if any, needed to furnish policymakers with information and analysis they need to deal with scarcities or outright shortages, and (3) what impacts, if any, might stem from such improvements. Four possible options for providing materials information systems capabilities are identified and assessed, namely: (1) let current systems continue to evolve without direct intervention; (2) Congress could take a number of options short of legislation to provide various kinds of improved information and analysis; (3) make use of the power of the executive branch; and (4) adopt options requiring new authorizing legislation. In order to illustrate how this last option might be implemented, three possible systems approaches for implementing the improved capabilities were defined in the assessment and are discussed as follows: (A) establishment of an interagency Federal committee or congressionally authorized group to standardize the formats of the current materials information systems; (B) creation of a full-time organization to make step-by-step improvements in existing information systems and add new supplementary capabilities as required; and(C) creation of a central program management office to first design the improved capabilities from the ''top-down'' and then implement the new design, using portions of existing information systems whenever possible. This central management group would then direct the revised Federal materials information system. (MCW)
- Research Organization:
- Office of Technology Assessment (U.S. Congress), Washington, DC
- OSTI ID:
- 7144367
- Report Number(s):
- OTA-M-40
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
290400* -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Energy Resources
AGREEMENTS
AVAILABILITY
DATA COMPILATION
DECISION MAKING
DEMAND FACTORS
DIAGRAMS
ECONOMIC IMPACT
ENERGY POLICY
ENERGY SOURCES
ENERGY SUPPLIES
FLOWSHEETS
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
INFORMATION SYSTEMS
INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS
INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION
MATERIALS
MINERALS
NORTH AMERICA
PRODUCTION
REGULATIONS
SOCIAL IMPACT
USA
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