Survey (1941-1945) including correspondence, problems and recommendations, surveys, appendix with charts and lists with text, etc.
This volume is a survey of the Naval Department done just prior to World War II by Booz, Fry, Allen, and Hamilton at the request of the Secretary of the Navy, Frank Knox. It is concerned with problems common to the Navy Department bureaus and the administrative organization of the Secretary of the Navy's office as well as its subsections.
Problems discussed concern personnel, space allocation, communications, the Navy cafeteria, files and records, office equipment, duplicating and photography, office supplies, building services, security, transportation and parking, messengers, insurance, field inspections, and legal activities; as well as problems found in the administrative organization of the Secretary of the Navy's office. Frequently mentioned are the "bottlenecks in the administration" and the importance of "sound organization, capable personnel and direct methods of operation...." The survey suggests that the Secretary's office staff coordinate their information and schedules; that financial information be centralized in the office under a single manager; and that administrative services for all parts of the Navy be coordinated through the Secretary's Office. Each of the problems discussed include recommendations for corrective action.
Another section of the survey gives a "Summary of Recommendations" for each Naval bureau: Aeronautics, Naval Intelligence, Ordnance, Ships, Supplies and Accounts, and Yards and Docks. These summaries give an overview of each of the bureaus with an itemized list of ways to correct the problems.
The survey also has a section entitled "The Next Step" which addresses the need for a group of officers who would administer an ongoing process of change and reorganization to enable the Navy administration to become more effective from within. Included also is an appendix which consists of charts and lists to accompany the text.
This survey's basic premise suggests the need for the Navy to find responsible personnel for each level thereby establishing a clearing point to check up on problems encountered and improve efficiency.
Gift of RAdm. Edward K. Walker, Jr., USN (Ret.)
Processed by S. Gibbons, September 1992
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