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Land Management Systems: Status of BLM's Actions to Improve Information Technology Management

AIMD-00-67 Published: Feb 24, 2000. Publicly Released: Feb 24, 2000.
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Highlights

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO followed up on the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) efforts to implement GAO's recommendations for improving the development of its Automated Land and Minerals Record System (ALMRS),focusing on whether BLM has: (1) adequately assessed the usability of the ALMRS Initial Operating Capability (IOC) and alternatives to meet its business needs; (2) adequately assessed and strengthened its investment management processes and practices; (3) obtained an independent assessment of its systems acquisition capabilities and strengthened its systems acquisition processes; and (4) made or is making sizable investments prior to strengthening its investment management and systems acquisition processes.

Recommendations

Recommendations for Executive Action

Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Department of the Interior The Secretary of the Interior should direct BLM to develop a comprehensive and integrated information technology investment management program as defined by the Clinger-Cohen Act by completing the integration of BLM's projects to strengthen its investment management and systems acquisition processes and practices.
Closed – Implemented
BLM has made substantial progress in developing a comprehensive and integrated information technology investment management program. In September of 2001, BLM developed a guide detailing its investment management process. This guide integrates various areas of IT management including investment management, enterprise architecture, and systems acquisition. Our 2003 evaluation of the bureau's investment management capabilities concluded that BLM had made good progress in establishing key practices for effectively managing its IT investments. The bureau has also strengthened its basic capabilities for selecting and controlling projects and positioned itself to develop the processes for managing its investments as a portfolio.
Department of the Interior The Secretary of the Interior should direct BLM to complete the development of an overall project plan, schedule, and milestones for actions to strengthen its investment management processes and practices and systems acquisition capabilities.
Closed – Implemented
BLM developed an integrated project plan and schedule in March 2000. The plan described activities that could move BLM to capability level 2 of GAO's Information Technology Investment Management Model and level 2 of the Software Engineering Institute's CMM.

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Topics

Information resources managementIT acquisitionsLand managementManagement information systemsSoftwareStrategic information systems planningSystems conversionsSystems designUsabilityInformation technology