Design, Methodology, and Technical Assistance Groups in GAO: A Concept Paper

GAO commented on a method to improve the quality and timeliness of GAO work through the establishment of Design, Methodology, and Technical Assistance Groups (DMTAG's) to assist divisions in focusing on quality assurance throughout the life of a job. Each division's DMTAG would be composed of functional specialists with a wide range of skills, and it would report to the division director to ensure allocation of its resources according to division priorities. The DMTAG's would complement rather than replace interdivisional assistance and regional technical assistance groups. While the primary functions of the DMTAG's would be to assist audit/evaluation teams with the planning, development, and execution of projects, GAO noted that DMTAG's could also assist with many other functions such as training, reviewing draft products, and managing technical data.