Recommendations for Executive Action

1. Status: Closed - Not Implemented

   Comments: DOD plans no action for this recommendation.

   Recommendation: The Secretary of Defense should designate as Integrated Product Teams (IPT) only those teams that will have the day-to-day responsibility for developing and delivering a product, such as a weapon system, and the cross-section of expertise to do so. For those teams so designated, the Secretary of Defense should use the IPT practices and characteristics in GAO's report to develop and communicate to program offices standards for defining what constitutes an effective IPT.

   Agency Affected: Department of Defense

2. Status: Closed - Not Implemented

   Comments: DOD plans no action for this recommendation.

   Recommendation: The Secretary of Defense should put program offices in a better position to create and sustain effective IPTs by refining the IPT designation to be used exclusively for new product development teams encompassing core components.

   Agency Affected: Department of Defense

3. Status: Closed - Not Implemented

   Comments: DOD plans no action for this recommendation.

   Recommendation: The Secretary of Defense should put program offices in a better position to create and sustain effective IPTs by ensuring IPTs have the sufficient knowledge and authority by (1) giving them responsibility for a deliverable product, along with the authority to make decisions on that product and (2) providing representation from each functional area of expertise critical to product design, development, and manufacture.

   Agency Affected: Department of Defense

4. Status: Closed - Not Implemented

   Comments: DOD plans no action for this recommendation.

   Recommendation: The Secretary of Defense should put program offices in a better position to create and sustain effective IPTs by enabling IPT leaders to participate in program goal setting and holding the teams accountable for achieving those goals.

   Agency Affected: Department of Defense

5. Status: Closed - Not Implemented

   Comments: DOD plans no action for this recommendation.

   Recommendation: The Secretary of Defense should put program offices in a better position to create and sustain effective IPTs by encouraging and supporting program managers' efforts to collocate team members, including contractor personnel.

   Agency Affected: Department of Defense

6. Status: Closed - Not Implemented

   Comments: DOD plans no action for this recommendation.

   Recommendation: The Secretary of Defense should put program offices in a better position to create and sustain effective IPTs by providing program managers and team leaders with greater authority and control over selection of IPT members, rating authority, and rotation of members.

   Agency Affected: Department of Defense

7. Status: Closed - Not Implemented

   Comments: DOD plans no action for this recommendation.

   Recommendation: The Secretary of Defense should put program offices in a better position to create and sustain effective IPTs by establishing indicators to enable program and team management to evaluate the performance of IPTs, such as the efficiency of the decision-making process employed by a team.

   Agency Affected: Department of Defense

8. Status: Closed - Implemented

   Comments: The Defense Acquisition University developed a program management course which includes case studies that emphasize best practices and integrated product teams.

   Recommendation: The Secretary of Defense should help program managers and team leaders become catalysts for IPT implementation by devoting professional education to make existing and prospective program managers and IPT leaders aware of and capable of creating the culture necessary to foster IPTs in weapon system programs.

   Agency Affected: Department of Defense

9. Status: Closed - Implemented

   Comments: The Defense Acquisition University developed a program management course which includes a case study on the Advanced Amphibious Assault Vehicle. Course case studies emphasize best practices and integrated product teams.

   Recommendation: The Secretary of Defense should help program managers and team leaders become catalysts for IPT implementation by drawing lessons from programs like the Advanced Amphibious Assault Vehicle to (1) bridge barriers between program offices and contractors and (2) use collocation to break down barriers and create trust.

   Agency Affected: Department of Defense

10. Status: Closed - Implemented

    Comments: The Defense Acquisition University developed a program management course which includes case studies that emphasize best practices and integrated product teams. In addition, the University has taken action to reorganize to collocate training facilities with major development commands, making the training more accessible to program managers.

    Recommendation: The Secretary of Defense should help program managers and team leaders become catalysts for IPT implementation by supporting the IPTs with the resources--such as information technology, training, and expert help--needed to maximize their effectivenss.

    Agency Affected: Department of Defense

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