Schedule Delays and Cost Overruns Plague DOD Automated Information Systems

GAO discussed eight Department of Defense (DOD) automated information systems being developed by the Army, Air Force, Navy, and Defense Logistics Agency. GAO found that: (1) all eight systems experienced significant cost growth; (2) the cost to develop and deploy the systems doubled to more than $2 billion; (3) the completion dates for all but one system were delayed 3 to 7 years and none of the systems were scheduled for full deployment until after 1990; (4) DOD revised the acquisition strategies for all but one system, and terminated development efforts for two systems after significant cost growth; (5) the cost estimates DOD reported to Congress in its budget submissions were not always accurate, current, or complete; (6) the Major Automated Information System Review Council (MAISRC) did not provide adequate oversight and technical review; (7) MAISRC had not reviewed three systems, even though they experienced cost growth or schedule delays that should have prompted a review; and (8) although DOD policies and directives for major automated information systems development provide a comprehensive management control and oversight process, DOD did not effectively implement it.