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Contracting for Computer Software Development--Serious Problems Require Management Attention To Avoid Wasting Additional Millions

FGMSD-80-4 Published: Nov 09, 1979. Publicly Released: Nov 09, 1979.
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Highlights

Contracting for computer software can be an effective alternative to software development by federal employees. However, a review of several software development contracts found that many experience large cost overruns and lengthy delays. Certain problems were found to be common to all software contracts that had trouble.

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Information Technology
Computer services contractsComputer software industryContract administrationCost overrunsIT acquisitionsSoftwareWork measurementSystems designSpecificationsFederal agencies