Information Technology: DOD Needs to Strengthen Management of Its Statutorily Mandated Software and System Process Improvement Efforts
GAO-09-888
Published: Sep 08, 2009. Publicly Released: Sep 08, 2009.
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Highlights
The Department of Defense's (DOD) acquisition of weapon systems and modernization of business systems have both been on GAO's list of high-risk areas since 1995. To assist DOD in managing software-intensive systems, Section 804 of the Bob Stump National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2003 required the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) and DOD component organizations, including the military departments, to undertake certain software and systems process improvement (SSPI) actions. As requested, GAO assessed (1) the extent to which DOD has implemented the process improvement provisions of the act, and (2) the impact of DOD's process improvement efforts. To do so, GAO analyzed relevant plans, policies, guidance, performance measures, and reports against statutory requirements and relevant guidance, and interviewed DOD officials.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Defense | To strengthen DOD's management of its SSPI efforts, the Secretary of Defense should direct the ASD(NII)/CIO and the USD(AT&L), in concert with the military departments and defense agencies, to jointly develop a DOD-wide strategic plan, and supporting organizational component plans, for ensuring that all of the requirements in section 804 of the 2003 NDAA, as well as relevant SEI guidance, are fully implemented. | The Department of Defense (DOD) reported that it has taken steps to improve aspects of its software and system process improvement efforts. For example, it has initiated its Business Capability Lifecycle framework, which is intended to rapidly deliver information technology capabilities by consolidating various oversight requirements and streamlining documentation requirements. The department also reported that it has established an information technology acquisition task force, which includes participation from across the Office of the Secretary of Defense and the military departments, and which is to engage with Congress, GAO, and stakeholders throughout the department and industry to... further define and implement updated approaches to acquiring information technology systems. In addition, the department reported that, among other things, the Air Force has modified its Air Force Product Data Acquisition tool to emphasize software and include software guidance, lessons learned, template language for solicitations, and recommended Data Item Descriptions for software documentation and software deliverables. DOD also reported that, among other things, the Department of the Navy Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command has taken actions such as reviewing its systems engineering processes to reflect standards and best practices and to improve documented guidance. However, while these are important steps towards addressing our recommendation, DOD has yet to jointly develop a DOD-wide strategic plan, and supporting organizational component plans, for ensuring that all of the requirements in section 804 of the 2003 National Defense Authorization Act, as well as relevant guidance, are fully implemented.
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| Department of Defense | To strengthen DOD's management of its SSPI efforts, the Secretary of Defense should direct the ASD(NII)/CIO and the USD(AT&L), in concert with the military departments and defense agencies, to jointly and periodically report to the congressional defense committees on their progress in implementing the plan and the impacts of doing so. | The Department of Defense (DOD) has issued reports to Congress that discuss certain steps it has taken to improve aspects of its software and system process improvement efforts. For example, in its November 2010 report to Congress on identifying a new approach for delivering information technology capabilities, the department reported that it has established an information technology acquisition task force, which includes participation from across the Office of the Secretary of Defense and the military departments, that is to engage with Congress, GAO, and stakeholders throughout the department and industry to further define and implement updated approaches to acquiring information...
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Topics
Best practicesCost overrunsDefense procurementIT acquisitionsMonitoringProcurement planningProgram evaluationProgram managementReporting requirementsRequirements definitionSchedule slippagesSoftwareSource selectionStrategic information systems planningStrategic planningSystems designWeapons systemsPast performance