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Recommendations Database

GAO’s recommendations database contains report recommendations that still need to be addressed. GAO’s priority recommendations are those that we believe warrant priority attention. We sent letters to the heads of key departments and agencies, urging them to continue focusing on these issues. Below you can search only priority recommendations, or search all recommendations.

Our recommendations help congressional and agency leaders prepare for appropriations and oversight activities, as well as help improve government operations. Moreover, when implemented, some of our priority recommendations can save large amounts of money, help Congress make decisions on major issues, and substantially improve or transform major government programs or agencies, among other benefits.

As of October 25, 2020, there are 4812 open recommendations, of which 473 are priority recommendations. Recommendations remain open until they are designated as Closed-implemented or Closed-not implemented.

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Federal Agency: "Department of Veterans Affairs: Assistant Secretary for Human Resources and Administration"

1 publication with a total of 2 open recommendations including 2 priority recommendations
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Veterans Health Administration: Management Attention Is Needed to Address Systemic, Long-standing Human Capital Challenges
GAO-17-30, Dec 23, 2016
Director: Robert Goldenkoff
Phone: (202) 512-2757

2 open recommendations
including 2 priority recommendations
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Recommendation: To accelerate efforts to develop a modern, credible, and effective performance management system the Assistant Secretary for HR&A should, with input from VHA stakeholders, ensure that meaningful distinctions are being made in employee performance ratings by (1) developing and implementing a standardized, comprehensive performance management training program for supervisors of Title 5, Title 38, and Title 38-Hybrid employees based on leading practices and ensuring procedures are in place to support effective performance conversations between supervisors and employees; (2) reviewing and revising Title 5 and Title 38 performance management policies consistent with leading practices (e.g., require definition of all performance levels); and (3) developing and implementing a process to standardize performance plan elements, standards, and metrics for common positions across VHA that are covered under VA's Title 5 performance management system.

Agency: Department of Veterans Affairs: Assistant Secretary for Human Resources and Administration
Status: Open
Priority recommendation

Comments: VA partially agreed with GAO's December 2016 recommendation. As of January 2020, VA has made progress toward addressing this recommendation. VA officials described a new pilot performance management system that is being used to develop an enterprise-wide performance management solution. VA officials also stated that they were developing policy revisions for performance management that are scheduled to be completed later this year. These actions, when fully implemented, should help VA make meaningful distinctions in performance and hold employees accountable.
Recommendation: To accelerate efforts to develop a modern, credible, and effective performance management system, the Assistant Secretary for HR&A should, with input from VHA stakeholders, develop a plan for how and when it intends to implement a modern information technology (IT) system to support employee performance management processes.

Agency: Department of Veterans Affairs: Assistant Secretary for Human Resources and Administration
Status: Open
Priority recommendation

Comments: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) partially agreed with GAO's December 2016 recommendation and as of January 2020 has made progress toward implementing the recommendation. For example, VA officials told GAO that they implemented a pilot project to develop a standard IT performance management system that started with about 12,000 employees and has expanded to about 67,00 employees. They told GAO that they are currently in the process of developing an enterprise-wide performance management IT solution. Activities such as finalizing a business case and analyzing alternatives are still in progress. GAO will continue to monitor VA's progress on this effort. Successful planning and implementation of a modern IT system should help VA capture reliable, timely, department-wide employee performance information and may also help VA realize cost savings by eliminating inefficient paper-based procedures.