DOD Business Systems Modernization

Delivering modern business systems is at the heart of DOD's efforts to transform its business operations. To accomplish this, GAO has reported that the department needs to fully define and consistently implement fundamental business systems modernization management controls (both institutional and program specific). Because of these challenges, GAO first designated DOD's business systems modernization program as "high-risk" in 1995 and continues to do so today

Highlights of GAO-09-271 (PDF)

• At the institutional level, DOD needs to
• extend (federate) its corporate business enterprise architecture and related transition plan to its component organizations and ensure that it reflects the department's complete investment portfolio, and

  Highlights of GAO-09-586 (PDF), Highlights of GAO-08-519 (PDF)

• evolve its corporate and component business system investment management processes and be institutionalized at all levels of the organization.

  Highlights of GAO-08-52 (PDF), Highlights of GAO-07-538 (PDF)

• Beyond this, the more formidable challenge for the department is ensuring that the thousands of DOD business system modernization and information technology (IT) services programs and projects employ program management rigor and discipline. In this regard, our work has continued to show program-specific management weaknesses, including
• not economically justifying investments on the basis of reliable estimates of future costs and benefits

  Highlights of GAO-08-822 (PDF), Highlights of GAO-08-896 (PDF)

• not pursuing investments within the context of an enterprise architecture; and

  Highlights of GAO-08-972 (PDF)

• not adequately conducting key acquisition functions, such as requirements management, risk management, test management, performance management, and contract management.

  Highlights of GAO-09-841 (PDF), Highlights of GAO-08-822 (PDF), Highlights of GAO-07-51 (PDF), Highlights of GAO-06-215 (PDF)

Until DOD fully defines and consistently implements the full range of business systems modernization management controls (institutional and program specific), it will be not be able to adequately ensure that its IT system and service investments are the right solutions for addressing its business needs, that they are being managed to produce expected capabilities efficiently and cost effectively, and that business stakeholders are satisfied.

^ Back to topWhat Needs to Be Done

At the institutional level,

• the supporting component architectures need to be developed and aligned with the corporate architecture to complete the federated business enterprise architecture,

  Highlights of GAO-08-519 (PDF), Highlights of GAO-09-586 (PDF)

• DOD business system investments need to be defined and implemented within the context of its federated business enterprise architecture, and

  Highlights of GAO-08-972 (PDF), Highlights of GAO-09-586 (PDF)

• the investment process needs to evolve and be institutionalized at all levels of the organization.

  Highlights of GAO-09-586 (PDF), Highlights of GAO-08-52 (PDF), Highlights of GAO-08-53 (PDF), Highlights of GAO-07-538 (PDF)

Furthermore, DOD needs to ensure that its business system programs and projects are managed with integrated institutional controls and that they consistently deliver promised benefits and capabilities on time and within budget.

• DOD needs to ensure that the thousands of DOD business system programs and projects and IT services employ acquisition management rigor and discipline, such as economically justifying investments on the basis of reliable estimates of future costs and benefits; pursuing investments within the context of an enterprise architecture; and adequately conducting key acquisition functions, such as requirements management, risk management, test management, performance management, and contract management

  Highlights of GAO-09-841 (PDF), Highlights of GAO-08-822 (PDF), Highlights of GAO-08-896 (PDF), Highlights of GAO-08-972 (PDF), Highlights of GAO-07-51 (PDF), Highlights of GAO-06-215 (PDF)

^ Back to topKey Reports

Missile Defense

DOD Business Systems Modernization

Information Technology

DOD Business Systems Modernization

DOD Business Systems Modernization

DOD Business Systems Modernization

DOD Business Systems Modernization