Defense Management: DOD Needs to Take Additional Actions to Promote Department-Wide Collaboration

Abstract

DOD continues to confront organizational challenges that hinder collaboration. To address these challenges, section 911 of the NDAA for Fiscal Year 2017 directed the Secretary of Defense to issue an organizational strategy that identifies critical objectives which span multiple functional boundaries and that would benefit from the use of cross-functional teams. Additionally, DOD is to establish cross-functional teams to support this strategy. The NDAA also included a provision for GAO to assess DODs actions in response to section 911. This report evaluates the extent to which DOD, in accordance with statutory requirements and leading practices, has (1) developed and issued an organizational strategy, (2) established Secretary of Defense-empowered cross-functional teams, and (3) provided associated training for Office of the Secretary of Defense leaders. GAO analyzed DODs draft organizational strategy, draft guidance on establishing cross-functional teams, and draft training curriculum. GAO also interviewed DOD officials and subject-matter experts and identified leading practices for effective cross-functional teams. GAO is making four recommendations to DOD, including revising its organizational strategy, collaborating with key stakeholders on thedevelopment of its organizational strategy, revising cross-functional team guidance, and providing training. DOD concurred with GAOs recommendations.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Feb 01, 2018
Accession Number
AD1157557

Entities

People

  • Adelle Dantzler
  • Amie Lesser
  • Arkelga Braxton
  • David Dornisch
  • Elizabeth Field
  • Jared Sippel
  • Jessica Du
  • Judy Mccloskey
  • Leslie Bharadwaja
  • Michael Holland
  • Ned Malone
  • Pam Snedden
  • Richard Powelson
  • Richard Zarrella
  • Ron Schwenn
  • Sarah Veale
  • Sheila Miller
  • Terry Richardson
  • Tina Won Sherman
  • Tracy Barnes

Organizations

  • United States Government Accountability Office

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Autonomy
  • Human Systems

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Accountability
  • Acquisition
  • Congress
  • Department Of Defense
  • Governments
  • Guidance
  • Law
  • Lessons Learned
  • Management Personnel
  • Military Personnel
  • National Governments
  • National Security
  • Organizational Structure
  • Personnel Management
  • Teamwork
  • Training
  • United States Government

Readers

  • Government Contracting/Procurement.
  • Organizational Process Management (OPM).