DOD Business Systems Modernization: Continued Investment in Key Accounting Systems Needs to be Justified

Abstract

The Department of Defenses (DOD) long-standing financial management and business systems modernization problems result in a lack of information needed to make sound decisions, hinder the efficiency of operations, and leave the department vulnerable to fraud, waste, and abuse. Such problems led us in 1995 to put financial management and business systems modernization at DOD on our list of high-risk areas in the federal government, a designation that continues today. GAO was asked to (1) provide information on the number and cost of DODs current business systems and (2) determine if DOD is effectively managing and overseeing selected accounting system investments. This report recommends that the Secretary of Defense limit future investments by the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) in three ongoing system projects we reviewed until each has been adequately justified. The report also recommends that all other DFAS information technology projects be evaluated to ensure they are being implemented at acceptable costs and within reasonable time frames. DOD concurred with our recommendations and described efforts to address them.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 01, 2003
Accession Number
AD1166459

Entities

People

  • Beatrice Alff
  • Darby Smith
  • Francine Delvecchio
  • J. C. Martin
  • Jason D Kelly
  • Jennifer G. Wilson
  • Joseph Cruz
  • Lester Diamond
  • Robert Wagner
  • Stacey Smith

Organizations

  • United States Government Accountability Office

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • C4I
  • Human Systems

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Accounting
  • Business Administration
  • Contracts
  • Cost Estimates
  • Department Of Defense
  • Economic Analysis
  • Electronic Commerce
  • Financial Management
  • Governments
  • Information Systems
  • International Relations
  • Life Cycle Costs
  • Life Cycle Management
  • Life Cycles
  • Military Acquisition
  • Money
  • National Security
  • Organizational Structure
  • Procurement
  • Test And Evaluation

Fields of Study

  • Business

Readers

  • Defense Acquisition Program Management
  • Defense Financial Management and Audit.