Defense Business Transformation: DOD Needs to Take Additional Actions to Further Define Key Management Roles, Develop Measurable Goals, and Align Planning Efforts

Abstract

The Department of Defense (DOD) spends billions of dollars each year to maintain key business operations intended to support the warfighter, including systems and processes related to the management of contracts, finances, the supply chain, support infrastructure, and weapon systems acquisition. We have designated a number of these areas as high risk because of their vulnerability to fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement and because of opportunities to achieve greater efficiencies and free up resources for higher-priority needs. In 2005, we identified DOD's approach to business transformation as a high-risk area because (1) DOD had not established clear and specific management responsibility, accountability and control over business transformation-related activities and applicable resources; and (2) DOD lacked a clear strategic and integrated plan for business transformation with specific goals, measures and accountability mechanisms to monitor progress. Because of the complexity and magnitude of the challenges facing DOD in improving business operations, we have reported the need for a chief management officer (CMO) with significant authority and experience to focus the necessary attention and sustain progress. We also recommended that DOD develop a comprehensive, integrated, and enterprisewide transformation plan, supported by a strategic planning process. Moreover, we recommended that DOD institutionalize in directives the roles, responsibilities, and relationships among the various business-related entities and committees that comprise its management framework and expand that framework beyond business systems modernization to all business transformation efforts.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 26, 2011
Accession Number
ADA537028

Entities

Organizations

  • United States Government Accountability Office

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Advanced Electronics
  • Human Systems

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Acquisition
  • Best Practices
  • Business Administration
  • Commerce
  • Congress
  • Department Of Defense
  • Financial Management
  • Governments
  • Law
  • Logistics
  • Management Personnel
  • National Security
  • Organizational Structure
  • Supply Chain
  • Supply Chain Management
  • Systems Management
  • United States Government

Readers

  • Defense Acquisition Program Management