Is the Department of Defense a High Risk Anomaly?
Abstract
This project will look at the DoD’s long-standing areas on the GAO’s high-risk list (HRL). A comparative analysis with the long-standing areas of other agencies will identify if barriers to being removed from the HRL are unique to DoD. The question is whether or not the high-risk list produced by GAO is an effective tool in improving managerial practices and oversight. If the data shows that reasons for failure to get removed from the list are unique to DoD then it could reflect a need for managerial improvement within the department. However, if the data reflects a pattern across agencies, it could help identify issues with the premise of the high-risk list itself as an effective way for improving management of vulnerable areas. Our hypothesis is that the DoD is not unique in having an area remain on the list for a long period of time and therefore that the high-risk list is somewhat ineffective in its current construct. The findings, whether positive or not, will help DoD understand if its high vulnerability areas are unique or if there are similarities between the DoD and other agencies. Additionally, the data will provide GAO information about the effectiveness of their five-point star evaluation and their assessment of vulnerable areas. On the other hand, if the data identifies that DoD is an anomaly in its long tenure on GAO’s high-risk list, DoD may then wish to assess whether significant systemic or cultural change to management of specific high risk areas is needed or if DoD sees any value to addressing high risk list areas at all. However, if our hypothesis is correct, there will be less to say about DoD’s management and more to say about GAO’s approach to scoring progress and achieving removal of areas from the HRL. The offering institution is the Sanford School of Public Policy at Duke University. Dr. Douglas A. Brook, visiting professor, will serve as principle investigator. He is former ASA (FM), ASN (FM&C) and acting USD (Comptroller and CFO). Danelle Gamble will serve as research assistant. She is a MPP candidate in the Sanford School and a U.S. Army officer.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Jun 08, 2020
- Source ID
- HQ00342010013
Entities
People
- Douglas Brook
Organizations
- Duke University
- Office of the Secretary of Defense
- Washington Headquarters Services