GAO lauds DOD biz progress

“Defense Management: Foundational Steps Being Taken to Manage DOD Business Systems Modernization, bu

The Government Accountability Office lauded the Defense Department for its recent progress in modernizing business systems and processes — the first positive report from GAO on DOD’s business transformation effort in years.

But GAO said the department should focus more on its business management than on its systems. “Business transformation is much broader and encompasses planning, management, structures and processes related to all key business areas,” GAO’s report states. The agency released the report today.

GAO said DOD’s Business Enterprise Architecture Version 3.0 meets a requirement in the 2005 Defense Authorization Act. But the agency said the new architecture provides for a target architecture, not a current one.

“Without this element, DOD could not analyze the gaps between the two architectures — critical input to a comprehensive transition plan,” according to GAO’s report.

GAO said the department met another Defense Authorization Act requirement by establishing structures and processes for reviewing and approving business systems investments. But the agency said DOD has not put them in place.

DOD made a bold move to fix its business systems and processes last month by creating the Defense Business Transformation Agency. The new agency will unify the military’s programs and funding related to business systems and processes.