VA says it has new system to prevent IT mismanagement
In response to criticism from its inspector general's office, the department said it has set up a new oversight system to improve its IT management.
The Veterans Affairs Department has set up a new oversight system to deal with problems cited by its inspector general about systemic mismanagement of major information technology projects, the department said today.
“VA has put in place its new Program Management Accountability System to ensure that the resources required to deliver IT products are managed to ensure that progress is demonstrated and non-performing projects are identified and quickly stopped,” the VA said in a statement.
The VA issued the statement in response to an Aug. 26 report from the department’s inspector general's office that blamed ongoing mismanagement of large IT projects for the failure of the department's Replacement Scheduling Applications development program.
The department stopped that project in March after spending more than $120 million without producing effective software. The IG blamed inadequate requirements planning and procurement oversight along with other problems.
The new oversight system “will ensure proper stewardship of taxpayer dollars while enabling us to deliver customer products to improve the delivery of service and benefits to the veteran,” the department said.
“Leveraging the power of information technology to accelerate and modernize the delivery of benefits and services to our nation’s veterans is essential to transforming VA to a 21st century organization that is people-centric, results-driven and forward-thinking,” the VA said.