United States Government Publishing Office publisher pbl distributor dst United States Government Accountability Office author aut Government Organization text government publication eng GAOREPORTS Legislative Agency Publications gao legislative 2010-08-12 U.S. Government Printing Office 2001-04-10 monographic deposited born digital 64 p. GA 1.13:GAO-01-510 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-01-510 P0b002ee180371542 f:d01510 DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-23 GAOREPORTS-GAO-01-510 machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-GAO-01-510 GAO-01-510 Military research and development Weapons systems Private sector practices Decision making Other Written Product A00808 GAO examined how best practices could help the Department of Defense (DOD) maximize the benefits of integrated product teams in its development of weapon systems. GAO conducted eight case studies: three from leading commercial firms; four from DOD programs experiencing cost, schedule, and performance problems; and one from a DOD program that has been meeting its objectives. GAO found that effective integrated product teams can make significant development decisions quickly and without relying on heavy consultations with organizations outside of the team. These teams have developed and delivered superior products within predicted time frames and budgets--often cutting calendar time in half compared with earlier products delivered without such teams. Officials from the more successful programs GAO reviewed--three commercial and one from DOD--all cited integrated product teams as a main factor in achieving such results. In the four DOD programs that were not meeting cost and schedule objectives, GAO found that the teams did not operate as effectively. Their decision-making processes were sequential and involved numerous outside consultations for information and approval. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-01-510/html/GAOREPORTS-GAO-01-510.htm https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-01-510/pdf/GAOREPORTS-GAO-01-510.pdf GAO-01-510 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-01-510 Other Written Product GAO-01-510; Best Practices: DOD Teaming Practices Not Achieving Potential Results; Military research and development Weapons systems Private sector practices Decision making