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 2008-05-16 monographic deposited born digital 52 p. GA 1.13:GAO-08-657 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-657 P0b002ee1803764c3 f:d08657 DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-28 GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-657 machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-657 GAO-08-657 Agricultural industry Agricultural programs Chief information officers Cost analysis Data collection Data integrity Information management Information technology Internal controls Performance measures Program evaluation Program management Reporting requirements Strategic information systems planning Strategic planning Systems analysis Systems integration Telecommunications Telecommunications systems Cost estimates Program implementation Other Written Product A82132 The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has experienced significant problems with its information technology systems that support the delivery of benefits programs to farmers. In October 2006, these systems began experiencing considerable delays while attempting to process a large number of transactions, and by January 2007, the systems became inoperable for 1 month. In response to these issues, USDA developed a near-term stabilization plan and long-term plans to modernize its delivery of these programs. GAO was asked to determine (1) the extent to which USDA's stabilization plan addresses key management issues, including consistently tracking reported problems, establishing performance metrics and goals, and defining roles and responsibilities and (2) the adequacy of USDA's assessment of existing product capabilities, as well as cost and schedule estimates for its new, long-term modernization investment. To address these objectives, GAO, among other things, compared USDA's plans with industry best practices. On March 25, 2008, GAO briefed the requesters' staff on the results of this review. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-657/html/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-657.htm https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-657/pdf/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-657.pdf GAO-08-657 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-657 Other Written Product GAO-08-657; Information Technology: Agriculture Needs to Strengthen Management Practices for Stabilizing and Modernizing Its Farm Program Delivery Systems; Agricultural industry Agricultural programs Chief information officers Cost analysis Data collection Data integrity Information management Information technology Internal controls Performance measures Program evaluation Program management Reporting requirements Strategic information systems planning Strategic planning Systems analysis Systems integration Telecommunications Telecommunications systems Cost estimates Program implementation