United States Government Publishing Office publisher pbl distributor dst United States Government Accountability Office Resources, Community, and Economic Development Division author aut Government Organization text government publication eng GAOREPORTS Legislative Agency Publications gao legislative 2010-08-12 U.S. Government Printing Office 1996-08-22 monographic deposited born digital 72 p. GA 1.13:RCED-96-159 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-RCED-96-159 P0b002ee180390311 f:rc96159 DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-23 GAOREPORTS-RCED-96-159 machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-RCED-96-159 RCED-96-159 Systems conversions Federal agency reorganization Accountability Agency missions Air traffic control systems Federal procurement Concurrency Requirements definition Navigation aids Interagency relations FAA Air Traffic Control System FAA Air Traffic Control Modernization Program FAA Advanced Automation System FAA Mode Surveillance Systems FAA Air Route Surveillance Radar-4 FAA Airport Movement Area Safety System FAA Automated Terminal Doppler Radar Warning System FAA Airport Surveillance Radar Program Microwave Landing System Instrument Landing System FAA Integrated Product Development System FAA Acquisition Management System FAA Initial Sector Suite System FAA Airport Surface Detection Equipment Radar FAA Aviation Weather Observing System FAA Flight Service Automation System FAA Integrated Terminal Weather System FAA Voice Switching and Control System NWS Automated Surface Observing System FAA Real-Time Weather Processor FAA Oceanic Display and Planning System NAVSTAR Global Positioning System GPS Chapter Report RCED

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) management of its acquisition process, focusing on: (1) whether the FAA organizational culture has contributed to persistent acquisition problems; and (2) potential management improvements that could result from FAA organizational change.<p/>GAO found that: (1) the FAA organizational culture has been an underlying cause of FAA acquisition problems; (2) employees' attitudes do not reflect FAA focus on accountability, coordination, or adaptability; (3) FAA acquisition officials make little or no mission needs analyses, set unrealistic cost and schedule estimates, and begin production before systems development and testing is completed; (4) FAA fails to enforce accountability for defining systems requirements or for contract oversight; (5) the hierarchical FAA structure fosters a controlling environment, diminishes employee empowerment, and impedes information sharing; (6) FAA operations and development divisions have separate and distinct lines of authority and communications, which impedes coordination; (7) FAA officials are resistant to making needed changes in their acquisition process because FAA culture rewards conservatism and conformity and discourages innovation; (8) recognizing its need to improve the acquisition process through cultural change, FAA implemented a reform effort based on cross-functional, integrated product teams, and introduced a new acquisition management system; (9) FAA believes the product teams will improve accountability and coordination and infuse a more mission-oriented focus into the acquisition process; and (10) FAA has approved only one product team plan because it is still having difficulty in gaining the strong commitment of all employees who have a stake in the acquisition process and in forging partnerships across organizational divisions. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-RCED-96-159/html/GAOREPORTS-RCED-96-159.htm https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-RCED-96-159/pdf/GAOREPORTS-RCED-96-159.pdf GAO/RCED-96-159 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-RCED-96-159 Chapter Report GAO/RCED-96-159; Aviation Acquisition: A Comprehensive Strategy Is Needed for Cultural Change at FAA; Systems conversions Federal agency reorganization Accountability Agency missions Air traffic control systems Federal procurement Concurrency Requirements definition Navigation aids Interagency relations FAA Air Traffic Control System FAA Air Traffic Control Modernization Program FAA Advanced Automation System FAA Mode Surveillance Systems FAA Air Route Surveillance Radar-4 FAA Airport Movement Area Safety System FAA Automated Terminal Doppler Radar Warning System FAA Airport Surveillance Radar Program Microwave Landing System Instrument Landing System FAA Integrated Product Development System FAA Acquisition Management System FAA Initial Sector Suite System FAA Airport Surface Detection Equipment Radar FAA Aviation Weather Observing System FAA Flight Service Automation System FAA Integrated Terminal Weather System FAA Voice Switching and Control System NWS Automated Surface Observing System FAA Real-Time Weather Processor FAA Oceanic Display and Planning System NAVSTAR Global Positioning System GPS Title 49 Section 40110note 49 U.S.C. 40110note Volume 109 Page 436 109 Stat. 436 Public Law 104-50