Additional executive review sessions – or TechStats – are needed to address troubled IT projects, GAO has said.
OMB had conducted 79 of these review sessions as of April focusing on 55 investments at 23 federal agencies. GAO said selected agencies are generally conducting TechStats in accordance with OMB guidance including15 key requirements, such as when TechStats should be implemented, what participants should be included, and how outcomes should be tracked and reported.
OMB and selected agencies have tracked and reported positive results from TechStats, with most resulting in improved governance, and OMB also reported in 2011 that federal agencies achieved almost $4 billion in lifecycle cost savings as a result of TechStat sessions, according to GAO-13-524.
GAO however said it was unable to validate OMB’s reported results because OMB did not provide artifacts showing that it ensured the results were valid, and that until OMB obtains and shares information on the methods used to validate reported results, it will be difficult for the results to be independently validated and for OMB to provide assurance to Congress and the public that TechStats are achieving their intended impact.
