Problems with HealthCare.gov have many questioning how such a large investment could yield such poor results, but new information released regarding an Air Force IT system that was cancelled last year after $1 billion was spent developing it offers insight into how systems developed for the federal government can struggle to get off the ground.
According to an executive summary of a classified assessment, the Expeditionary Combat Support System was planned as a large-scale business systems transformation of AF logistics implemented through Enterprise Resource Planning, using a commercial-off-the-shelf software solution from Oracle.
Computer Sciences Corp was chosen as the prime contractor, and Oracle was selected to provide the main system, with additional "bolt-on" capabilities to be used to augment functionality.
Scope and capability changes and schedule slippage ensued. With the finish line pushed back to 2017 after several modifications, the decision was made to end the program and a review ordered.
An acquisition incident review team found four contributing causes: A confusing and sometimes ineffectual governance structure; Use of the wrong acquisition tool or misapplication of the right one; A fraught attempt to introduce a new technological and systemic approach to business logistics without gaining end user buy-in; and, A lack of leadership continuity – six program manager changes in eight years, five program executive officers in six years, and 10 different organizational constructs.
