Industry group releases plan to fix federal technology projects

The panel emphasized improving cooperation between the government and the private sector, asking the Office of Management and Budget to articulate the value of communication with industry in a memo to senior leaders across the government. The panel also found that acquisition officials must communicate more with end users to make sure the systems purchased meet each agency’s need.

Other ways the government can improve the purchasing and installation of IT is by professionalizing the program manager’s role inside the government, promoting smaller projects with more incremental deliveries of benefits and by strengthening risk-management practices. The panel also called on the government to establish an independent review process for major IT acquisitions to reduce the odds of failure.