Information Technology: Best Practices Can Improve Performance and Produce Results

GAO discussed how leading organizations' best practices can be effectively used to improve information technology (IT) management in the federal government. GAO noted that: (1) federal IT-related expenditures total over $25 billion per year, but the benefits from IT are unknown; (2) IT can be used to improve organizational performance, but risks of failure must be carefully managed to ensure successful decisions and project completions; (3) organizations that have successfully implemented IT projects have found that with rapidly changing technological power and choices, sustainable and effective management practices are needed to achieve consistent success; and (4) federal agencies must facilitate success by implementing improved IT management processes and reinforce accountability to produce noticeable results with IT investments.