GAO-05-702 DOD Business Systems Modernization: Long-Standing Weaknesses in Enterprise Architecture Development Need to Be Addressed

Since 1995, the DoD¿s business systems modernization program has been designated as high risk, and it continues to do so today. To assist in addressing DoD's business system modernization challenges, the Nat. Defense Authorization Act for FY 2005 contains provisions that require the DoD to take certain actions and to annually report to its congressional committees on these actions. This is an annual review of DoD's actions to comply with key aspects in the Act and related fed. guidance. To do so, the auditor reviewed, for ex., the latest version of DoD's business enterprise architecture and transition plan, investment mgmt. policies and procedures, and information in the dep¿t. business system data repositories. Includes recommendations. Illus.

The Dept. of Defense¿s (DoD) business systems modernization program is designated as ¿high risk¿. To assist in addressing this high-risk area, the Reagan Nat. Defense Authorization Act for FY 2005 contains provisions that are consistent with prior investment mgmt. and enterprise architecture-related recommendations, and requires the dept. to submit annual reports to its congressional committees on its compliance with these provisions. The act also directs a review each annual report. This report assessed the actions taken by DoD to comply with requirements of the act. The report reviewed the latest version of DoD¿s business enterprise architecture and the associated transition plan and architecture federation strategy. Illustrations.

Since 1995, GAO has designated the Department of Defense's (DOD) business systems modernization program as high risk, and it continues to do so today. To assist in addressing DOD's business system modernization challenges, the Ronald W. Reagan National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005 (the Act) contains provisions that require the department to take certain actions and to annually report to its congressional committees on these actions. The Act also directs GAO to review each annual report. In response, GAO performed its fifth annual review of DOD's actions to comply with key aspects in the Act and related federal guidance. To do so, GAO reviewed, for example, the latest version of DOD's business enterprise architecture (BEA) and transition plan, investment management policies and procedures, and information in the department's business system data repositories. Because GAO has existing recommendations that address most of the weaknesses discussed in this report, it reiterates these recommendations and further recommends that DOD resolve the issues surrounding key modernization management positions and the quality of investment-related information.

For decades, the DoD has been challenged in modernizing its thousands of business systems. Since 1995, this effort has been designated as high risk. One key to effectively modernizing DoD¿s systems environment and satisfying relevant legislative requirements is ensuring that business system investments comply with an enterprisewide strategic blueprint, commonly called an enterprise architecture. For DoD¿s business systems modernization, it is developing and using a federated Business Enterprise Architecture (BEA), which is a coherent family of parent and subsidiary architectures. This report determines whether key Dept. of the Navy business systems modernization programs comply with DoD¿s federated BEA. Charts and tables.

In 1995, the DoD business systems modernization program was designated as a high-risk program, and the program remains on the high-risk list today. A key to successful systems modernization is having and using an enterprise architecture as an authoritative frame of reference, or blueprint, for system investment decisions. To assist DoD in modernizing its business systems, Congress passed legislation consistent with prior recommendations for DoD to develop and implement a business enterprise architecture (BEA). In response, DoD developed a corporate BEA that it intends to federate, or extend, to the military depts. and defense agencies. This report evaluates the status of the Air Force, Navy, and Army architecture programs. Illus.