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Technology failures grow all too common in government projects
Los Angeles Times ^ | December 2, 2013 | Joseph Tanfani

Posted on 12/02/2013 12:58:19 PM PST by Cincinatus' Wife

"..........Experts point out that troubled information technology projects aren't unusual in private companies either. But the government's problems, involving taxpayer money, are pervasive and add up to billions in waste. Washington will spend more than $76 billion this year on information technology. A federal report in January found that 700 projects, accounting for $12.5 billion, were in trouble.

"Clearly the federal IT system is broken," said Michael Krigsman, an industry analyst who is often hired to analyze project failures. The problems seen with HealthCare.gov are not unique, he said.

"There are whole strings of failed IT projects where everybody points fingers at everybody else, and there's no one who ultimately takes responsibility."

The problems start with a byzantine contracting system that matches up poorly with the fast-evolving information world.

In the time it takes federal agencies to figure out what they need and get Congress to appropriate money, the technology can become obsolete or the costs increase dramatically.

The appropriations process, said one tech industry lobbyist, is stuck in a "horse and buggy" era........."

(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Crime/Corruption; Extended News; Government
KEYWORDS: biggovernment; it; technology

1 posted on 12/02/2013 12:58:19 PM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

The average executive could care less how things get done! They just want are results.

If ObamaAir ran an airline, few planes would ever make it off the tarmac, even fewer planes would have passengers.

What has transpired is beyond expectable, it is a one way ticket to disaster on discount and you’re the excess baggage and have to pay an larger fee.


2 posted on 12/02/2013 1:04:05 PM PST by NormsRevenge (Semper Fi)
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-are


3 posted on 12/02/2013 1:04:39 PM PST by NormsRevenge (Semper Fi)
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

When you sub-contract to India or China this is what you get.


4 posted on 12/02/2013 1:05:03 PM PST by Resolute Conservative
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

For sure however for bottomless money pit losers at agencies like NSA they can just classify the failures, cant do that here.


5 posted on 12/02/2013 1:05:45 PM PST by sickoflibs (Obama : 'If you like your Doctor you can keep him, PERIOD! Don't believe the GOPs warnings')
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To: Cincinatus' Wife
In the time it takes federal agencies to figure out what they need and get Congress to appropriate money, the technology can become obsolete or the costs increase dramatically.
Of course, just look at how much better things get done when you go with a no-bid contract to a Canadian company run by one of Michelle's old school chums.
6 posted on 12/02/2013 1:13:16 PM PST by Bob
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To: NormsRevenge; All
Coburn Blasts Homeland Security IT Weaknesses "...........“This report shows major gaps in DHS’ own cybersecurity, including some of the most basic protections that would be obvious to any 13-year-old with a laptop. DHS doesn’t use strong authentication,” Coburn said. “It relies on antiquated software that’s full of holes. Its components don’t report security incidents when they should. They don’t keep track of weaknesses when they’re found, and they don’t fix them in time to make a difference.”

Coburn said his statement that the findings about the Homeland Security Department were just one example of broader issues in the federal IT systems.

“The fact is the federal government’s classified and unclassified networks are dangerously insecure, putting at risk not only U.S. national security, but the nation’s critical infrastructure and vast amounts of our citizens’ personally identifiable information,” Coburn said.

The IG report comes with Jeh Johnson awaiting confirmation to be the next secretary of Homeland Security. Several GOP senators have placed holds on the nomination, meaning that Senate Democrats may have to use time-consuming procedural maneuvers to get Johnson on the job."

7 posted on 12/02/2013 1:46:30 PM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

I believe this is an article that presents the same premise “everybody does it.. aka Clinton admin”.

Obamacare website is just the manifestation of problematic gov IT, so change the focus from Obamacare disaster to gov IT problems... i.e. move along...


8 posted on 12/02/2013 2:58:37 PM PST by Atilla_the_Hun (Reagan now more than ever)
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

I believe this is an article that presents the same premise “everybody does it.. aka Clinton admin”.

Obamacare website is just the manifestation of problematic gov IT, so change the focus from Obamacare disaster to gov IT problems... i.e. move along...


9 posted on 12/02/2013 2:59:09 PM PST by Atilla_the_Hun (Reagan now more than ever)
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