GAO report to congressional committees (March 2004): defense acquisitions--assessments of major weapon programs.

The General Accounting Office (GAO) recently completed its assessment of 51 defense programs ranging from the Missile Defense Agency's Airborne Laser to the Army's Warfighter Information Network. The report stated that most of the programs assessed proceeded with less knowledge at critical junctures than suggested by best practices, although several came close to meeting best practice standards. GAO also found that programs generally did not track statistical process control data, a key indicator for production maturity. Program stakeholders, according to the report, could use these assessments to recognize the gaps in knowledge early and take advantage of opportunities for constructive intervention--such as adjustments to schedule, trade-offs in requirements, and additional funding.

GAO has summarized the results of its assessments in a two-page format. Each two-page assessment contains a profile of the product that includes a description; a timeline of development; a baseline comparison of cost, schedule, and quantity changes to the program; and a graphical and narrative depiction of how the product development knowledge of an individual program compared to best practices. Each program office submitted comments, and they are included with each individual assessment as appropriate.

View the full product, including the scope and methodology, at <http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-04248>.