NASA
Subtitle: assessments of selected large-scale projects : report to congressional committees
Contributors: Chaplain, Cristina T.; United States. National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Publisher: U.S. Govt. Accountability Office
Published: 2011
Place of publication: Washington, D.C.]
Language: eng
Format: [electronic resource] :
Number of pages: 96
Subjects: Management; Procurement; Project management; United States. National Aeronautics and Space Administration; United States
Other titles: National Aeronautics and Space Administration :; Assessments of selected large-scale projects
Description: GAO's work has shown that the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) large-scale projects, while producing groundbreaking research and advancing our understanding of the universe, tend to cost more and take longer to develop than planned, and are often approved without evidence of a sound business case. Although space development is complex and difficult by nature, GAO has found that inherent risks are compounded by the need for better management and oversight practices. GAO has designated NASA's acquisition management a high risk area. This report provides a snapshot of how well NASA is planning and executing its acquisition of selected large-scale projects. It also provides observations about the performance of NASA's major projects and project management, outlines steps NASA is taking to improve its acquisitions, identifies challenges that contribute to cost and schedule growth, and assesses 21 NASA projects, each with an estimated life-cycle cost of over $250 million. GAO is not making any new recommendations in this report. Instead GAO is issuing another report concurrently (GAO-11- 364R) that describes in more detail some of the issues identified in this report, such as transparency in project costs and lack of a consistent design metric, and will make recommendations to address the issues.
Notes: Title from cover screen (GAO, viewed Mar. 7, 2011).

"March 2011."

"GAO-11-239SP."

Includes bibliographical references.