Information Technology Cost Estimation Agencies Need to Address Significant Weakness in Policies and Practices
To estimate reliable cost for the sucess of an IT program by providing the basis for the informed decision making and realistic budget information. To assess the extent to which selected departments ... and agencies have appropriately implement costestimating policies an procedures(four caracteristics of a reliable cost estimation: comprehensive, well-documented, accurate, credible). ... IT cost estimation ... Check out what may go wrong with the information technology cost estimation. Results of the US GAO audit can help to identify high risk areas: comprehensiveness of estimations, their documentation ... , lack of adequacy and inadequate implementation.
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Data security and positions with access to confidential information
This government wide audit on information security and positions with access to confidential information has been performed at all ministries ans for each ministry also at one of the agencies ... it comes to the audit on positions with access to confidential information almost all organizations show ommisions in compliance to the Security Screening Act. Only the ministry of Defence complies. ... . The 2007 Civil Service Data Information Security Decree (in Dutch: VIR 2007) is the legal foundation of the first part of this audit (data security). The Security Screening Act (in Dutch: WVO ... ... Shortcomings in information security and in positions with access to confidential information ... Surprising weaknesses were revealed by the NCA in its Government-wide operational audit performed as part of the 2011 audit into the state of central government accounts: Poor quality of data ... protection policy and poor protection of information systems. Also, non vetted positions with access to confidential information.
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Performance Audit of the Management of ICT in the Criminal Justice Sector
The Norwegian OAG has assesed how the Ministry of Justice and Public Security has discharged its responsibility for effiecient case processing through developing and applying Information ... and Communications Technology (ICT) in the criminal justice sector ... ... Unclear signals from a Ministry weaken development of ICT in the justice chain ... reporting from the subordinate agencies, ensuring that the new ICT Police System takes into account other sub-sectors need for electronic interaction. ... Points by SAI Norway: development of an overall rolling action plan based on the current ICT (Information and Communication Technology) strategy for the justice sector, performance-oriented
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Use of European Union funds in promoting information society
The National Audit Office audited the use of the aid allocated from the structural funds of the European Union (hereinafter EU aid) in the information technology (IT) area of the state. The National ... Audit Office is of the opinion that the state is too focussed on financing the IT developments aimed at the state when distributing aid for the implementation of the National Information Society ... Development Plan, and not paid enough attention on improving the competitiveness of companies and supporting the IT development projects that are aimed at the third sector. Also, the selection of IT projects ... Riigikontroll auditeeris Euroopa Liidu struktuurifondidest ehk tõukefondidest eraldatud toetuste (edaspidi ELi toetusraha) kasutamist riigi infotehnoloogia (IT) valdkonnas. Uuriti, kas raha jagamine ... toetuste jagamisel keskendunud liiga riigile suunatud IT-arenduste rahastamisele ning jätnud tagaplaanile ettevõtete konkurentsivõime parandamisele ja kolmandale sektorile suunatud IT arendusprojektide ... toetamise. Samuti ei ole IT-projektide valik olnud läbipaistev ning riigi järelevalve projektide elluviimise üle on jäänud formaalseks. ... Balance needed for success of Information Society Development Plan ... 50% of aid has been granted primarily for the development of information systems of state agencies, i.e. as much as the other two target groups - business and citizens - put together. Information ... , true suppervision and measurement of progress are listed by the Estonian SAI as next key elements necessary to keep balanced development of strategy for Information Society.
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Software Developement Effective Practices and Federal Chalenges in Applying Agile Methods
To identify effective practices in applying Agile for software developement solutions and federal challenges in implementing Agile techniques. ... Agile project approach in government practice ... Useful products delivered in a short time are basis for often applauded features of agile project approach. Applied by many private companies, it tends as well to be more and more popular among state ... administrations. American GAO reviewed set of agile projects and revealed - apart from advantages - a set of commonly occurring problems: poor team work, lack of time and deficit of customers’ trust.
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Individual Operation System Development Projects
Audit of modernization of Patent Operation MGT Systems. The modernization's main aim was to replace existing multi-system structure of patents management with one consolidated and up-to-technology IS. ... No results without good management ... SAI of Japan, among its audits presents one which is concerned with stopped development of consolidated IT system for patents management.
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Management and protection of assets in the field of the information-communication technologies at the ME SR
) with emphasis on the use of the information technology (IT) services provided by the third parties. The vast amount of irregularities was found, especially many cases of failure to comply with the standards ... physical security of the areas related to the IT. All these irregularities are results of poor coordination, administration, organization, governance and operation management in the field of the ICT ... The Supreme Audit office of the Slovak Republic (SAO SR) has conducted the audit at the Ministry of Environment of the Slovak Republic (ME SR) for the audit period 2011 and 2012 to examine ... ... Started from contracting, ended in security ... The perceptive and filled with findings audit - conducted by the Slovak SAI - discovered the list of issues which started in careless contracting procedures, failure to update the development concept ... and ended in exposing the organization to high security risks.
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Peering Point Betriebs GmbH
In 2004 the Peering Point Betriebs GmbH was established to provide an effective and secure IT network for the operation of the e-card (a smart card which replaced health insurance vouchers ... in the course of the introduction of the electronic administration system) and other services in health care. Since its foundation the company has suffered losses. Net losses were covered by the two owners ... – the Main Association of Austrian Social Insurance Institutions and the Austrian Medical Chamber – to 50 % each, and since 2011 in a proportion of 60 to 40. The Main Association failed to give an objective ... ... Safe but expensive ... Network safety of a healthcare e-card system has been provided at a high cost. As the Austrian Court of Audit discovered - there was no concept to reduce the expenditure.
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Operation of the Record Systems Applied in the Eligibility Scheme of Benefits and Services Provided from the Social Security Funds
and Customs Administration), as well as the dataflow amongst them. In addition, the control system of fulfilling the data provision obligation was evaluated, as well as the IT support activities and whether ... Hungarian SAI evaluated the set-up and operation of the basic registries of managing bodies (National Health Insurance Fund, Central Administration of National Pension Insurance, National Tax ... the records had proven reliable in supporting services in compliance with eligibilities and in filtering unjustified services. The audited period covered the years 2007-2010. ... ... Well considered regulations are essential for good quality data ... State Audit Office of Hungary.has proved that date safety may depend on quality of regulations. The report on record systems of social security services casted light on risk connected with huge data ... bases managed by different entities, in a changing legal environment.
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Improved Planning and Performance Measures Are Needed to Help Ensure Successful Technology Modernization
Massive modernization effort needs coordination Social security issues can touch lives of many. Information technology in this area are increasingly costly and difficult to maintain. GAO is recommending to develop comprehensive metrics to effectively gauge modernization progress; complete comprehensive strategic planning, including its enterprise architecture; and define the new roles and responsibilities to help ensure effective oversight.
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