In the News
Dr. Brown's Senate Testimony on 31 July 2008
On Thursday, 31 July 2008, Norm Brown, Executive Director Center for Program Transformation, testified
to the United States Senate, Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management,
Government Information, Federal Services, and International Security in a hearing
titled, "Off-line and Off-Budget: The Dismal State of Federal Information Technology Planning."
The hearing was chaired by Senator Thomas Carper, D-Del.
Some key points from Norm's testimony, focused on best practices and reform to increase visibility and reduce risk, is summarized below,
click here to get Dr. Brown's complete written testimony as it was submitted for the record.
Key Recommendations from Norm's Testimony
- Establish a monthly reporting process (now referred to as a Form 360) on program performance to provide
visibility and facilitate early course correction.
- Go beyond Earned Value and indlude:
risk management, staffing, product integration, defect containment and other key metrics.
- Produce the Form 360 Report on a monthly basis to provide programs with visibility into
their project's true state.
- On a quarterly basis, distribute these reports to the OMB, GAO and Congress.
- Require use of fundamental program management processes in all programs.
- Establish a support team staffed with subject matter experts, who can provide timely support
to programs in need. Chairman Carper referred to this as a "IT Strike Team".
Click here to get Dr. Brown's written testimony as it was submitted for the record.
Links to Testimony
There were a total of six witnesses who testified at the hearing. Their written testimony, submitted for the record,
can be accessed via the links in the table below.
| Click to Open | Witness | Witness Title |
|---|
| View PDF | The Honorable Karen Evans | Administrator, Office of Electronic Government and Information Technology, Office of Management and Budget |
| View PDF | The Honorable Paul Denett | Administrator , Office of Federal Procurement Policy, Office of Management and Budget |
| View PDF | David Powner | Director, Information Technology Issues , U.S. Government Accountability Office |
| View PDF | Al Grasso | President and Chief Executive Officer , MITRE Corporation |
| View PDF | Norm Brown | Executive Director, Center for Program Transformation |
| View PDF | Thomas Jarrett | Secretary, Delaware Department of Technology and Information |
In addition to the witnesses, Chairman Carper presented a report card, which states that $57 Billion in projects are in danger
of failing.
Click here to view the report card from Chairman Carper.
Photo's From the Testimony
Hearings in progress, led by Chairman Carper (United States Senator for Delaware), with Tom Jarrett
(Secretary of the Department of Technology and Information and CIO Delaware),
Norm Brown (Executive Director CPT), and Al Grasso (CEO Mitre) testifying
David Bulkin (CIO CPT), Norm Brown (Executive Director CPT), and Chairman Carper
(United States Senator from Delaware) further discuss key topics from the testimony
Al Grasso (CEO Mitre), Norm Brown (Executive Director CPT), and David Bulkin (CIO CPT)
discussing how an outcome based approach for requirements definition can improve effectiveness
Norm Brown (Executive Director CPT), David Powner
(GAO Director, Information Technology Management Issues), and Al Grasso (CEO Mitre) discussing the serious
issues being addressed