Social Security Needs To Better Plan, Develop, and Implement Its Major ADP Systems Redesign Projects

Gao ID: HRD-81-47 February 6, 1981

The efforts by the Social Security Administration (SSA) to redesign its retirement, survivors, disability, and health insurance automated system was reviewed. This redesign represented a major multifaceted automatic data processing system modification project undertaken to improve service to program beneficiaries.

Although substantial effort and resources were invested in this project, it was largely unsuccessful. Only one of the five major new features expected during the redesign was fully implemented successfully, and SSA suspended further efforts to complete the project as it was originally planned. GAO believes that inadequate planning and management of the redesign and deficiencies in the SSA systems modification process were primary reasons that the agency was unable to fully complete the redesign. Further, SSA systems modification efforts in general will not meet their objectives until these weaknesses are corrected. Specifically, SSA did not: (1) adequately involve key field office users in planning redesign changes to ensure that their needs would be met by the modified system; (2) adequately analyze costs and benefits of the redesign; and (3) provide for consistent management of the redesign.

Recommendations

Our recommendations from this work are listed below with a Contact for more information. Status will change from "In process" to "Open," "Closed - implemented," or "Closed - not implemented" based on our follow up work.

Director: Thomas P. Giammo Team: General Accounting Office: Human Resources Division Phone: (202) 275-4659


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