Strong Leadership Needed To Improve Management at the Department of Labor

Gao ID: HRD-86-12 October 21, 1985

GAO reviewed how the Department of Labor could improve management by: (1) identifying and handling emerging issues; (2) minimizing vulnerability in implementing and controlling management systems for efficient and effective program delivery; and (3) operating financial, procurement and automatic data processing (ADP) systems in a business-like way.

GAO found that Labor had no systematic, departmentwide, long-range policy planning process in such problem areas as: (1) determining how to best use the agency's investigators to achieve a credible enforcement program for pension plans; (2) reducing the lengthy time involved in issuing regulations; and (3) integrating the acquisition and use of ADP resources without unduly constraining component operations. GAO also found that the Secretary generally did not identify key priorities or systematically track progress; however, where he did identify priorities, results were achieved. In addition, GAO found that: (1) information systems did not always provide sufficient data on mission attainment; (2) the monitoring of programs primarily operating at the state and local levels may not be identifying vulnerable areas; (3) program managers often did not perceive audits, reviews, and evaluations as identifying and resolving problems; (4) the agency might have lessened the adverse effect of reductions in force through better identification and planning for long-term staffing needs; (5) Labor's training and management development programs lacked credibility among many program managers; and (6) Labor has not operated key support functions such as financial management, ADP, procurement, and productivity improvement as effectively or efficiently as possible.

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: J. William Gadsby Team: General Accounting Office: Human Resources Division Phone: (202) 512-8387


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