Information Technology: The Energy Information Administration Needs To Strengthen Its Computer Systems Development Procedures

Citation
Government Accountability Office, Information Technology: The Energy Information Administration Needs To Strengthen Its Computer Systems Development Procedures (RCED-84-42) (Jan. 3, 1984) (full-text).

Overview
The GAO reviewed Energy Information Administration (EIA) procedures for developing automated information systems, focusing on the application of those procedures to the development of an automated hydropower billing system for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). The EIA regularly provides computer systems development services for other Department of Energy components.

The GAO found that the EIA did not have procedures for ensuring that systems development] work was properly planned, reviewed, and [[tested. The EIA did not ensure that a contractor's work was based on a study of the needs of potential system users and did not control changes to the system requested by FERC after the system design was agreed upon. The GAO believed that, while new systems development standardas issued by the EIA will alleviate some identified problems, further improvements can be made.