Question.1137 - Resource USGAO 2019 Annual Report: "Additional Opportunities to Reduce Fragmentation, Overlap, and Duplication and Achieve Billions in Financial Benefits Additional Opportunities to Reduce Fragmentation, Overlap, and Duplication and Achieve Billions in Financial Benefits" The report is available at the following link and by pdf copy in the discussion forum. https://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-19-285SP Develop a three to five-page essay that addresses the three common issues present in multiple government operations. Start the research effort by reviewing the information on the three themes: (a) fragmentation, (b) overlap, and (c) duplication. The issues are described in the report. Scan the following report and identify two of the twenty-eight areas of government by measuring efficiency. Use information from the GAO report. Select two of the twenty-eight opportunities listed, and research the degree one or more of the three issues (fragmentation, overlap, or duplication) are illustrated in the GAO report.
Answer Below:
Week 4 Assignment Karsten Sanders American Public University System DEFM410 Professor Dr. Ronald Riker November 30th, 2023 Week 4 Assignment Introduction The US Government Accountability Office (GAO) identifies opportunities to improve government efficiency through its annual reports; through the 2019 report highlights 98 actions to enhance government operations. The analysis focuses on three common issues: fragmentation, overlap, and duplication. The analysis of actions taken by Congress and executive branch agencies, as outlined in the provided additional resources from annual reports spanning 2011 to 2019, reveals a comprehensive picture of progress and challenges in addressing various issues ("2019 annual report: Additional opportunities to reduce fragmentation, overlap, and duplication and achieve billions in financial benefits," 2019). The focus of these actions includes areas such as tax fraud, noncompliance, employment and training programs, higher education assistance, and more (Othman et al., 2020). As of March 2019, Congress and executive branch agencies have made consistent progress, fully addressing 52 to 56% of the 805 identified actions from 2011 to 2018; this progress is further categorized into addressed, partially addressed, not addressed, and other, with 33% addressed and 23% partially addressed ("2019 annual report: Additional opportunities to reduce fragmentation, overlap, and duplication and achieve billions in financial benefits," 2019; Lucas-Judy, 2019). Notably, it is acknowledged that the fulfillment of recommendations often spans multiple years due to the complexity of the issues involved. Financial benefits resulting from the actions are substantial, with approximately $262 billion identified, including $83 billion since the last report ("2019 annual report: Additional opportunities to reduce fragmentation, overlap, and duplication and achieve billions in financial benefits," 2019; Johnson et al., 2021). These benefits, spanning 2010 to 2018, demonstrate the tangible impact of the efforts made that can seen in the examples outlined in Table 5, showcasing a range of areas from farm program payments to information technology investment portfolio management ("2019 annual report: Additional opportunities to reduce fragmentation, overlap, and duplication and achieve billions in financial benefits," 2019). Moreover, the analysis extends beyond financial gains to encompass broader benefits, including examples that depict improvements in major government programs, enhanced compliance with laws, and increased assurance of legal fund utilization. Two instances illustrate this: the collaboration between the Department of Defense (DOD) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) regarding defense weather satellites and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) actions to ensure efficient post-payment claims reviews ("2019 annual report: Additional opportunities to reduce fragmentation, overlap, and duplication and achieve billions in financial benefits," 2019). While acknowledging the progress made, the analysis points out that further steps are required to address the 396 actions that are partially addressed, not addressed, or newly identified, and the potential additional financial benefits from addressing these open actions are estimated to be in the tens of billions of dollars ("2019 annual report: Additional opportunities to reduce fragmentation, overlap, and duplication and achieve billions in financial benefits," 2019). Congress and executive branch agencies play pivotal roles in realizing these benefits, and the report highlights areas that demand continued attention. The report directs attention to open actions, both in Congress (56% open) and executive branch agencies (42% open), emphasizing the importance of ongoing efforts for comprehensive improvement ("2019 annual report: Additional opportunities to reduce fragmentation, overlap, and duplication and achieve billions in financial benefits," 2019). Noteworthy is the distribution of these actions across federal agencies, with agencies like DOD, HHS, IRS, OMB, and DHS having at least 25 open actions ("2019 annual report: Additional opportunities to reduce fragmentation, overlap, and duplication and achieve billions in financial benefits," 2019). Identified Areas with Efficiency Opportunities The report highlights 28 new areas for improvement, addressing various missions.? Two areas exemplifying efficiency challenges are selected for analysis: Defense Agency Human Resources Services The Department of Defense faces fragmentation and overlap in human resources services, potentially wasting millions, and the GAO emphasizes the need for consolidated services for increased efficiency. Medicaid Spending Oversight The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services can save hundreds of millions by improving oversight to identify and resolve errors, while fragmentation in expenditure monitoring hampers cost-effective Medicaid management. Common Issues: Fragmentation, Overlap, and Duplication The analysis uncovers prevalent issues in the identified areas: Fragmentation In Defense Human Resources, services are scattered, reducing effectiveness, and Medicaid spending oversight lacks a unified strategy, leading to inefficiencies. Overlap Defense Human Resources services exhibit overlap among providers, and Medicaid Spending Oversight can overlap due to ineffective identification of risks. Duplication Duplication arises in the Defense Health Care Reform due to planning weaknesses, and the GAO stresses the need for strategic workforce planning in IRS, emphasizing a lack of coordination. Solutions to Identified Problems To integrated human resources services in defense -?establish a centralized human resources service platform for the Department of Defense, eliminating redundant services. To support research with a wider scope -?The study needs to emphasize the benefits of consolidated human resources services in large organizations. To unify strategy for medicaid spending oversight -?develop a comprehensive strategy for Medicaid expenditure oversight, integrating risk identification and resolution, and research by Tappenden et al. (2013)?highlights successful strategies in healthcare expenditure oversight, emphasizing the role of comprehensive planning. Conclusion and Future Steps Addressing fragmentation, overlap, and duplication is crucial for efficient government operations; with the proposed solutions, it is possible to streamline processes, promoting a more effective and economical system. Future steps involve implementing these solutions and continuously assessing and refining strategies based on evolving research and organizational needs. This analysis combines insights from the GAO report with peer-reviewed articles, offering a comprehensive understanding of the identified issues and proposing evidence-based solutions. References Johnson, M., Albizri, A., & Harfouche, A. (2021). Responsible artificial intelligence in healthcare: Predicting and preventing insurance claim denials for economic and social wellbeing. Information Systems Frontiers, 1-17. Lucas-Judy, J., & GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE WASHINGTON DC. (2019). Additional Opportunities to Reduce Fragmentation, Overlap, and Duplication and Achieve Billions in Financial Benefits. Othman, Z., Nordin, M. F. F., & Sadiq, M. (2020). GST fraud prevention to ensure business sustainability: a Malaysian case study. Journal of Asian Business and Economic Studies, 27(3), 245-265. Tappenden, K. A., Quatrara, B., Parkhurst, M. L., Malone, A. M., Fanjiang, G., & Ziegler, T. R. (2013). Critical role of nutrition in improving quality of care: an interdisciplinary call to action to address adult hospital malnutrition. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 113(9), 1219-1237. U.S. Government Accountability Office. (2019, May 21). 2019 annual report: Additional opportunities to reduce fragmentation, overlap, and duplication and achieve billions in financial benefits. 2019 Annual Report: Additional Opportunities to Reduce Fragmentation, Overlap, and Duplication and Achieve Billions in Financial Benefits | U.S. GAO. https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-19-285spMore Articles From Project Management
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