NCJ Number
65521
Date Published
1979
Length
52 pages
Annotation
THIS REPORT, ONE OF THE SERIES ON GOVERNMENT PRODUCTIVITY, DISCUSSES THE MANAGEMENT AND PRODUCTIVITY OF WORD PROCESSING IN SOME LARGE FEDERAL AGENCIES.
Abstract
WORD PROCESSING SYSTEMS CAN INCREASE GOVERNMENT OFFICE PRODUCTIVITY PROVIDED THE PEOPLE, EQUIPMENT, AND PROCEDURES ARE MANAGED PROPERLY. MOST FEDERAL DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES, HOWEVER, ARE NOT COMPLYING WITH REGULATIONS COVERING THE MANAGEMENT OF THESE SYSTEMS AND CANNOT DEMONSTRATE THAT THEY HAVE INCREASED THEIR PRODUCTIVITY OR THAT THE SYSTEMS ARE COST EFFECTIVE. LATEST FIGURES SHOW THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS ACQUIRING THROUGH PURCHASE OR LEASE ABOUT $80 MILLION IN WORD PROCESSING EQUIPMENT A YEAR, AND THAT THIS FIGURE IS EXPECTED TO RISE. THE GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ASSISTING FEDERAL AGENCIES IN DEVELOPING THE SYSTEMS, BUT IT HAS NOT PROVIDED THE LEADERSHIP NEEDED TO ESTABLISH A GOVERNMENT-WIDE PROGRAM. AS A RESULT, EACH DEPARTMENT AND AGENCY IS INDIVIDUALLY GOING THROUGH THE SAME LEARNING PROCESS, AND THE RESULT IS UNCHECKED EQUIPMENT PROLIFERATION AND DUPLICATION OF EFFORT IN PREPARING OR CONTRACTING FOR WORD PROCESSING HANDBOOKS. MOREOVER, LACK OF EVALUATION BY MOST AGENCIES CAUSED MANY WORD PROCESSING SYSTEMS TO FAIL, ALTHOUGH ISOLATED EXAMPLES EXIST OF WELL-MANAGED AND PRODUCTIVE SYSTEMS. TO IMPROVE THIS SITUATION, THE ADMINISTRATOR OF GENERAL SERVICES SHOULD PROVIDE GUIDANCE TO AGENCIES AND CONDUCT PERIODIC REVIEWS OF THEIR SYSTEMS, ASSESS AGENCIES' COMPLIANCE WITH REGULATIONS CONCERNING THE MANAGEMENT OF WORD PROCESSING SYSTEMS, DEVELOP EVALUATION CRITERIA FOR WORD PROCESSING EQUIPMENT LEASE-VERSUS-BUY DECISIONS, AND ACT AS A CLEARINGHOUSE IN DEVELOPING AND REVIEWING WORD PROCESSING ACTIVITIES. APPENDIXES CONTAIN PHOTOGRAPHS OF WORD PROCESSING EQUIPMENT, THEIR CATEGORIES, AGENCY EQUIPMENT EXPENDITURES, STATUS OF WORD PROCESSING HANDBOOKS, AGENCIES COMPLIANCE WITH PROPERTY MANAGEMENT REGULATIONS, AND A COPY OF A WORD PROCESSING BULLETIN. (MJW)