February 2, 2009

Management announces policy to streamline reports; Union seeks clarification and guidance on implementation"

On January 14, GAO management announced changes to the format of our reports, effective immediately.  These changes are part of a goal to streamline GAO’s written products and eliminate unnecessary repetition.  The specific changes implemented in this announcement include:

• making the results-in-brief (RIB) section optional when the highlights page adequately conveys the message;
• limiting the use of charge paragraphs only to report sections that are complex and lengthy;
• eliminating the conclusion section in reports that have no recommendations, while allowing for concluding observations when necessary; and
• shortening written testimonies that are delivered concurrently with the release of a related GAO report, avoiding duplication between the written testimony and report.

GAO said that the last major changes to GAO report formatting were made in the 1980s.

The Union favors management initiatives that simplify and streamline our work processes, including the development of GAO written products.  The Union has received positive comments from GAO staff about these streamlining changes; however, we have also been asked questions about how to implement the new policy.  For instance, do these changes apply to reports that are currently in the review process, on deadline to be published?  Are there examples of reports to help engagement teams know when a highlights page conveys the message such that a RIB is not needed?  Are there examples of report sections that do not need charge paragraphs? 

Since the development of GAO written products is a key work activity for analysts, AICs, CAs, and specialists, and a core competency on which we are rated, the Union is working with management to ensure that we have useful guidance to help implement this policy consistently and meet engagement time frames.  For example, we need training that shows concrete examples of reports when the RIB is not necessary—and when a RIB would still be useful.  We also recommend providing examples of report sections where charge paragraphs are unnecessarily duplicative.

We will continue to provide the latest information possible about the implementation of the new report format policy.  Meanwhile, if you have questions, concerns, or comments on the GAO report streamlining policy, please contact us: unionquestions@ifpte.org.

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