The Voice of America Should Address Existing Problems To Ensure High Performance

GAO undertook a review of Voice of America (VOA) to evaluate the management of technical, program, and administrative activities. GAO found the VOA management of technical, program, and administrative activities plagued by numerous problems, many of which have existed for a long time. The current management has established an independent personnel office and acquired additional physical space. However, vacancies in key management and staff positions continue to limit the effectiveness of VOA and its ability to maximize efficiency and economy in programing and operating the technical facilities. VOA has given little consideration to long-range planning for technical requirements, but has embarked on a number of piecemeal modernization projects which could cost more than $325 million. Changes to virtually all of these projects have redefined their scope, delayed estimated completion dates, and increased costs. GAO believes that these projects should be halted until VOA establishes a long-range plan for the expansion and improvement of its technical facilities. VOA has failed to maximize the economy and efficiency of its vast technical operation by not fully utilizing new technology; and it has not updated its construction practices to include new concepts, nor has it attempted to coordinate its technical needs with those of other government agencies. GAO has identified several programing practices which it believes are questionable including: limited guidance, duplication of effort, and the poor management of audience research.

GAO undertook a review of Voice of America (VOA) to evaluate the management of technical, program, and administrative activities. GAO found the VOA management of technical, program, and administrative activities plagued by numerous problems, many of which have existed for a long time. The current management has established an independent personnel office and acquired additional physical space. However, vacancies in key management and staff positions continue to limit the effectiveness of VOA and its ability to maximize efficiency and economy in programing and operating the technical facilities. VOA has given little consideration to long-range planning for technical requirements, but has embarked on a number of piecemeal modernization projects which could cost more than $325 million. Changes to virtually all of these projects have redefined their scope, delayed estimated completion dates, and increased costs. GAO believes that these projects should be halted until VOA establishes a long-range plan for the expansion and improvement of its technical facilities. VOA has failed to maximize the economy and efficiency of its vast technical operation by not fully utilizing new technology; and it has not updated its construction practices to include new concepts, nor has it attempted to coordinate its technical needs with those of other government agencies. GAO has identified several programing practices which it believes are questionable including: limited guidance, duplication of effort, and the poor management of audience research.

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