Frequently Asked Questions

• Why is Performance Improvement critical to the Department of Defense?

Performance Improvement Officer advises and assists the Secretary of Defense and the Deputy Secretary Defense in achieving the mission goals of the agency through strategic performance planning, measurement, analysis, regular assessment of progress, and use of performance information to improve the results. Congressional mandate Title 31 USC Section 1124 designates a senior executive of the agency as the agency Performance Improvement Officer.

• What role does the Strategic Management Plan play in support of the warfighter?

The Department’s Strategic Management Plan articulates the Secretary of Defense’s strategic priorities and presents the long-term objectives the DoD plans to accomplish. The Strategic Management Plan reflects the National Defense Strategy and the Secretary of Defense’s management priorities by providing a framework for describing general and long-term goals, and actions the Department will take to realize those goals, and how DoD will address challenges and risks that may hinder achieving results.

• How does the Department of Defense Performance Improvement Framework contribute to the health of Defense?

Pursuant to title 10, U.S.C., section 125a, the establishment of the DoD Performance Improvement Framework, provides a consistent methodology to define long-term and short-terms that identify, track and report on existing and planned opportunities for performance improvement across the Department, with particular emphasis on initiatives that contribute to implementation of the National Defense Strategy and the Strategic Management Plan. The commitment must be sustained to performance improvement across multiple dimensions of the defense enterprise. The Department will submit a report to congressional defense committees on the new established framework, pursuant to title 10, U.S.C., section 125a.

• How does the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) of 1993 and the Government Performance and Results Modernization Act of 2010 hold federal agencies accountable?

The Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) of 1993 requires federal agencies to prepare a strategic plan covering a multiyear period and requires each agency to submit an annual performance plan and an annual performance report. The Government Performance and Results Modernization Act of 2010 is an update of some aspects of the Government Performance and Results Act. It requires federal agencies to set long-term goals and objectives as well as specific near-term performance goals.

• Why is the GAO-IG Act report critical to the Department of Defense performance?

As part of their annual budget justification submission to Congress, Department of Defense as well as all federal agencies must report a listing all public Government Accountability Office (GAO) recommendations designated by GAO as “open” or “unimplemented,” and all public DoD Office of Inspector General (OIG) recommendations designated by DoD OIG as “open” for a period of not less than one year preceding the date on which the annual budget justification is submitted. This accountability gives Congress fact-based non-partisan information to help the government save money, work more efficiently, and save taxpayers billions of dollars.