GovernmentExecutive.com

Return to Article: Census program to use handheld computers said to be in 'serious trouble'

• 77209
  

  In Aug. of last year I applied for census work and was hired and trained as a crew supervisor which in turn required training and supervising 20 other people to use the Harris Handheld Computer (the HHC in Censusspeak) to verify and count addresses.

  The only thing that was more of a nightmare than the HHC constantly being unable to function so that I would be unable to transmit assignments to a crew of people eager for work was dealing with imbecilic decisions of managment people at the Census Bureau.

  Because Census Bureau management made the decision to start their project several month behind schedule, management wound up pushing everyone, using constant threats of immediate dismissal if the project, which crews were told would take 10 weeks, was not finished in five and a half.

  I suspect that managers at the Census Bureau are happy to compromise the quality of the census and abuse temporary employees if it means keeping control of more of the budget money that might have assured better quality results and avoided the lawsuits for alleged undercounting that happened during the 2000 census.

  Temporary census workers were repeatedly threatened in writing during training with dismissal if they

  RG Posted May 10, 2009 2:06 AM
• 44969
  

  I think that the previous comments are based upon clichés and generalities and a lack of knowledge about decennial censuses. They do not credit the actualities of the decennial census projects.

  I have a great deal of respect for the Census Bureau and its senior staff. For several decades they have succeeded in meeting a Constitutionally required deadline, accomplishing what has, in each decade, been at the time perhaps the largest, most complex information processing project in history. Furthermore they have done so under a governmental system that, in many ways, undermines their work. In particular, they are funded by Congress on an annual basis, by Senators and Representatives on six or two year election cycles. A decennial census is about a 12 year project. Among the most fundamental principles we have learned over the past 60 years of the information systems history is that success in large projects depends very strongly on early planning, analysis and design. Congress, of course, quite justifiably prefers to postpone funding until after the next election.

  The difficulty of large information systems projects has been documented over and over during the past 60 years. The available technology, including hardware, software and to a lesser extent the methodology of system development, has changed more rapidly than any in history. They have worked in a field where exponential change is enshrined in "Moore's Law". During each decennial census project that comes out at about a 16-fold growth. Imagine building a dam on a twelve year project where the height of the dam increased 16-fold during the project! Meanwhile they have led the nation in the effective use of new technology, from punched cards to GPS navigation.

  During the past 8 years the Census Bureau has, via the American Community Surveys, eliminated the need for the "Long Form" part of the the 2010 Census. The "handhelds" will eliminate the production, storage and distribution of domicile level paper maps of the entire United States. All of this while suffering under budgets reduced by 9/11 and the funding of the Iraq war.

  They have, of course, made mistakes. But, they have succeeded in accomplishing their goals and doing so on schedule each time. I will bet that they successfully, perhaps not perfectly, but successfully use their "handhelds" to carry out the 2010 Census.

  C. A. ( Posted March 4, 2008 3:29 PM
• 42742
  

  I found Mitre's recommendations a bit self serving (need thorough testing without regard to cost). This type of Analysis/paralysis is often what leads to failure, preventing the agency from focusing on delivering. I wonder how much Census paid for Mitre to state the obvious? FBI's Virtual Case File followed Mitre's recommendations to a "T" and it failed miserably. Same thing happened with the Navy Literal Ship Program, and DHS Deepwater.

  I think it is time for our FFRDCs to keep within their charter and not be able to make recommendations that lead to needless analysis/paralysis.

  Honest Broker Posted January 31, 2008 7:13 PM
• 41055
  

  It sounds like the Census Bureau is being typical of someone not used to specifying requirements and then changing requirements half-way through. MITRE should have been on during requirements definition as an independent party. As usual, the contractor will get it done to save their reputation, but the bureau may have to chuck more money at it to fix their bungled process.

  Pdog Posted January 8, 2008 4:50 PM
• 40762
  

  One would have to wonder, how well the Census Bureau manages other programs within the agency.

  This article has revealed the existence of gross neligence and incompetence amongst the Census Bureau's senior level management!

  FedUp Posted January 4, 2008 10:29 AM
• 40687
  

  If the federal IT managers would quit reinventing software, the hand helds work just fine. I personally have one, that is Microsoft mobile and can do all sorts of tricks. It would be slick to do the census, upload the info, and e-mail it into DC. I hope they get the bugs out so things can proceed.

  C Foss Posted January 3, 2008 8:30 PM
• 40670
  

  I've been observing Census for three Censuses. Each 10 years the Census Bureau has to build completely new systems because the technology used the last time is no longer supported and there are better technologies available. It always looks as if the sky is falling about this time every decade, as contractors deliver the first round of major systems for testing, and surprise it doesn't work! I've seen and heard the Chicken Littles (GAO, IGs, Commerce, OMB, and all the consultants) each decade tell Census that their plans are are crashing, it can not be done, they don't have the expertise... blah blah.... I am more optimistic. It will get done. Census will change plans as needed and requirements will be refined. I'm glad Census hired a third party (MITRE) to tell them what is wrong. I'm also glad that MITRE doesn't make the decision to plan for two Censuses. If you think it is hard to plan for one census, try planning for two at the same time.... using 2 completely different techniques. (Census had to do this leading up to 2000, to deal with the sampling for the count issue) No, Census has to forget doing it on paper.... and direct all efforts into refining what they've started... a paperless census.

  census ex Posted January 3, 2008 1:55 PM
• 40621
  

  What else is new: Bad requirements are pushed on the Contracting Officer by those (who can impact the Contracting Officer's career) in power who have a "get it done right now" attitude, instead of a "get it right" attitude.

  This is a prime example of why there are so many contracting problems today. Congress can throw millions of dollars after the fact to audit, but in the end, it is having clear accurate requirements that drives a successful project.

  Too bad only contracting people seem to recognize this.

  a taxpayer and a federal worker Posted January 3, 2008 8:39 AM
• 40614
  

  "Ruthlessly implement" - great phrase, but what does it mean. I've been PM on some relatively major programs as a federal employee, and this should translate into senior agency management being willing to remove employees, fire the contractor or his subs, decide politically sensitive issues in favor of the program not the polictics, not micro-manage and not steal from the budget. But slap myself, I'm sure that never happens there.

  Former PM Posted January 3, 2008 8:01 AM