Report: State Department lags in overseas technology efforts

The State Department is lagging in modernizing its information technology, a critical facet to overhauling foreign-based agencies' operations, according to a new report.

The General Accounting Office report, "Information Technology: State Department-Led Overseas Modernization Program Faces Management Challenges" (GAO-02-41), issued on Friday, said the State Department IT modernization, while in the early stages, is facing some critical challenges toward creating one information system.

The agency is deploying a common system designed to provide services ranging from Internet access and e-mail to "mission-critical policy formulation and crisis-management support."

GAO said the department must explicitly outline the framework for building its information system, including a plan that will guide its IT investments.

"Without these more rigorous controls, it is unlikely that State and its agency partners will deliver needed operational-system capabilities on time and within budget," the report said.