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![handle is hein.gao/gaobaachy0001 and id is 1 raw text is:
DOCUNEIT RESUM~E
02432 - [ A1672674]
(Computer Operations and Data Processing Activities at the
Social Security Administration]. HRD-77-97; B-164031(4). June 3,
1977. Released June 6, 1977. 11 pp.
Report to Rep. William L. Armstrong; by Elmer B. Stoats,
Comptroller General.
Issue Area, Automatic Data Processing: User Requirements and
Systems Specifications for Software (105); Aitomatic Data
Processing: Design, Development, and Installation of
Software (106);Automatic Data Processing: Acquisition of LDP
Goods and Services (111).
Contact: Human Resources Div.
Budget anctioa: Misce.laneous: Automatic Data Processing
(1001).
Organization Concerned: Social Security Administration.
Congressional Relevance: Rep. William L. Armstrong.
The prinary responsibility of the Social Security
Administration is to make correct and timely benefit payments to
individuals entitled to receive various benefits under 3everal
Federal programs. The agency processes much of the necessary
recordkeeping workload on specially designed electronic data
processing systems, mostly located at agency headquarters. A
congressionally requested analysis in 1975 indicated that the
major causes of the apparent underuse included employee
ignorance of computer capabilities, indifference to work, ani
lack of communication between different shifts, resulting in
slowdown of operations when changing shifts. There was also a
lack of uorkload sharing among the jroups assigned to various
p:ogramb, and the security system was weak. The agency has
agreed that the broad question of computer use versus capacity
still needs to be answered, and it has taken steps to study the
situation and to improve its existing computer operations and
security. These steps include hiring a consulting firm to
aaalyze the systems practices and procedures, waiting until the
aaalysis is complete befere planning further computer
development, hiring a systems expert to improve management and
staffing, initiating overlapping shifts for computer operations
personnel, adoptirg new Focurity procedures, and funding a
preliminary physical security evaluation. Findings/Conclusions:
In responding to 1974 recommendations and a Presidential
directive, the agency established the Advanced operating Systems
Staff, which has the responsibilities of modernizing the
agency's approach to data processing and planning, designing,
and overseeing implementation of a long-range overall agency
process. The master plan developed by this staff has four
phases: I, conceptualization; II, requirements definition; III,
design and development; and IV, implementation. As of April
1977, Phase I had not been completed. Initial cost estimates
indicate a total project expenditure for FY 1976-81 will be $364](ViewImageLocal?handle=hein.gao/gaobaachy0001&div=1&collection=&method=preview&ext=.png&size=3)