Yesterday's "Marketplace" on NPR is apropos.

[link|http://marketplace.publicradio.org/shows/2006/04/27/PM200604273.html|Linky]:

KAI RYSSDAL: Let's say the payroll folks at work mess up, and overpay you. Cool, right? Well, yes, unless you're in the Army. The Pentagon cut hundreds of wounded soldiers bigger paychecks than they were supposed to get. The GI's didn't pick up on the mistake. And now Defense Department collectors are after them. Marketplace's Scott Tong reports.

[...]

The GAO report found several soldiers saw their credit suffer. The underlying problem is old technology, says Cindy Williams of MIT.

CINDY WILLIAMS: Unfortunately, the Department of Defense doesn't have one, single database that tracks an individual from the time he or she talks to the recruiter until he or she becomes a military retiree or a veteran.

The payroll system doesn't talk to the personnel system. And human beings have to input all the changes manually. That's "labor intensive" and "error prone," according to the report.

David Patterson of the Pentagon's comptroller office concurs with the report. But he notes the military is building an integrated database. The project is . . .

DAVID PATTERSON: . . . on schedule and on cost. And we believe that we'll have it up and running in December of calendar year 2008.

There is no quick fix.

After all, the Department of Defense is the world's largest financial enterprise.

IOW, these problems, which are stupid and cause hardships for too many people, are mainly the result of different IT systems not talking to each other.

Cheers,
Scott.

Post #253,786 by Another Scott 4/28/06 4:22:49 PM Reply	Yesterday's "Marketplace" on NPR is apropos. [link\|http://marketplace.publicradio.org/shows/2006/04/27/PM200604273.html\|Linky]: KAI RYSSDAL: Let's say the payroll folks at work mess up, and overpay you. Cool, right? Well, yes, unless you're in the Army. The Pentagon cut hundreds of wounded soldiers bigger paychecks than they were supposed to get. The GI's didn't pick up on the mistake. And now Defense Department collectors are after them. Marketplace's Scott Tong reports. [...] The GAO report found several soldiers saw their credit suffer. The underlying problem is old technology, says Cindy Williams of MIT. CINDY WILLIAMS: Unfortunately, the Department of Defense doesn't have one, single database that tracks an individual from the time he or she talks to the recruiter until he or she becomes a military retiree or a veteran. The payroll system doesn't talk to the personnel system. And human beings have to input all the changes manually. That's "labor intensive" and "error prone," according to the report. David Patterson of the Pentagon's comptroller office concurs with the report. But he notes the military is building an integrated database. The project is . . . DAVID PATTERSON: . . . on schedule and on cost. And we believe that we'll have it up and running in December of calendar year 2008. There is no quick fix. After all, the Department of Defense is the world's largest financial enterprise. IOW, these problems, which are stupid and cause hardships for too many people, are mainly the result of different IT systems not talking to each other. Cheers, Scott.
Post #253,807 by Silverlock 4/28/06 10:10:35 PM Reply	They should offshore it. That would save money, right? IOW, these problems . . . are mainly the result of different IT systems not talking to each other. ----------------------------------------- Impeach Bush. Impeach Cheney. Do it now.
Post #253,808 by Another Scott 4/28/06 10:13:15 PM Reply	:-)
Post #253,821 by drewk 4/29/06 8:07:10 AM Reply	I thought you meant the collections activity Imagine the mother getting a call from someone with a heavy accent, demanding money for the son she just lost. === Purveyor of Doc Hope's [link\|http://DocHope.com\|fresh-baked dog biscuits and pet treats]. [link\|http://DocHope.com\|http://DocHope.com]

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