Leading Practices: Agency Acquisition Policies Could Better Implement Key Product Development Principle

This report examines principles that guide leading companies’ product development efforts and the extent to which primary, department-wide DOD, DHS, and NASA acquisition policies reflect the companies’ key principles and result in similar outcomes. GAO identified the 13 leading product development companies based on rankings in well-recognized lists; interviewed company representatives; analyzed department-wide acquisition policies from DOD, DHS, and NASA; and interviewed agency officials. The report is the first product in a planned body of work. In future work, GAO will explore how government agencies can apply some of the key principles outlined in this report.