Changes in the Department of Administration could help prevent the failure of future Information Technology projects. The DOA was among several agencies criticized in a state audit for IT projects that were delayed, ran over budget, or abandoned.
Secretary Michael Morgan says changes are underway and the DOA plans to fully implement the recommendations offered by the State Auditor. Those recommendations include establishing standards for IT projects, and making sure they stay on time and within budget.
Morgan says he might also be open to penalties for contractors who don't deliver on time. The audit found numerous projects simply poured more money into projects that were delayed, rather than penalizing contractors for taking longer than expected. However, Morgan would not commit to what those penalties might be.
The audit found the state wasted millions of dollars on IT projects that didn't work or were never completed.