4.3: Networks, Collaborations, and Partnerships

Expand Networks, Collaborations, and Partnerships That Promote Professional Standards and Enhance GAO’s Knowledge, Agility, and Response Time

Other Information:

In light of the grave fiscal challenges facing the nation and countries around the globe, continual refinement of professional accounting and auditing standards is more important than ever, and GAO will continue to embrace its leadership role in this area. (See fig. 44.) Using its domestic and international networks, the agency will facilitate dialogue about strengthening professional standards, as well as explore new technologies and efficient communication methods to expand its reach across the accountability profession. Capacity: It is also important for GAO to expand its efforts to enhance capacity across all levels of audit offices in the United States and abroad to help address the daunting challenges governments face. GAO supports various capacity-building programs and initiatives that help ensure the billions of taxpayer dollars being spent in domestic and international programs are not subject to waste, fraud, and abuse. GAO continually re-evaluates these programs to identify ways to expand the reach and depth of its capacity-building efforts. To enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of these efforts, leveraging technology and expanding partnerships will be key. Knowledge sharing: GAO must expand its knowledge-sharing collaborations with auditing, accountability, and other entities to minimize duplication of effort and to leverage resources in the shared task of conducting valuable research on a range of public policy issues. GAO should continue to expand and enhance important information-sharing efforts, training, and collaboration on key legal issues, such as procurement and appropriations law, for federal agencies and practitioners. Given the increasing complexity of fiscal and other challenges facing the nation, expanding GAO’s partnerships—both within existing networks and with other entities in the nonprofit and private sectors (e.g., academia, auditing and consulting firms, and good government organizations)—will help ensure the agency stays abreast of emerging issues and enhance the agency’s knowledge, agility, and responsiveness. Partnerships: Partnerships are also critical to help GAO track changing government practices and governance; effectively react to technology, governance, and societal shifts; and ensure the agency maintains excellence in operations. Achieving this will require GAO to outreach to organizations domestically and internationally, such as professional standards-setting organizations, good government organizations, and research entities, and to identify opportunities that can leverage GAO’s resources and expand its knowledge base. By enhancing its partnerships, GAO will be better able to identify lessons learned, leading practices, and emerging trends that benefit government and agency management. To expand networks, collaborations, and partnerships that promote professional standards and enhance its knowledge, agility, and response time, GAO has established the following performance goals and key efforts:

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