Feds waste $15.4 billion in time each year on inefficient searches, survey finds -- GCN

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Feds waste $15.4B annually looking for database info

A MeriTalk survey sponsored by DLT Solutions and Google finds employees spend a month each year looking for data they don’t know how to find

By Kevin McCaney
Oct 28, 2010

About the Author

Kevin McCaney is a former editor of Defense Systems and GCN.

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Reader Comments

Wed, Feb 16, 2011

so what are the best information database products out there? Is there one group that offers an architecture that connects Asset Management, for life-cycles, maintenance, software compliance...one central connection to unit all the data bases for strategic planning of personnel and asset costs.

Tue, Nov 2, 2010 Walter Washington DC

Many of our databases are designed to help generate standard reports for upper management or even our headquarters management. They don't ask for or use any feedback from the field, because it doesn't help them get their job done. If we need information, we often have to pick it our of several locations from different databases or even other agencies.

Tue, Nov 2, 2010 Walter Washington DC

As an environmental engineer working for the Feds, I need google to find regulations. Have you ever tried to find anything on EPAs web site? Or on most state web sites? The information is often there, regulations, enforcement policy, permit applications, etc., but it is a struggle to find. If not for Google or Yahoo search engines, I would have to resort to searching hardcopies my agency is too cheap to buy.

Fri, Oct 29, 2010

we have a combination of problems, too many databases, poorly constructed databases, employees that merely fill seats based on contract/contractor warm-body counts. remove external web access from all their computers and i bet productivity sky rockets.