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Open Recommendations (6 total)

National Transportation Safety Board: Additional Actions Needed to Improve Management and Operations

GAO-23-105853
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6 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
National Transportation Safety Board The Chair of the Board should finalize implementation of a system that enables the agency to more effectively analyze labor cost data to inform decision-making. (Recommendation 4)
Open
In February 2024, NTSB informed us that it has developed a data analytics platform to support decision-making. NTSB is also planning to continue pursuing the necessary staffing, funding, employee training, and software system support to fully develop and maintain an effective data analytics platform to support decision-making. Finalizing implementation of such a system would put NTSB in a position to make more informed management decisions and to better allocate personnel resources. We will continue to monitor NTSB's efforts regarding this recommendation.
National Transportation Safety Board The Chair of the Board should ensure the agency's future annual performance plans include content that fully meets all statutory requirements. (Recommendation 2)
Open
In February 2024, NTSB informed us of actions it plans to take to improve its future annual performance plans. For example, NTSB plans to fully implement a data program, which will support the development of a balanced set of performance indicators. Taking actions such as these will allow NTSB to channel its efforts and resources in a manner to effectively and efficiently carry out its mission, report on its progress, and ensure accountability to the public for results and cost-effectiveness. We will continue to monitor NTSB's efforts regarding this recommendation.
National Transportation Safety Board The Chair of the Board should conduct assessments to determine the skills its mission-critical occupations need and the extent to which staff have those skills. (Recommendation 5)
Open
In February 2024, NTSB informed us that it has obtained cost estimates for conducting skills gap assessments, noting that such assessments will be both costly and labor intensive. NTSB stated that it does not currently have the funding to support these assessments. Until such resources are provided, NTSB plans to explore other methods-such as knowledge mapping or a training needs assessment-to ensure staff have the skills needed. Identifying skill gaps would help NTSB ensure that its training and hiring efforts target the most pressing needs, and that employees in mission-critical occupations have the skills needed to carry out the agency's mission. We will continue to monitor NTSB's efforts regarding this recommendation.
National Transportation Safety Board The Chair of the Board should ensure the agency's future annual performance reports include content that fully meets all statutory requirements. (Recommendation 3)
Open
In February 2024, NTSB informed us of actions it plans to take to improve its future annual performance reports. For example, NTSB plans to include a summary of program evaluation findings in future annual performance reports. Taking actions such as these will allow NTSB to channel its efforts and resources in a manner to effectively and efficiently carry out its mission, report on its progress, and ensure accountability to the public for results and cost-effectiveness. We will continue to monitor NTSB's efforts regarding this recommendation.
National Transportation Safety Board The Chair of the Board should ensure the agency's future strategic plans include content that fully meets all statutory requirements. (Recommendation 1)
Open
In February 2024, NTSB informed us of actions it plans to take to improve its future strategic plans. For example, NTSB plans to re-examine and better connect long-term strategic goals to the broader outcomes the agency aspires to achieve to improve transportation safety. Taking actions such as these will allow NTSB to channel its efforts and resources in a manner to effectively and efficiently carry out its mission, report on its progress, and ensure accountability to the public for results and cost-effectiveness. We will continue to monitor NTSB's efforts regarding this recommendation.
National Transportation Safety Board The Chair of the Board should establish security awareness and training procedures to facilitate the implementation of NTSB's security awareness and training policy and the associated controls. (Recommendation 6)
Open
In February 2024, NTSB informed us that it updated the agency's intranet site to include the agency's IT security training and procedures. The site is accessible to all agency employees and contractors. According to NTSB, the procedures describe the types of training, who is required to complete the training, when training is conducted, and how completions are tracked. We are reviewing NTSB's documentation of the intranet site to determine if NTSB's actions are responsive to our recommendation. Establishing procedures that describe how its security awareness and training policy and associated controls are to be implemented will position NTSB to ensure agency personnel understand the security risks associated with their activities. We will continue to monitor NTSB's efforts regarding this recommendation.
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