PERFORMANCE.GOV: Long-Term Strategy Needed to Improve Website UsabilityWhy GAO Did This Study -- Congress took steps to improve federal performance reporting through GPRAMA by requiring that OMB provide performance information via a publicly available central website, Performance.gov. In June 2013, GAO reported on the initial development of Performance.gov. GPRAMA includes a provision for GAO to periodically review its implementation. This report assesses OMB's (1) effort to ensure Performance.gov’s usefulness, and (2) strategic plan for the website. GAO compared elements of Performance.gov to GSA's Digitalgov.gov requirements for federal websites. GAO summarized prior work on OMB's implementation of selected GPRAMA requirements. GAO also interviewed OMB, PIC, and GSA staff about recommendations GAO made on developing the website and Performance.gov's strategic plan.OMB has not developed a strategic plan for Performance.gov. OMB and the PIC took an important first step by hiring a Digital Services Director for the PIC. OMB now needs to outline the goals and objectives, approaches, and resources needed for the future development of Performance.gov. Further, OMB does not have a customer outreach strategy that explores additional ways to display updated information on the Performance.gov home page and to use social media and mobile applications for outreach. Additionally, outlining a plan to manage and archive the content and data on Performance.gov in a systematic way will increase the transparency of the website. Without a strategic plan that incorporates all of these areas, it will be difficult for decision makers to prioritize and plan for future website improvements. Such a plan could prove especially valuable in maintaining continuity during the upcoming presidential transition.United States Government Accountability OfficeGAO_c090eb6a-92df-11df-b499-6b157a64ea2aOffice of Management and BudgetOMB is responsible for setting the direction, vision, policy, and guidance of Performance.gov and ensuring its effective operation. OMB has partnered with GSA and the PIC, and has contract support from eKuber Ventures Inc. to provide key services for the site. OMB also collaborated with GSA to establish a Performance Management Line of Business (PMLOB) to further guide the administration of Performance.gov.U.S. AgenciesGPRAMA requires that agencies make their respective strategic plans, performance plans and reports, and information about their APGs (as applicable), including quarterly updates, available for publication on Performance.gov. Twenty-two agencies have web pages on Performance.gov that provide links to their strategic plans, annual performance plans, and annual performance reports; report agency progress on government-wide management initiatives; and show agency contributions to the CAP goals. There are 31 additional agencies that do not have a dedicated web page on Performance.gov. Instead, they provide links to their strategic plans or to their agency plans and reports pages. Agencies submit their annual and, as applicable, quarterly performance information for publication on the website through the Performance Reporting Entry Portal (PREP) System. While OMB and PIC give feedback on updates to the information or suggest changes, ultimately, the agency decides what information is published on its Performance.gov page.General Services AdministrationGSA builds the technical platform, provides project management of Performance.gov, and determines the business requirements and prioritiesPerformance Improvement CouncilThe PIC is chaired by OMB's Deputy Director for Management and is composed of Performance Improvement Officers (PIO) from each of the 24 Chief Financial Officers (CFO) Act agencies as well as other PIOs and individuals designated by the Chair. The PIC facilitates the exchange of useful practices to strengthen agency performance management, such as through cross-agency working groups. The PIC is supported by an Executive Director and a team of eight full-time staff who conduct implementation planning and coordination on crosscutting performance areas. In coordination with OMB, the PIC provides several types of guidance to agencies. It also trains agency officials responsible for updating the quarterly information on Performance.gov and provides liaisons to answer those officials' questions.eKuber Ventures Inc.Contractor. In August 2015, GSA awarded software services company eKuber Ventures a contract to provide operations support and maintenance of Performance.gov and the PREP system. According to the contract, eKuber will provide training and information technology help desk support. The current contract runs through August 2020.Performance Management Line of Business (PMLOB)PMLOB is an interagency effort to develop government-wide performance management capabilities to help meet GPRAMA transparency requirements. It is also designed to support government-wide performance management efforts. PMLOB’s key objectives, according to its 2013 charter, include, among others, developing Performance.gov into a GPRAMA-compliant data tool._a080823a-73d5-11e6-83cb-3df941b9d64eTo improve federal performance reporting_a080847e-73d5-11e6-83cb-3df941b9d64eReportingEnsure the information presented on Performance.gov consistently complies with GPRAMA public reporting requirements for the website's content._a0808564-73d5-11e6-83cb-3df941b9d64e1_a080860e-73d5-11e6-83cb-3df941b9d64eUsabilityAnalyze and, where appropriate, implement usability test results to improve Performance.gov_a08086d6-73d5-11e6-83cb-3df941b9d64e2_a080878a-73d5-11e6-83cb-3df941b9d64eStrategic PlanDevelop a strategic plan for the future of Performance.gov _a0808834-73d5-11e6-83cb-3df941b9d64e3Among other things, this plan should include:Goals, Objectives & ResourcesDocument the goals, objectives, and resources needed to consistently meet Digitalgov.gov and GPRAMA requirements_a08088de-73d5-11e6-83cb-3df941b9d64e3.1OutreachProduce a customer outreach plan_a080897e-73d5-11e6-83cb-3df941b9d64e3.2ChangesAddress how OMB will inform users of changes in Performance.gov_a0808a1e-73d5-11e6-83cb-3df941b9d64e3.2.1Social MediaIndicate how OMB will use social media as a method of communication_a0808ad2-73d5-11e6-83cb-3df941b9d64e3.2.2AccessAddress user access to Performance.gov so that OMB could, as appropriate, deploy mobile applications to communicate effectively_a0808b72-73d5-11e6-83cb-3df941b9d64e3.2.3ArchivalDevelop a strategy to manage and archive the content and data on Performance.gov in accordance with NARA guidance._a0808c26-73d5-11e6-83cb-3df941b9d64e3.2.42016-08-312016-09-05http://www.gao.gov/assets/680/679395.pdfOwenAmburOwen.Ambur@verizon.net