Financial Management: Development and Management of the Army Game Project

Abstract

Abstract : Who Should Read This Report and Why? The President of the Naval Postgraduate School, the Naval Postgraduate School Comptroller, and personnel in the Naval Postgraduate School Research Program who are responsible for the management and day-to-day operations of projects performed on a reimbursable basis should read this report. The report discusses the management of the Army Game Project by the Naval Postgraduate School. Background: In May 2000, the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Manpower and Reserve Affairs and the President of the Naval Postgraduate School entered into a memorandum of agreement. The memorandum of agreement called for the Naval Postgraduate School to develop a state-of-the-art video game for the Army. The Naval Postgraduate School engaged their Modeling, Virtual Environments and Simulation (MOVES) Institute to perform the research and development work. The Army's purpose for having the game developed was to educate potential recruits on the Army's missions and functions and enhance recruiting opportunities. The game simulates the highly technological nature of modern U.S. Army warfare. The Army believed the game would stimulate interest and assist in meeting enlistment goals. In March 2004, the Naval Postgraduate School received a memorandum from the Army that cited allegations of project mismanagement. As a result, the Naval Postgraduate School management contacted the Naval Inspector General and requested they look into the allegations raised by the Army. However, since the issues surrounding the allegations involved an Army organization and the project in question was funded by the Army, the Naval Inspector General referred the issue to the Office of the Deputy Inspector General for Auditing.