approaches, and to enhance the efficiency, productivity and effectiveness of our operations can we hope to perform our mission with the sense of purpose and considered judgment that it deserves.

Strategic Planning. With these tenets in mind, the OIG has held annual management training conferences which focus on addressing the increasing demands and challenges of the OIG, in a time of dwindling resources, and how to meet the demands of the future. One of the objectives of these conferences is to foster discussions for making improvements in efficiency and effectiveness of OIG operations, through a coordinated team approach, and to foster long-range planning through continued reevaluation of the OIG strategic plan. On a annual basis, starting in FY 2000, we will be reviewing the documented, quantitative results of implementing our Strategic Plan. This review will include an objective evaluation of results attained and these results will provide the basis for future directions for improvement.

Information Technology. Investment in modern automated technology has been a major initiative of the OIG, through the leadership of the Assistant Inspector General for Management and Policy, and has been instrumental in allowing us to save money and improve our operations' efficiency and effectiveness. The OIG 5-Year Automated Data Processing (ADP) Plan, which is incorporated into the OIG Strategic Plan, blends a combination of new systems, system enhancements, and supporting automation equipment to allow OIG ADP operations to be secure, efficient, and effective in the current and future electronic environment. We have found new ways, through the use of improved technology, to save dollars and staff time without curtailing operations. In particular, improved technology has allowed greater access to information that enables our auditors and investigators to more effectively perform their respective tasks, even when on travel. Further, it allows access to systems for OIG management to more effectively manage personnel and property inventory, simplify processes, and continue to move towards a paperless office environment.

We have, however, only scratched the surface in a time of rapidly changing automated technology. In these times when dollars are scarce, the OIG must continue to be committed to the maxim of "doing more with less." It is imperative that we continue to invest in and to obtain maximum utility from modern automated technology in order to achieve this goal.