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the reports.

While the contacts generally did not know how task forces conducted reviews, most said that task forces relied on previously generated data/findings and worked in teams.

Interviewed agency employees

Agency contacts said that most task force interviews OCcurred at top management levels (for example, Secretary, Deputy/ Under Secretaries, Assistant Secretaries). In addition, task forces also have interviewed directors/managers who oversee programs and administrative operations. A few agency contacts referred to interviews with career employees (for example, analysts).

Overall, many contacts were unsure about who task forces interviewed or planned to interview. This uncertainty partially existed because some task forces just began. Also, not all agencies required task forces to identify interviewees. Some contacts said that a task force was given complete freedom to interview whomever it desired. A few required coordinating all interviews in the agency.

Task force membership

In this area, agency contacts exhibited a great deal of uncertainty. They stated that they generally (1) deal only with the project manager and (2) lacked an updated list of task force members--especially since membership changes periodically. While contacts did not disclose most task force members' names, they did provide a few. Also, they estimated how many members worked on task forces. About half of the contacts praised the members' expertise. They felt fortunate to have experts reviewing many areas that the agency perceived as problems.

Agency support to task forces

Agencies commonly provided space, furniture, and staff time for briefings and interviews. In these cases, agency contacts usually explained that the (1) items were surplus and (2) staff time was well used or similar to time spent with GAO or a consultant. Many agencies also referred to equipment (for example, phones and typewriters) and supplies. Further, a few agencies provided minimal clerical support.

Agency comments on task

Force effects/operations

Most agency contacts viewed the task forces as positive attempts to identify cost savings. They generally viewed task force members as very talented experts who provided free advice and an objective viewpoint.

Given these perceptions, most agencies seemed willing to help the task forces and had an open mind on the findings. Some agencies eagerly supported the task forces' efforts and awaited the recommendations. Many said that task force's presence forced them to improve operations. Also, contacts believed a "fresh, objective look" was healthy because it generated new ideas or reconsidered old ones. Many saw no problems emerging from the task forces' work..

Nevertheless, some agency contacts had negative views about how task forces operated. While all agency contacts said something positive about the task forces, a few referred to negative aspects such as whether the task force members could learn complex issues in a short time and whether members had formed conclusions before doing the review.

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Esmark, Inc.

Exxon Corporation

Federated Department Stores, Inc.

General Dynamics Corporation

General Electric Co.

General Foods Corp.

General Mills Foundation

General Signal Corporation

General Telephone & Electronics Corp.
Georgia-Pacific Foundation

Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co.

Hercules, Incorporated

Hewlett-Packard Co.

Honeywell, Inc.

Ingersoll Rand Company

InterFirst Corporation

International Business Machines Corp.

International Minerals & Chemical Corp.
Johnson & Johnson

Kimberly-Clark Corporation

Manufacturers Hanover Trust Company

Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc.

Melville Corporation

Merck & Co., Inc.

Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc.

Metropolitan Life Foundation

LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS CONTINUED

Milliken & Company
Mobil Corporation
Monsanto Company
Norton-Simon, Inc.
PepsiCo Foundation
Procter & Gamble Fund
The Prudential Foundation
R. H. Macy & Co., Inc.
Sears, Roebuck and co.
The Signal Companies, Inc.
SmithKline Beckman Corp.

Southern California Edison Company

TRW, Inc.

Texas Commerce Bancshares, Inc.

Union Carbide Corporation

Union Pacific Corporation

United Technologies Corporation
W. R. Grace & Co.

Warner-Lambert Company

Wells Fargo Foundation

Wheelabrator Foundation, Inc.

Whirlpool Corporation

Winn-Dixie Stores Foundation

Anheuser-Busch, Inc.

First Bank System, Inc.

Newmont Mining Corporation

Tenneco, Inc.

United Telecommunications, Inc.
American Financial Corporation
American Standard, Inc.

Bethlehem Steel Corporation

Burlington Industries, Inc.

Champion Spark Plug Co.

Delaware Trust Company

The First Boston Corporation

Fluor Corporation

Frank B. Hall & Co., Inc.

GK Technologies Incorporated

Jewel Companies, Inc.

Liberty National Life Insurance Co.

Marine Midland Banks, Inc.

Marshall & Ilsley Bank Foundation Inc.

Mercantile Stores Co., Inc.

Metromedia, Inc.

National Steel Corporation

Nationwide Mutual Insurance Co.

North American Philips Corporation

Northrop Corporation

Northwest Airlines

Paine Webber Incorporated

Prince Foundation

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LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS CONTINUED

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RichSeaPak Corporation

St. Joe Minerals Corporation
Stewart Warner Foundation

The First National Bank of Chicago
Westvaco Corporation

Whittaker Corporation

Colt Industries, Inc.

Heublein, Inc.

Middle South Utilities, Inc.

Raytheon Co.

The Williams Companies

Hershey Foods Corporation

Hughes Tool Company

The New York Times Co.
Richardson-Vicks, Inc.
Campbell Soup Company
Lehman Brothers Kuhn Loeb

AVCO Corporation

Cameron Iron Works, Inc.
Carpenter Technology Corp.
Financial World

General Reinsurance Corp.

Holiday Inns, Inc.

Mutual Life Insurance Company of New York

The Peoples Gas Light & Coke Company

The Philadelphia National Bank

Provident Charitable Trust

Ex-Cell-O Corporation

Intel Corp.

Rockwell International Corporation

Amax Foundation, Inc.

Baxter Travenol Laboratories, Inc.
The Chase Manhattan Bank

Celanese Corporation

O Gould Foundation

McGraw-Hill, Inc.

Shell Companies Foundation

The Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York
NCNB Corporation

United States Fidelity & Guaranty Company
I Wachovia Bank & Trust Company

McGraw-Edison Company

Texas Instruments Incorporated
American Brands, Inc.

The Lear Siegler Foundation

Texas Utilities Company

Aluminum Company of America

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