U.S. Postal Service: Performance Progress Has Been Made, but Continued Attentionto Challenges Is Needed. Statement of Bernard L. Unger, Director, Government Business Operations Issues

摘要

As the Postal Service stands ready to enter the 21st century, it facessignificant challenges that call for vigilance and attenuation as it strives to sustain and expand on reported performance improvements. In fiscal year 1997, the Postal Service ended another year of overall high performance in some of its operational areas, sustaining 3 years of encouraging results. With reported net income of over $1 billion and increasing on-time delivery scores for First-Class Mail, the Service has shown that it can maintain a high income level while providing its customers with improved service. Also, in some management areas, such as automation of mail processes and labor-management relations, GAO acknowledges that some progress has been made. For example, the Service has overcome many of the initial obstacles it encountered in its efforts to automate letter sequencing and is making substantial progress toward accomplishing its goals in that area. In addition, the Service has also recently made some progress in addressing its labor-management relations problems and has made a good start in developing its strategic and 1999 annual performance plans required under the Government Performance and Results Act (Results Act).