Page 36 - GAO-02-327 Electronic Government: Challenges to Effective Adoption of the Extensible Markup Language

Chapter 1: Background: Features and Current
Federal Use of XML

To evaluate the maturity of XML standards for potential governmentwide
adoption, we identified and assessed the progress of major
nongovernmental standards activities, including those of the W3C, the
Organization for the Advancement of Structured Information Standards
(OASIS), the United Nations Center for the Facilitation of Procedures and
Practices for Administration, Commerce, and Transport (UN/CEFACT),
and RosettaNet.

We also held discussions with and reviewed documents from the XML
Working Group, GSA, EPA, the National Archives and Records
Administration (NARA), the National Institute of Standards and
Technology (NIST), DOD, Justice, SEC, and Amtrak. These discussions
and documents formed the basis for our assessment of the (1) progress of
the federal government in planning and coordinating federal XML
initiatives and (2) remaining challenges to be overcome in implementing
XML technology throughout the government. In addition, we researched
and reviewed documentation on XML prepared by the government of the
United Kingdom, the National Electronic Commerce Coordinating Council,
and the National Association of State Chief Information Officers.

We performed our review in accordance with generally accepted
government auditing standards, working from April 2001 through January
2002, at various locations, including GSA Headquarters in Washington,
D.C.; NARA Archives II in College Park, Maryland; and NIST Headquarters
in Gaithersburg, Maryland.

Page 32 GAO-02-327 Electronic Government