Which GAO life cycle model is described as Select-Control-Evaluate in governance and IT investment planning?

• A. Select-Control-Evaluate
• B. Plan-Do-Check-Act
• C. Define-Design-Deliver
• D. Assess-Review-Authorize

Answer: (A)

GAO’s approach to IT investment governance uses three stages: Select, Control, and Evaluate. In governance and IT investment planning, you begin by selecting the best investments—those with the highest potential value and the strongest alignment to the mission. You then move to control, where ongoing management occurs: monitoring performance, cost, schedule, and risk, ensuring the investment stays on track and continues to meet requirements. Finally, you evaluate the outcomes by assessing realized benefits, comparing actual results to expectations, and using those findings to inform future decisions about funding, continuation, modification, or termination. This three-step flow—choose what to invest in, manage it throughout its life, and assess its results to guide future actions—is why the described model fits the GAO framework.

The other options reflect different process ideologies: the Plan-Do-Check-Act cycle is a general quality improvement loop outside the GAO IT investment governance context; Define-Design-Deliver outlines a product or project development sequence rather than an investment governance cycle; Assess-Review-Authorize resembles a decision or approval workflow but does not capture the full Select-Control-Evaluate lifecycle used for governance and IT investment planning.