Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 13
13
Accepted
One area where these resourcing challenges have become apparent is in Defence Digital’s track record...
Recommendation
One area where these resourcing challenges have become apparent is in Defence Digital’s track record of delivering major digital programmes. These are the Department’s most complex and transformational programmes, many of which are needed to replace older legacy systems, and which it needs to get right if its strategy is to succeed.40 However, the Infrastructure and Project Authority’s (IPA’s) most recent reporting from March 2022 showed that, of the five programmes which report publicly, three of the Department’s major programmes have significant issues (‘amber’) and two are unachievable (‘red’).41
Government Response Summary
The government will update programme management policies and standards, upskill staff, and improve programme governance, targeting a summer 2023 implementation date, and notes the Next Generation Communication Network programme has improved.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
4. PAC conclusion: The department is struggling to deliver its largest, most transformational digital programmes. 4a. PAC recommendation: In its update to us in six months, the department should also explain the actions it has taken to improve its performance in delivering major digital programmes. 4.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: Summer 2023 4.2 The department already has key actions in place to improve its performance in delivering major digital programmes. The key steps are: • an update of the programme management policies and standards and to engage relevant programme staff to embed the practices; • continue to upskill staff via targeted recruitment, giving existing staff access to relevant education options; and, • improve programme governance by overhauling the governance structure for Government and Defence Digital Major Projects and implement changes to management information reporting to provide greater insight, coherence, and risk management, allowing issues and blockers to be surfaced early. 4.3 The early impact of these actions has contributed to the improvement in delivery of the Next Generation Communication Network programme, previously reported red and now reported amber following the Infrastructure and Projects Authority’s most recent assessment in February 2023.