Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 14
14
Acknowledged
The NAO report identified that Defence Digital’s project delivery has suffered from a lack of...
Recommendation
The NAO report identified that Defence Digital’s project delivery has suffered from a lack of skilled and experienced personnel, immature project controls, and a culture focused on the approvals process rather than outcomes.42 The Department accepted that its performance up to now is worrying and that it needs to up-skill staff and think differently about processes and risk.43 In particular, the Department said that it wants a more diverse mix of experience in its digital project delivery teams. It hopes that by bringing in different skills and ways of thinking from industry, it can become more confident at working in agile ways that are more appropriate to developing software, as opposed to conventional defence items.44 BAE Systems, in its written evidence, argued that it is quicker and easier to iterate five versions of a digital product or service than it is 34 Qq 89–90; C&AG’s Report, paras 3.13–3.14 35 Qq 16, 86 36 Q 16 37 Qq 30–33; Letter from Laurence Lee CMG to PAC Chair Dame Meg Hillier, 18 November 2022 38 Q 16 39 Q 78 40 C&AG’s Report, para 17 41 Q 15; C&AG’s Report, para 18 42 C&AG’s Report, para 17 43 Qq 15, 70–71 44 Q 70 The Defence digital strategy 13 to be perfect first time.45 The Department also told us it is trying to think differently about management information and reporting, as well as wider peer challenge and review across its project delivery portfolio to make better use of the specialists it has.46
Government Response Summary
The department already has key actions in place to improve its performance in delivering major digital programmes, including updating programme management policies, upskilling staff, and improving programme governance.
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
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.