Recommendation 15

Developing detailed plans for each function—also known as ‘capability blueprints’— is fundamental to the effective operation of the functional model in government. The National Audit Office report found that without capability and capacity plans in place it is difficult for functions to understand their own impact, or for departments to fully exploit functional expertise.28 The Cabinet Office acknowledged that these blueprints are the starting point for all functional work but confirmed that only one of the 14 functions currently had its capability blueprint in place. For the Commercial function, having this blueprint in place has allowed them to build commercial capability and improve the function’s processes. The Cabinet Office could not explain why the other 13 functions 22 C&AG’s report HC 919, para 6 23 Q4 6 24 Q 76 25 Q 46 26 Qq 30–31, 92 27 Q 82 28 C&AG’s report, HC 575, para 10 12 Specialist Skills in the civil service are taking so long to publish their own plans but did tell us that blueprints were now also underway for the HR, Communications and Finance functions.29