Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 21
21
Accepted
Digital, Data and Technology Playbook lacks detail on assessing large project technical feasibility
Recommendation
The government has published a ‘Digital, data and technology playbook’, which sets out key policies and guidance for how digital projects are assessed, procured and delivered.33 We asked whether this would be the primary tool for driving some of the change that was needed. DSIT described the purpose of the playbook as “how do we buy well and manage well” 28 Qq 69–71 29 Qq 7, 51 30 Q 48 31 Qq 49–50 32 Letter from the Cabinet Office, 13 March 2025 33 Cabinet Office, The Digital, Data and Technology Playbook, March 2022, updated June 2023 15 and that it would be a joint production with the digital sourcing strategy.34 While the digital playbook required the technical feasibility of large–scale projects to be assessed, the NAO found that it contained limited detail on how this should be undertaken.35
Government Response Summary
The government agrees and will update and re-launch the Digital, Data and Technology Playbook by December 2025, ensuring it is up to date with current practices for adoption across all relevant procurement activities and includes specific guidelines on areas like cyber security and legacy IT.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
3.5 The government agrees with the committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: December 2025 3.6 The government is taking forward the actions outlined below on which we will update the Committee on progress in December 2025: 3.7 The Digital, Data and Technology (DDaT) Playbook provides a comprehensive framework for managing digital and technology projects within the public sector. The Market Sourcing and Suppliers Team is responsible for the playbook and is working with GDS to launch a publication in December 2025, bringing it up to date with current practices and for adoption across all relevant procurement activities. 3.8 Key points from the Playbook include: • Best Practices: The Playbook consolidates best practice guidelines and policies that help procurement professionals set up projects for success from the outset, minimising the risk of costly mistakes. • Outcome-Based Approach: It emphasises an outcome-based procurement strategy, focusing on delivering value rather than merely reducing costs. This aligns procurement activities with user needs and government priorities. • Market Engagement: The Playbook encourages early engagement with the market, facilitating innovation and collaboration, particularly with SMEs, to harness diverse solutions that meet public sector requirements. • Risk Management: It promotes a balanced approach to risk, ensuring that risks are allocated to those best able to manage them, thereby enhancing project resilience and sustainability. • Continuous Improvement: The DDaT framework supports iterative testing and learning, allowing procurement professionals to adapt strategies and improve service delivery over time. • Compliance and Governance: The Playbook sets out clear governance structures and compliance requirements for central government departments and arm's-length bodies, ensuring transparency and accountability in procurement activities. • Cyber Security and Legacy IT: It includes specific guidelines on cyber security and addressing legacy IT issues, which are critical for safeguarding public data and enhancing operational resilience.