HISTORIC PRESS RELEASE : The Path to Successful IT Projects – Andrew Smith [November 2021]

The press release issued by HM Treasury on 20 November 2001.

Andrew Smith, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, today launched the work of a joint government and industry group, aimed at delivering better IT projects and creating a government market place more accessible for suppliers.

It represents a significant breakthrough in the approach to IT enabled business change by both government and industry and joint determination to ensure that, over time, future IT projects are delivered IT effectively. It also seeks to put an end to the cost and time overruns associated with previous IT project failures.

The programme of work was carried out by the Senior IT Forum, jointly sponsored by the Office of Government Commerce (OGC) and Computing Services and Software Association under the chairmanship of OGC’s Chief Executive, Peter Gershon.

As part of the programme Andrew Smith also announced today that the Department of Health, the Met Office and the Charities Commission would test a new approach to project leadership in live IT procurement projects in their departments. This would enable a supplier role to be developed to strengthen working relationships with Government to deliver successful IT projects.

Speaking at a Computing Services and Software Association conference in London, Andrew Smith said:

“Successful implementation of IT projects is important for the Government’s delivery of improved public services. These practical proposals should make it easier for Government and Industry to deliver business change supported by IT solutions that stand the test of time and ensure effective use of taxpayer’s money.”

The new approach to procuring and delivering successful IT projects includes:

a new framework for the leadership of projects
high level value for money guidance
a partnering approach recommended for all complex IT projects
a joint education programme as part of OGC’s wider commercial skills framework
input to a wider supplier code of conduct

Peter Gershon, Chief Executive of OGC said:

“The OGC is at the heart of helping government become a more intelligent client in procuring and delivering goods and services. Set against the progress already made under the SPRITE programme, today’s announcement represents a real step forward in opening the door to a new era of leadership and effective ways of procuring IT projects which deliver value for money.”

John Higgins, Director General of the Computer Services Software Association said:

“The work of the Senior IT Forum has been directed at driving out the systemic problems in public sector IT procurement. These first tangible results represent a significant step towards these goals and reflect the continued commitment of both Industry and Government to deliver real improvement in this difficult area.”

The Senior IT Forum’s recommendations are all intended to ensure that behavioural patterns are addressed on both the government and industry side. This will be reinforced by the roles of the Government’s Senior Responsible Owner (SRO) and Industry Equivalent (IE).

The Government will shortly publish guidance explaining the way it evaluates value for money. This transparent approach will make the government market more accessible for suppliers wanting to enter it who, previously, may have been discouraged from bidding for the Government’s IT business.

The work of the Forum will help encourage partnering behaviours such as openness and trust. In time this will mean less disputes and reduce the time and costs involved in delivering IT projects. The OGC will shortly issue guidance to support effective partnering, including a standard approach to partnering in contracts.

The OGC will extend its training programme for government staff across civil central government by introducing a Wider Commercial Skills programme. The Senior IT Forum is working with OGC to identify areas suitable for joint training with government and industry to facilitate the developments of better relationships between them.

The Senior Forum will contribute to OGC’s work with the wider industry by introducing a supplier code of conduct for industry. The code will set out a standard of behaviour and conduct for supplier working with government. This will support the existing government ?Code of Good Customer Practice? which was launched in June 2001.

These changes will create a better understanding between government and industry at the very outset of a project. They complement the Government’s Gateway Review process for civil central government announced in February 2001 to ensure that projects have the capability to deliver sound business cases and long term effectiveness.