The Committee of Public Accounts stated that “Failure to consider the full implications of new policies or act quickly has cost the taxpayer money that might have been avoided” [PAC 17th Report 05-06, para 37]. The Committee identified the following factors which should be addressed or for which greater progress is needed.
Please click one of the factors below to go to a list of
questions for organisations to use to review their progress against each
factor.
| Factors which need to be addressed or where greater progress is needed | Signs of success* |
|---|---|
| 1. More reliable information on which to base decisions about new policies. | Policy proposals which
are founded upon comprehensive, robust evidence. Reports that controls over the reliability of information are effective. |
| 2. Clearly thought through implementation plans. | Plans which are comprehensive and logical and signed off following review by the Project Sponsor. |
| 3. Not losing sight of existing well established good practice. | Reference in plans and reviews to relevant best practice and how that is incorporated. |
| 4. Exercising strong management grip. | Projects and
programmes are delivered on time and within budget. Departmental Risk Registers contain plausible identification and assessment of risks and indicate that they are being properly managed. |
* The “Signs of Success” are intended to help senior management to quickly determine whether the factor identified by the Committee has been addressed in their organisation.
