The Committee of Public Accounts stated that “Careful planning is a pre-requisite of successful implementation. Failure to consider all the risks and business requirements of a specific programme has resulted in unnecessary delays which could have been prevented” [PAC 17th Report 05-06, paragraph 8]. 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. Ensure timetables are realistic and allow for early planning and detailed specification as this will save both time and resources in the long run | A Gateway Review is a
review of a procurement project carried out at a key decision
point by a team of experienced people, independent of the
project team. The review assigns a Red/Amber/Green status to the
project.
Review 1, addresses the business justification; Review 2, addresses the procurement strategy. Green lights from Gateway Reviews 1 and 2 provide useful signals that plans are realistic. |
| 2. Make full use of pilots to test schemes on a small scale prior to rolling out and testing on a larger scale | Business Case sets out how small-scale piloting will be followed by larger-scale testing (or justifies a different approach). |
| 3. Ensure that pilot schemes are subject to rigorous monitoring and evaluation | Business Case says how pilot will be evaluated and discusses risks. Project Managers record rigorous monitoring and evaluation of pilots before embarking upon larger-scale implementation. |
* 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.
