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Major programmes – what are we learning?

• Posted on July 4, 2019 by Sandy Gordon

  

  Since we first published our Framework to review programmes in 2017 there has been no let-up in NAO reports on major projects and programmes, most recently on Crossrail, the Emergency Services Network and the Stonehenge by-pass road. From the need to manage the risks of untried approaches to signs warning of unrealistic cost estimates, this blog highlights some of the themes emerging from our recent work on major programmes, which have been incorporated into our updated guidance.

  more… Major programmes – what are we learning?

  Tagged: Civil service capability, Contract management, Forecasting, Good practice principles, Infrastructure, Investigations, Major projects, Performance management, Project management, Public sector reform, Risk management

  2 Comments

Getting contracts right and responding if they go wrong

• Posted on May 22, 2019 by Emma Willson

  Billions of pounds of cost increase due to contractual change, delays introducing communication networks for our emergency services, potential strains on Army personnel – our recent reports illustrate the huge importance of getting contracts right, and what organisations need to do if they go wrong. They also reinforce the principles discussed in previous posts in our Contract insights series: the great value of information and the crucial need to act intelligently, get risk allocation right and take sufficient time to plan upfront for all scenarios. more… Getting contracts right and responding if they go wrong

  Tagged: Contract insights series, Contract management, Good practice principles, Major projects, Performance management, Project management, Public sector reform, Risk management

  3 Comments

Risks, resources and government-supplier relationships

• Posted on July 17, 2018 by Amyas Morse

  Hundreds of major change programmes, increasing demands on and expectations of public services, productivity challenges – and the massive task of leaving the EU. In the face of such demands on skills and capacity, Sir Amyas Morse, Comptroller & Auditor General, spoke recently to the Whitehall and Industry Group (WIG) about why the public sector needs private and third sector skills, experience and capacity more than ever. The NAO Blog summarises Sir Amyas’s talk about some of the current key priorities and what is needed to make the relationship mutually successful and in the best interests of people and public services. more… Risks, resources and government-supplier relationships

  Tagged: Amyas Morse, Brexit, Contract management, Cross-government, Digital transformation, Financial sustainability, Major projects, Private sector, Productivity, Project management, Public finances, Risk management, Skills

  7 Comments

Successful transformation: voices of experience

• Posted on June 29, 2018 by Max Tse

  Evolution or revolution? Inventing new services or transforming old systems and processes? Transformation programmes are complex, ever-changing and face numerous barriers; so what does it take to be one of the minority of transformation projects that succeed? How can organisations’ Boards improve the chance of success? And what does transformation have to do with wagon trains? more… Successful transformation: voices of experience

  Tagged: Audit Committees and Boards, Behaviour change, Cross-government, Customer service, Digital transformation, Employee engagement, Good practice principles, Impacts, Information management, Major projects, Public sector reform, Risk management, Skills

  1 Comment

EU exit: tough decisions and prioritisation needed

• Posted on November 30, 2017 by Amyas Morse

  “In light of the UK’s plans to leave the EU, the government should now prioritise the interests of the nation above those of Whitehall departments” said Sir Amyas Morse, Comptroller and Auditor General, speaking at the 23 November central government conference for members of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA). Public Finance Magazine subsequently published an article by Sir Amyas, Deal with Brexit first, and has kindly allowed us to re-publish it here. more… EU exit: tough decisions and prioritisation needed

  Tagged: Amyas Morse, Brexit, Cross-government, Major projects, Project management, Public finances, Public sector reform

  3 Comments

A systematic look at major programmes

• Posted on October 10, 2017 by Sandy Gordon

  Major programmes are expensive, high profile and carry great uncertainties and risks. For most government bodies, undertaking a major programme will involve doing something new, with relatively little organisational experience. Many fall short of their objectives, in terms of cost and/or outcomes. So it’s not surprising that they are the focus of many NAO reports – about 100 since 2010. Our new Framework to review programmes shows the questions we typically ask, and brings together many of our recent findings. We hope it will show what we are looking for and what we expect to see when we examine major programmes. more… A systematic look at major programmes

  Tagged: Contract management, Cross-government, Forecasting, Good practice principles, International, Leadership, Major projects, Project management, Public finances, Public sector reform, Risk management

  9 Comments

Stretching civil servants’ capability

• Posted on July 20, 2017 by George Crockford

  The civil service is under pressure, as we found in our recent report Capability in the Civil Service. It has lost one in four civil servants since 2006 – with no reduction in workload, there’s a growing number of major projects to implement, greater public demand for services, new technologies – bringing both opportunities and threats, new ways of delivering public services, and action needed to leave the European Union. How can public sector organisations get or develop the people and skills they need? The first thing is: prioritise; it simply must do less. more… Stretching civil servants’ capability

  Tagged: Brexit, Business operations, Civil service capability, Contract management, Digital transformation, Leadership, Major projects, Project management, Risk management, Skills

  6 Comments

Forecasting for ‘Saints’

• Posted on August 17, 2016 by Tom McDonald

  Ever wished to be a Saint – or to visit the world’s oldest land animal: Jonathan, the 184 year-old tortoise? To help the 4,100 ‘Saints’ – the residents of the UK Overseas Territory of St Helena – to become economically and socially sustainable, the UK funded the island’s first airport. But the airport’s opening has been delayed and our investigation highlights the challenges and risks to Realising the benefits of the St Helena Airport Project. This is an unusual and fascinating example of project decision-making. It also highlights common issues about managing high risk projects, potential optimism bias in forecasting, and the challenges of realising project benefits. more… Forecasting for ‘Saints’

  Tagged: Forecasting, Good practice principles, International, Investigations, Major projects, Overseas aid, Project management

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Spending your money wisely

• Posted on June 10, 2016 by Pauline Ngan

  It’s unusual, but true: the NAO has called for permanent secretaries to stand up to ministers. Our report on Accountability to Parliament for taxpayers’ money concludes top civil servants need to be confident in challenging policy proposals that don’t use public resources wisely. But accountability isn’t just for permanent secretaries. Our four ‘accountability essentials’ apply to all day-to-day spending of taxpayers’ (your) money.

  more… Spending your money wisely

  Tagged: Accountability, Cross-government, Good practice principles, Leadership, Major projects, Performance management, Public finances

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The challenges of major projects

• Posted on January 11, 2016 by Geraldine Barker

  Major projects are risky. They’re complex. They’re costly. They’re high-profile. They’re interdependent. They’re prone to falling short of promised benefits and/or exceeding budgets. In short, they are challenging to deliver. And much of government’s work is delivered through major projects. With the publication on 6 January of our briefing for the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), Delivering major projects in government, and the recent creation of our new Managing major projects web-page, I’m delighted to share some of lessons we’ve identified from our review of hundreds of major projects over many years. more… The challenges of major projects

  Tagged: Cross-government, Financial sustainability, Good practice principles, Major projects, Performance management, Project management

  2 Comments