Categories
Resources

Lessons from Major Service Transformation

This NAO Briefing Note (2015) outlines the major lessons of service transformation and can be found here.

  • Lesson 1 – transformation programmes raise the greatest risks of failure
  • Lesson 2- set realistic goals and be honest about what really matters
  • Lesson 3 – policy development must take account of implementation
  • Lesson 4 – don’t be tempted to score benefits early
  • Lesson 5 – do identify tangible short-term gains
  • Lesson 6 – recognise the (senior) organisational cost of transformation
  • Lesson 7 – don’t underestimate what you can learn from engagement
  • Lesson 8 – recognise the value of learning and market development
  • Lesson 9 – do anticipate the need to make changes in live running
  • Lesson 10 – recognise the opportunities and limits of technology
  • Lesson 11 – set out clear decision-making and challenge

Categories
Resources

NAO Framework to Review Programmes

Four key elements:

  1. Purpose – is there a strategic need for the programme and is this the right programme to meet the business need?
  2. Value – does the programme provide value for money?
  3. Programme set-up – is the programme set up in accordance with good practice and are risks being well managed?
  4. Delivery & variation management – are mechanisms in place to deliver the intended outcomes and respond to change, and is the programme progressing according to plan?

Under each of these four elements there are a series of 18 ‘Key questions’ that are asked covering Stakeholders, dependencies, resources, benefits, external change and lessons learned among others.

Link to the framework is here.

Other Tools

Purpose
Delivery Environment Complexity Analytics: Understanding challenges in delivering project objectives
Initiating successful projects
Value
Framework to review models
Over-optimism in government projects
Survival guide to challenge costs in major projects
Programme Setup
Delivery Environment Complexity Analytics: Understanding challenges in delivering project objectives
Lessons from cancelling the InterCity West Coast franchise competition
Assurance for high risk projects
Lessons from major rail infrastructure programmes
Managing risks in government
Transformation guidance for audit committees
Over-optimism in government projects
Delivery
A Framework for evaluating the implementation of Private Finance Initiative Projects
Performance Measurement: Good practice criteria and maturity model
Commercial and Contracting management: Insights and emerging best practice (Blog posts on: contract management)
Evaluation in Government
Helping Government Learn
Lessons for Major Service Transformation
Outcome based payment schemes: government’s use of payment by results
Transformation guidance for audit committees

Other Reports covered:

Categories
Resources

IPA Annual Report 2019-20

The annual report of the Infrastructure and Projects Authority is available here.

This year the report references:

  • Principles for Project Success:
    • Focus on outcomes
    • Plan realistically
    • Prioritise people
    • Tell it like it is
    • Control Scope
    • Manage complexity and risk
    • Be an intelligent client
    • Learn from experience
  • Transforming Infrastructure Performance (TIP) four themes:
    • Benchmarking for better performance
    • Alignment and integration
    • Procurement for growth
    • Smarter infrastructure

Case Studies

  • 5G Testbeds and Trials (DCMS)
  • Building our Future Locations (HMRC)
  • Type 31 General Purpose Frigate (MOD)
  • Making Tax Digital (HMRC)
  • Building Digital UK: Local full fibre Networks, Rural Gigabit Connectivity Programme and 700MHz Clearance Programme (BDUK)
  • One Hundred Thousand Genomes Project, SRO: Dr Louise Wood
  • A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon improvement scheme, SRO: Chris Taylor
  • Francis Crick Institute, COO: Sam Berrell
  • Geological Disposal Facility programme (Radioactive Waste Management Ltd), MD: Bruce McKirdy
  • Lima 2019 Pan-American Games (DIT), SRO: Michael Charlton
Categories
Resources

IPA Annual Report 2018-19

The annual report of the Infrastructure and Projects Authority is available here.

This year the report references the good work undertaken by the IPA and covers:

Case Studies

  • Broadband Delivery Programme (DCMS), now Building Digital UK, (SRO: Raj Kalia)
  • DWP People and Locations Programme, (SRO: Karen Gosden)
  • Logistics Commodities Service Transformation (MoD), SRO: Roger West
  • National Proton Beam Therapy (DHSC), SRO: Cally Palmer)
  • Home Office Biometrics Programme (HO), SRO: Brendan Crean
  • A400M Atlas Transport Aircraft (MoD), SRO: Air Commodore Simon Edwards
  • South West Route Capacity (DfT), SRO: Farah Sheikh
  • 30 Hours Free Childcare (DfE), SRO: Michelle Dyson
  • Sellfield Model Change, SRO: Duncan Thompson
  • Future Borders Programme (HMRC/Border Delivery Group), SRO: Haroona Franklin
  • Heathrow Expansion (DfT/Heathrow), SRO: Phil Wilbraham

Notable Projects

  • Dreadnaught Submarines (MoD)
  • High Speed Rail 2 (DfT)
  • Crossrail (DfT)
  • Rail Franchising Programme (DfT)

Lessons from Transport

There were five common themes from the Transport lessons report.

  • Accountability must be unambiguous
  • Behaviour matters more than process
  • Control schedule and benefits as well as cost
  • Deal with systems integration risk
  • Enter service cautiously

The three key lessons raised were.

  1. Behaviours and culture are just as important as process – having a blind commitment to succeed without a balanced perspective. Investment in relationships between project leaders, delivery organisations and suppliers encourages joint decision-making and problem-solving.
  2. It is important to pay close attention to projects, even when things are going well – building the spirit of optimism in a team and protecting against the potential for complacency or denial.
  3. Need more emphasis on managing increasing technical complexity – Complex systems integration failures can arise late in a project lifecycle, but the conditions for success should be established right at the start.