Project One was initially engaged to undertake an independent programme assurance review of the programme and make recommendations for improvement. The assurance review was conducted by a small team of senior change and transformation experts and was completed within one month. The review highlighted several critical issues that were inhibiting successful delivery, including:
- A lack of drive from the programme leadership and ineffective governance to steer and guide the programme
- An incomplete plan for the programme which did not provide line of sight on what was required to successfully deliver the transformation and new capability, and whether the programme was on track
- A predominately technical focus to the programme with limited focus on business change and transformation
- A lack of capability across the programme to lead and manage delivery.
Following the initial programme assurance review, the Project One team oversaw the replacement of senior members of the programme management team across all parties, the setting up and running of an independent PMO, the creation of a design authority and the bolstering of release management activity for key systems. This activity enabled collaboration, transparency and coherent planning, and the programme started delivering functionality from summer 2020.
Implementing assurance review findings
With progress having been made and delivery back on track, Project One conducted a follow-up programme assurance review at the end of 2020 to look for further improvements in how the programme was being delivered. This subsequent review resulted in a key recommendation that the Government organisation needed to coordinate the programme with a Systems Integrator. This led to a change to the programme organisation with Project One consultants taking up key roles in the programme to ensure effective on-going leadership and management.
- Over the subsequent 15 months, Project One has supported the Government organisation with its core technology transformation programme by providing:
- A lack of drive from the programme leadership and ineffective governance to steer and guide the programme
- An incomplete plan for the programme which did not provide line of sight on what was required to successfully deliver the transformation and new capability, and whether the programme was on track
- A predominately technical focus to the programme with limited focus on business change and transformation
- A lack of capability across the programme to lead and manage delivery.
Project One continue to provide senior change and transformation capability to support the Government organisation with this complex IT transformation programme which will run until the end of 2023.