Lack of joined-up thinking threatens eGov project

Friday 20 May 2016

A huge States project to make better use of technology is under threat unless there is a fundamental change in mindset, according to a new report.

The Comptroller and Auditor General, Karen McConnell, has concluded that many of the problems that the States has faced - and continues to face - in delivering ‘eGovernment’ (eGov) stem from issues that she has referred to in previous reports. These include: - a lack of documentation and common understanding of clear principles for public sector reform; - the absence of effective corporate planning at a States-wide level, setting out how all resources (including technology and people) will be used to deliver strategic objectives; - the operation of a substantial volume of legacy systems; - an absence of a strong culture of programme and project management; - weaknesses in the understanding and application of risk management; - a strong sense of departmentalism as opposed to corporate working; - an absence of the culture of a ‘learning organisation’.

She said said: “eGovernment is not easy. Successful implementation goes beyond the way an organisation runs itself, to its vision, culture and skills. To do this the States needs to be clear on the vision for and end state of Public Sector Reform, with which eGov is fundamentally interlinked.

“The programme got off to a bad start but since then improvements have been made. Substantial benefits can still be secured, but concerted action is needed in response to the recommendations I have made by leaders across the States as many of them cannot be implemented by the eGov team alone.”

The Chief Minister Department said it welcomed the report. Director of Business Change, Jonathan Williams, said: “We accept all of the recommendations made by the CAG and have already initiated work and made good progress against them. The appointment of the Design Authority will be critical in addressing many of these and work to establish this function is now well underway.

“Mrs McConnell has observed that cultural change needs to be at the heart of public sector reform and we recognise that it will be vital to deliver this about across departments. eGov remains critical to the reform programme and we remain committed to this digital transformation journey.”