8.25 Essential to the new model is the Department's approach to management information. The MOD has made good progress on integrating financial systems and has a single general ledger and single financial planning and budgeting system (PB&F). More work is needed to further develop financial feeder systems relating to assets and people to continue to further improve the accuracy and completeness of information in core financial systems. We believe this requires continuing investment and recommend the Department develops a strategy to bring together financial, personnel and other management information in a single place. It should focus on decision-makers' needs, with clear governance, processes, improved IT and training. It should ensure information is timely, comprehensive and reliable.
8.26 In addition, we believe that culturally the MOD has a significant challenge in accepting the information in core financial systems. Whilst the Department has a single financial and budgeting system there are multiple views on departmental costs, future project and programme costs and options for savings. Acceptance of a single source of the truth is fundamental to financial control; it would also save time within the finance community (and across MOD in general) reworking or reanalysing information supplied by other elements of the finance community. Aspects of this challenge will be addressed by the rationalisation of parties involved in strategic financial management elsewhere in our recommendations. However, the Department must address the acceptance of information in core systems by the wider decision making community.
8.27 Greater use of analytical staff in handling information will also enhance decision making in Defence. We recommend the Department should also consider how best to use this expertise to draw upon relevant evidence, improve presentation, and clarify the issues for decision makers.