6 The Department recognises that the design of a best business process model should normally come before seeking an IT solution. The Department decided, however, to support and improve the efficiency of existing processes rather than redesign business processes in parallel with the development of a new IT system (although the business processes that would be necessary to support and operate the new system were developed and documented in parallel with the system design and development). The Department advanced two main reasons for adopting this approach. First, it did not have the authority to impose business process change on the independent Magistrates' Courts Committees. Secondly, as a programme of amalgamations of Magistrates' Courts Committees was under way, the Department wanted to maintain service and not attempt further major change during this period.
7 Ideally business processes should have been redesigned and developed in parallel with a new IT system being developed. This would have helped to secure the most efficient and effective way of carrying out the operations of Magistrates' Courts Committees.