Figure 19

Key conclusions of the Review of the PA Consulting Review of the project

Overall

The programme was "world class in its ambitions";

On CAPS

The Department 's plans for delivering its own systems were well thought through but continuation of tight management control would be vital.

On work in Post Office Counters Ltd

Post Office Counters Ltd had made satisfactory progress, though PA registered concerns about the resources available to manage the roll-out of the infrastructure, and the skills available for managing both the implementation and the continuing service.

On Pathway's work

The extent of development work that Pathway needed to do had been seriously misjudged and Pathway were still implementing new management arrangements and disciplines to reflect their enhanced understanding of the demands of the programme. There was uncertainty about delivery, due in part to the deferral of known problems and system functionality to later releases of software. Though PA had received satisfactory answers to their questions on the robustness of Pathway's technical solution, there would continue to be reservations until the final design was completed.

On the Programme Delivery Authority

The Delivery Authority had spent too much time on aspects that might be better managed directly between the Department, Post Office Counters Ltd and Pathway, and recommended that the Authority could be reduced to a quarter of its current size by transferring its functions to the two purchasers. The Authority was wound up over the following six months and replaced by the Post Office "Horizon" project team.

Source: PA Consulting Report: October 1997