2.26 The Department's information technology strategy reflects industry best practice and should help minimise the risk of EDS developing solutions which are unlikely to provide long-term value for money. Departures from the strategy have, however, sometimes been necessary to meet legislative, or other requirements. The Department has recognised the importance of keeping the strategy up to date to reflect developments in information technology and changes in its medium- and long-term vision of its business.
Recommendation 1 | The Department should continue to seek to minimise the number of developments which are inconsistent with the strategy and, where departures are necessary, the decision should be made consciously, and for justifiable reasons. |
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Recommendation 2 | In view of the strategy's importance in securing value for money, the Department should continue to keep it under review and amend it, as necessary, in response to developments in information technology and changes in its medium- and long-term vision of its business. |
2.27 In view of the frequent constraints on the time available to develop new systems, we endorse the efforts made by the Department and EDS to explore accelerated methods of requirement development by working in closer partnership. The rapid application development approach, however, carries other risks such as weaker control of costs and loss of objectivity in evaluating solutions. While these had been recognised by the Department, at the time of our examination the risks had not been formally included in its partnership risk management plan.
Recommendation 3 | The Department should make a formal assessment in its partnership risk management plan of the issues associated with working in closer partnership with EDS in the rapid development of applications and take steps to mitigate any material risks identified. |