Integrated Technology Solution – Follow up

Background

The Integrated Technology Solution (ITS) programme was launched in early 2020 and is intended to enable the Government to use modern, cloud-based systems for finance, human resources (HR), procurement and asset management.  Release One of the ITS programme went live on 1 January 2023, followed shortly afterwards by two modules of Release Two (Performance Management and Learning and Development).

In October 2021, the Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG) issued a report ­ICT Cloud Implementation – Integrated Technology Solution that evaluated:

• the first phase of implementation of the new taxation revenue management system and considered the lessons that can be learned for future projects; and
• the design and delivery of the ITS programme up to the end of August 2021.

The C&AG made 16 recommendations for the Government of Jersey to implement as the ITS programme progressed.  All of the recommendations were accepted for implementation.

This follow up review has considered whether the previous recommendations have been implemented and whether the ITS programme has followed best practice in the lead up to the ‘go live’ date for releases one and two.

Scope

This review has evaluated:

• the arrangements established to manage and monitor the implementation of the recommendations contained in the C&AG’s 2021 report
• the progress the Government of Jersey has made in implementing the agreed recommendations
• the progress being made in implementation of releases one and two against recognised good practice. This will include assessment of the readiness for service of the two phases including:
• the preparations for monitoring benefits realisation against the business case; and
• the effectiveness of planned and implemented testing strategies; and
• whether lessons are being learned from releases one and two in the planned programmes for subsequent releases.

The review has considered the operation of the ITS programme to the end of November 2022 as well as the ‘go live’ decision at the end of December 2022.  I have not reviewed the detailed functionality and operation of the ITS programme since releases one and two went live in January 2023.  I have therefore not considered the operational problems that have been experienced in the live systems.

Conclusions

The ITS programme was launched in early 2020 and is intended to enable the Government to use modern, cloud-based systems for finance, human resources (HR), procurement and asset management.  It forms one part of a significant investment being made by Government in digital modernisation.

My review has identified some elements of good practice in the way in which the ITS programme has been managed.  However, there is a need for Government to improve its management of strategic risks in major programmes, to ensure that sufficient specific business-unit level approval of functionality is gained prior to ‘go live’ and to enhance its processes to monitor the realisation of the benefits expected to be delivered over a sufficiently long time-span.