How effective assurance can help Australian governments be more successful
25.07.23
The project failure rate in Australian government technology projects has been a topic of concern for many years. According to a report by the Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) in 2018, 40% of Australian government IT projects over the past decade had failed to deliver the expected benefits.
The report noted that ‘project failure’ was often due to a range of factors, including inadequate governance arrangements, poor project management practices, unrealistic expectations, and inadequate stakeholder engagement. The report also highlighted the need for improvements in project planning, risk management, and governance arrangements to improve the success rates of government IT projects.
While a more recent Queensland Government (QAO) report on ‘Delivering Successful Technology Projects‘ found that a significant causes of project failure were poor governance and decision-making, inadequate planning and risk management, and a lack of project management capability. The report made several recommendations to improve project management practices, including implementing better governance frameworks, improving risk management processes, and increasing the capabilities of project managers through training and development programs. The report emphasised the importance of effective project management in delivering successful outcomes and value for money to the government and the community.
While the success rates of government technology and capital projects in Australia have improved in recent years, there is still work to be done to ensure that these projects deliver the expected benefits to taxpayers and citizens.
How Effective Assurance can help
Effective assurance can play a critical role in helping Australian government projects succeed. Assurance activities can provide independent and objective assessments of project risks, performance, and compliance with regulations, which can help identify potential issues early and enable timely interventions to ensure project success. In this article, we will explore how effective assurance can help Australian government projects succeed.
| Identify and mitigate risks:
Effective assurance activities can help identify potential risks and issues that may impact the project’s success. By conducting regular risk assessments and monitoring, project managers can proactively identify potential risks and take appropriate measures to mitigate them. Assurance activities can provide an objective assessment of the adequacy of risk management and provide recommendations for improvements. This can help ensure that risks are actively managed and treated, improving the likelihood of project success.
| Improve performance management
Assurance activities can also help improve project performance management. By monitoring progress against key performance indicators, assurance activities can help identify areas where performance is not meeting expectations and provide recommendations for improvement. This can help project managers take corrective actions and ensure that the project stays on track to meet its objectives.
| Ensure compliance with regulations:
Government projects are subject to a range of laws, regulations, and standards that they must comply with. Effective assurance can help ensure that the project complies with these requirements, reducing the risk of legal and regulatory issues that could delay or even derail the project. Assurance activities can help identify gaps in compliance and provide recommendations for addressing them.
| Provide objective reporting:
Effective assurance can provide objective reporting on project performance, risks, and compliance. This can help ensure that stakeholders have accurate and reliable information about the project’s progress and can make informed decisions based on that information. Objective reporting can also help build trust and confidence among stakeholders, which can be critical to project success.
| Improve stakeholder engagement:
Effective assurance can help improve stakeholder engagement by ensuring that stakeholders are informed about project risks, performance, and compliance. Assurance activities can help identify areas where stakeholder engagement needs to be improved and provide recommendations for doing so. This can help ensure that stakeholders remain engaged and supportive of the project, which can be critical to its success.
THE CRITICAL ROLE OF ASSURANCE
In conclusion, effective assurance can play a critical role in helping Australian government projects succeed. Assurance activities can help identify potential risks, improve performance management, ensure compliance with regulations, provide objective reporting, and improve stakeholder engagement. By implementing effective assurance processes, government departments and agencies can increase the likelihood of project success and deliver better outcomes for citizens.
WHY GLOBAL DIGITAL ASSURANCE?
Global Digital Assurance is the leading provider of modern and comprehensive modern assurance reviewer training, with globally recognised accreditations. Our training courses for government assurance reviewers includes Gateway Assurance™ team leader and team member training, as we as the world leading Agile Assurance™ Professional accreditation.
We are the leading provider of modern and comprehensive digital assurance reviewer training, with globally recognised accreditations.
We offer the latest digital assurance training securely online in Australia, with courses utilising the best practice standards for Gateway Assurance™ and Agile Assurance™ – designed specifically for individuals, assurance professionals and organisations.
If you’re interested in learning more about how we can help you ensure the success of your next digital transformation, contact us today.