This blog post is a collaboration with Alison McLaughlin, a recognised Digital Leader in Scotland with a wealth of experience of project delivery in the private and public sectors, as a supplier and a customer. We hope it is a helpful prompt for public body boards. All suggestions of other practical questions for boards are very welcome.
Public bodies must embrace the opportunities that technology provides to improve services and cut costs – but it can be tough for a Board to be confident in their oversight of digital projects.
Boards will be well aware of key strategic questions about strategic alignment and the Business Case and will use those to decide which investments they want to make. Having made those strategic decisions, here are four top practical questions Boards should ask themselves to make sure their chosen investments deliver what was intended.
- Do we have the right skills? If you are introducing technology the body hasn’t used before, it’s likely you will need to bring in contractors or hire staff with different skills and experience. Asking this question and probing if necessary to understand any skills gaps does not show a lack of faith in the staff you have but is about ensuring they are supported properly.
- How we fill any skills gaps? You need to consider options on contracting in skills or employing people. The choice will be driven by the long-term business requirement. Do not be afraid to pay for the skills you need – cost avoidance could lead to much greater costs in a failed project. Be willing to pay the market rate – looking at total investment not just day rate and be very clear what you require.
- How are we going to the market? If this is a new technology or a major business change for your organisation, it is really important to do your market engagement before going out to procure. Proper market engagement will help you understand the options and write a clearer, more focused specification. Resist the idea that there isn’t time for market engagement as experience shows it will save you time and expense later.
- How are the Digital projects we have underway doing? All projects have to cope with changes and that should not be a problem if the project is being managed effectively. Make sure you get periodic updates and check that the time/cost/quality still stacks up, as it can be easy for those leading the project to lose sight of the strategic intent behind the business case. This is where the Board can really add value and can take difficult decisions to halt or reset projects where this is needed.
Above all, don’t be afraid of technology. If you get ‘tech speak’ answers to any of your questions, insist on getting an explanation you can understand. Keeping on top of these four aspects should help give you confidence that Digital projects in your public body are going well.
P.S. Yes, of course we used AI assistance to write this – but the experience is all human!
