Agenda item

ACARAC (02-17) Paper 4 – Data Analytics (Payroll) review

ACARAC (02-17) Paper 5 – Project Management

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4         

4.1        Gareth presented two audit reports, both of which were welcomed by the Committee.

4.2     The Data Analytics review demonstrated the integrity and robustness of the payroll data and had indicated no evidence of any fraudulent behaviour. The Committee questioned the validation necessary to prove the integrity of the data within the HR/Payroll system. Gareth assured the Committee that data was thoroughly checked and exception reporting took place where necessary. He then described some of the reporting functions of the new finance system which included contract spend analytics.     

4.3     Gareth introduced his second report on the review of the Commission’s approach to project management where four recommendations had been identified and agreed by management.

4.4     Given the challenges that lay ahead for the Commission to deliver an ambitious set of objectives, the Committee encouraged officials to develop clear criteria for prioritising projects, and to focus on benefits realisation.

4.5     The Committee again questioned the lack of project progress reporting within the Corporate Performance (KPI) Report. Dave agreed to consider including the Directors’ updates on progress of projects, which were provided quarterly to IRB, as annexes to future KPI Reports. 

4.6     Dave was pleased to see real progress since Gareth’s previous review in 2015. He described the process in place at the fortnightly IRB meetings to assess resource and budget implications of projects, as well as how they contributed to achieving the Commission’s strategic goals and priorities. He would take on board the Committee’s suggestion of detailing prioritisation criteria in a more formal manner.

4.7     The Committee questioned the scrutiny of business cases and officials recognised improvements were needed to capture lessons learned and to monitor benefit realisation. It was agreed that further guidance was needed, including around the development and iterations of business cases. Gareth also agreed to circulate a useful report he had recently found on agile project management methodology to Committee members.

4.8     Officials welcomed the discussion on programme and project management and the Committee welcomed a review of change management principles and processes which was scheduled for September 2017. The current project guidance would be updated and developed collaboratively by members of the Community of Practice and other key stakeholders.   

         Actions 

        Data Analytics (Payroll) audit

-         Gareth to provide the Committee with further information regarding the sample sizes used for data analytics.

Project Management audit

-         Gareth to circulate outcome of IRB review discussion in advance of the June meeting.

-         Dave to consider prioritisation criteria for projects.

-         Dave to consider inclusion of IRB ‘Directors updates’ as annexes to the KPI Report. 

-         Gareth to circulate report on agile project management methodology.