Experts warn agreement needed and skills lacking in HMRC-led project
The UK’s major government projects experts have warned a programme to overhaul ERP systems in three central government departments is undeliverable in its current state.
Although named Unity, the £214 million ($276 million) shared services SAP-based ERP project, which is between tax collector HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC), Department for Transport (DfT) and Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) Programme, has « a number of key design decisions outstanding, which all three departments must agree » for the project to remain on its critical path, according to information published alongside Infrastructure and Project Authority’s recent report [PDF].
« The programme also lacks a number of critical skills and dedicated resources, which further puts progress at risk, » it said.
The IPA – the government’s centre of expertise for infrastructure and major projects working across the Cabinet Office and HM Treasury – found that successful delivery of Unity to transform HR, finance and procurement across its three government departments « appears to be unachievable. »
According to the IPA’s definition of a red rating – which Unity received [PDF] – there may be « major issues with project definition, schedule, budget, quality and/or benefits delivery, which at this stage do not appear to be manageable or resolvable ». This means the project « may need re-scoping and/or its overall viability reassessed. »
In information submitted to the IPA, HMRC, which leads the Unity project, said the programme costs for the 2022/23 financial year had fallen by 33 percent against the forecast because the outline business case was not approved until November 2023, « which was much later than anticipated and meant that the delivery phases of the programme were pushed back.
