Research Series 2: Digital Project Governance Boards – Steering for success
The Digital Transformation Agency (DTA) works across the Australian Government to support the successful design and delivery of digital projects. Our work includes managing the assurance system which drives good decision-making and seeks to create the conditions each project needs to succeed.
This research series engages researchers from academia on issues influencing the performance of digital projects. Work on the series is part of the DTA’s commitment to ensure the Australian Government achieves nothing less than excellence in digital project design and delivery. These projects play a vital role in allowing Australia to seize the opportunities presented by new technologies.
This instalment of the research series provides guidance for establishing and chairing digital project governance boards. There is a clear link between the performance of governance bodies and the success of the projects they govern. However, the roles and responsibilities for project governance boards often remain unclear.
In this research, the skills, capabilities and behaviours required for effective governance are discussed. This research explores what digital project boards are, their relationship to the broader organisation, and the literacies, experience, and culture that contribute to effective project governance. This guide includes a self-assessment that boards can use to reflect on their own practice, and common challenges faced by boards.
A Collaboration
Researcher Profiles
Background
This instalment of the research series complements the DTA’s reform initiatives to create the conditions for digital projects to succeed. These initiatives include maximising the value of assurance in good decisions, delivering formal training for senior leaders of digital projects, and promoting transparency and accountability for performance through the Major Digital Projects Report (MDPR). It also includes wider policy reform efforts to drive best practice including ensuring digital projects all benefit from a clear ‘north star’ during delivery through our Benefits Management Policy and linked capability and training programs.
Disclaimer:
This research series document was produced in August 2025 as a collaboration between the DTA and the University of Queensland based on contemporary events and research findings. The intent of this version is that it is used as guidance and facilitates broader dissemination, feedback and enhancement.