Evaluation of the whole-of-government trial of Microsoft 365 Copilot: full report
The full report provides a detailed analysis of the evaluation findings from the Australian Government's trial of Microsoft 365 Copilot. This includes supporting data tables, graphs and information on the evaluation approach.
What happens at this state
The Prioritisation state provides a structure and process for prioritisation of digital and ICT-enabled investments across the Australian Government. Through the Digital Investment Overview (DIO), the DTA provides early visibility of investments and advice to government on prioritised major digital proposals. An Integrated view of Digital Investment Plans will support prioritisation of present proposals within the context of pressures tomorrow.
Why is it important
The DIO provides whole-of-government visibility and advice to government on major digital proposals early in the Budget and MYEFO processes to help identify and prioritise investments that best align with the Data and Digital Government Strategy.
What agencies need to do
Agencies must engage with the DTA prior to the beginning of the Budget Process to identify proposed digital investments.
Agencies must engage early, including on early drafts or thinking. Early engagement from agencies in the DIO process is critical to investment outcomes as it ensures proposals are fully developed and the DTA’s recommendations for improvement are addressed prior to Cabinet consideration.
What the DTA will do
As part of the prioritisation process, the DTA works with government agencies to:
- collect data on digital proposals
- assess proposals based on a multi-criteria analysis aligned to the Data and Digital Government Strategy
- moderate proposals through peer reviews, internal and external moderation
- analyse proposals and provide recommendations for improvement
- create a consolidated thematic view of individual agency digital plans (Integrated Digital Investment Plan or DIPs) for consideration by the Secretaries’ Digital and Data Committee
- maintain visibility of short, medium and longer-term data of proposed digital investments
- provide early visibility of planned investments across government to help identify capability gaps and promote reuse and shared benefit.
Contestability
The Contestability state (State 3) of the whole-of-government Digital and ICT Investment Oversight Framework (IOF) ensures proposals brought forward for consideration are robust and meet Australian Government digital standards before a decision is made.
What happens at this state
Digital projects are often challenging to deliver. The DTA works from the centre of government to ensure digital projects receive the expert advice they need to stay on track. The DTA also draws on lessons learned to identify and drive the reforms needed to ensure all projects have the best chance of success.
Why it’s important
The DTA ensures digital projects make best use of assurance to support successful delivery. Our work ensures that across all digital projects, assurance occurs at the right times, on the right areas, and by specialists independent of the project.
We also ensure assurance drives action and accountability for performance. We do this by facilitating the flow of assurance information including Delivery Confidence Assessments to Ministers as well as to Australians through the public annual Major Digital Projects Report. Digital projects won’t always go smoothly and our work driving transparency and accountability is key to ensuring agencies stay focussed on what must go right to succeed.
As a result of the DTA’s work, project learnings are not just identified but actively addressed through targeted reforms. This incremental improvement creates the conditions for projects to succeed both now and into the future. Our current reform priorities include putting benefits to Australians at the centre of project decision-making and upskilling senior leaders of digital projects.
What agencies need to do
Agencies leading digital projects will be supported by the DTA to meet the requirements in the Assurance Framework. This Framework is organised around five principles: plan for assurance, drive good decisions, expert-led and independent, focus on risks and outcomes, and culture and tone at the top. The requirements in the Framework are calibrated to project size and complexity with the overall goal of supporting good decision through good assurance. In order to set up projects for success before delivery commences, Benefits Management Planning and Assurance Plans are required to be completed in the Contestability state.
What the DTA will do
The DTA works to ensure all the Australian Government’s digital projects succeed. Success means that they deliver promised benefits for Australians on time and on budget. To achieve this, the DTA manages the ‘system of assurance’ for digital projects. This system is designed to provide confidence that digital projects are on-track and if they aren’t, to support agencies in timely and effective course corrections. It also improves the quality of decisions across digital projects and ensures that the success rate improves over time through targeted reforms.