18

Defra lacks a clear vision for its transformed business, impeding digital transformation planning.

Conclusion
However, Defra has not yet developed a clear vision for how its business will operate after transformation. Business transformation and digital transformation are closely linked but without clarity on what the transformed Defra will look like, it is difficult for its digital specialists to prepare. Decisions taken now may need to be reversed when the new Group structure is implemented and this could mean systems have to be rebuilt.38 Given this, we asked Defra how it could design a digital programme. Defra told us that it was working through what it might do in terms of further joining up the Defra Group and any structural changes that this might involve. It told us that it thought that the way that it currently operated its IT, on a Group basis, should mean that any changes would not affect, or be an issue, for its digital programme.39
Government Response

A response document is linked to this report, dated 21 July 2023. Response attribution to this conclusion has not been verified. Read the response document.

Addressee Bodies
HM Treasury
Timeline
Recommendation age 3.3 yrs
Report published 10 May 2023