DTA announces updated Delivery Confidence Assessment guidance

The Digital Transformation Agency has announced an update to its research report, ‘Assessing Delivery Confidence of Digital Projects’, to incorporate contemporary research and industry feedback.

The first edition of the guidance, published as part of the DTA’s Assurance Research Series, established a common foundation for understanding delivery confidence assessment (DCA) ratings. It outlined the factors that influence delivery confidence across government digital projects. It was developed in partnership with the University of Sydney’s John Grill Institute for Project Leadership and represented what the DTA says is an important step in building a consistent capability across the assurance system.

Version 2 builds on this by incorporating insights gathered through a dedicated consultation period. This includes feedback from Senior Responsible Officials (SROs), project teams, independent assurance providers and academic partners.

“Strong collaboration with academia and industry is critical to capturing the full picture of digital project delivery,” said Simon Quarrell, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Digital Investment Advice and Sourcing Division. “It ensures this advice stays grounded in evidence. Our guidance should be shaped by practical experience and be focused on achieving better outcomes for Australians.”

Key updates in this updated edition include:

• Consolidation of change management material into a distinct assessment category.
• Improved coverage of people risk and quality management considerations across risk, stakeholder engagement and solution sections.
• Inclusion of a DCA example and two-page overview of the focus areas to help users navigate and apply the guidance.
• Clearer guidance on how DCA considerations apply at different stages of the project life cycle.
• Clarification of the purpose of DCAs, including incorporating feedback on how readers are using the guidance.
   

The updated guidance is now available for SROs, agencies and assurance practitioners here.

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