back to article UK govt must learn fast and let failing projects die young

The UK's government spending watchdog has called on the current administration to make better use of technology to kickstart the misfiring economy and ensure better delivery public services amid tightened budgets. In a speech before Parliament, the head of the National Audit Office, Gareth Davies, will set out "fundamentals" …

  1. Pete 2 Silver badge

    Know what you're aiming for

    > Another feature of successful innovators is their ability to learn quickly what works and what doesn't, so that failed experiments can be stopped promptly

    A better approach is to have experienced people veto the obvious turkeys before they even hatch. But that would require decision makers (ministers) to have sufficient technical skills to understand the problems that a project advocate might "forget" to mention. As well as having some realistic view of the total cost and benefits.

    1. Pascal Monett Silver badge

      Re: Know what you're aiming for

      Not to mention some sort of education concerning what has already failed (most of them) and what has succeeded (not very much).

      But that would, in turn, require not favorising some other minister's cousin, so . . .

    2. Caver_Dave Silver badge

      Re: Know what you're aiming for

      It used to be the job of the department's Permanent Secretary or "Sir Humphrey Appleby".

      Now so many in the civil service seem to have little qualification other than an Eton tie!

    3. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: Know what you're aiming for

      Don't be silly. Gove told us the UK is tired of hearing from 'so-called' experts!

  2. ParlezVousFranglais

    So in the future those same projects will still fail catastrophically, but this time with even more eye-watering costs because of the amounts spent on the AI "assistance", and with no way to learn from any mistakes as nobody will be able to say why the AI chose to ignore crucial information, missed an important outlier from it’s summary, or made a particular recommendation. Government still blames company for failing to deliver & company still blames Government for moving the goalposts, plus ca change…

  3. Bebu sa Ware
    Facepalm

    Another feature of successful innovators is their ability

    to avoid detection and prosecution before successfully flogging an even sillier idea to the even more gullible.

    The unsuccessful innovator is likely doing 10 in the Fed. pen.

  4. decentralised

    " Good governance will be needed to manage the risks accompanying AI, to ensure fair treatment of service users and citizens and maintain public trust."

    "Trust"? Hahahahaha ..................

    "Fair treatment"? Lol, lol, lol.

  5. elsergiovolador Silver badge

    NAO

    NAO can do.

    One of the more incompetent orgs in government.

  6. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Ha.....Failing Projects.......

    Like....for instance.....................BREXIT!

    Please......give me a break!!

  7. IGotOut Silver badge

    Some joined up thinking would help.

    My story, given I haven't been to the doctor's in about 10 years.

    Try calling. Engaged constantly.

    Never heard of call waiting? Call back?

    So try book online.

    Need NHS account.

    Put all details in, create account. Log in.

    Try to book, says my details are under a different account. WTF?

    So I now have two accounts, but only one I can use?

    Why didn't it telli already had an account FFS.

    .

    Ok so now try to book that Doctor's appointment.

    No appointments for next two weeks. No option to book later.

    Try again a week later.

    No option to even try to see the GP, just get results or have blood test.

    I don't need either of these.

    Try again couple of days later.

    Different options, but still no GP.

    (BTW, still can't get on the phone).

    .

    So finally, visit the NHS centre in person.

    "You can see the GP tomorrow or in three days time?"

    .

    Turns out you can't even book to see the GP online, but there is nothing on the site telling that

    .

    It's something when I can book an appointment at a little local hairdressers easier than with a multi billion Pound organisation.

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: Some joined up thinking would help.

      It's another world beating GovDigiShambles!

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