Re: You have to wonder
"Water tight delivery contracts will only work once public sector departments employ a decent number of competent, experienced system and business analysts etc. who know their department's operation and current technology well enough to produce a properly specified contract, that, if delivered to spec, will be both functional and usable."
This. This and this again. And again. Have an armful of virtual upvotes as I can give you only one real. There was a time when public sector departments (at least those who deal with technical things) actually had people on staff who understood what it's all about. Okay, maybe their knowledge tended to get a bit stale over the years - that's pretty much down to the individual person. Some like to learn and keep up to date. Others don't. But the basics never really change.
But this wasn't efficient enough! No, no, no! Let's bring in private sector efficiency! Let's hire external consultants with cutting edge knowledge that are so much smarter! They must be, look at what they charge!
Trouble is, more often than not you hire consultants that are smart, but have absolutely no clue about what your department actually does and how how certain processes work. And no, some of them can't be changed due to legal requirements.
Worst case: the consultancy firm is indirectly and discreetly owned/controlled by - surprise! - the very company that offers just the solution you really need...
Biting the hand that feeds IT
