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Ministry of Defence - Performance Report 2001/2002

Information
Objective:
	To exploit information more fully as a strategic asset.
Performance Measures:
	Progress on implementing the Defence Information Strategy and the underpinning Defence Information Infrastructure.
	Progress towards meeting the Information Age Government targets.
Performance Assessment:
	The Defence Information Infrastructure was endorsed by the Defence Management Board. Although there was some uncertainty over funding in 2001/02, it is expected that the Information Infrastructure will be one of the major beneficiaries of the Defence Modernisation Fund announced as part of the 2002 Spending Review.
Although solid progress was maintained on Information Age Government initiatives, with a significant increase in the number of electronic transactions, the MOD failed to meet the 90% low value transaction target set by the Office of Government Commerce.

  Defence Information Strategy

144. The Defence Information Strategy is intended to ensure the information needs of Defence are met in a coherent, efficient and effective manner. The Strategy aims to deliver improvements in three key areas: management of information, access to and exchange of information, and information skills and culture. Progress in 2001/02 focused on putting in place the framework that will enable the Strategy to be delivered. 

145. The key components of this framework were the establishment of an Information Governance Regime, based on the "Successful IT: Modernising Government in Action" guidelines, and the agreement to create a single focal point for all operational and business information needs. This will ensure a joined-up approach to information exploitation across Defence. A high-level policy for the secure sharing of information was also published, as was guidance to make sure that current information systems are being used to best effect. In addition, the results of a staff attitude survey formed the basis of an action plan to develop the requisite information skills and competences across Defence. 

146. Fundamental to the delivery of the Strategy is a single Defence Information Infrastructure that brings together and subsumes the many computer networks currently in use across Defence. The Defence Management Board endorsed this project in November 2001, and good progress was subsequently made on proving the overall concept. A decision to move into the assessment phase was taken in July 2002 and the Procurement Strategy is due to be considered at the end of the year, ahead of which industry will be consulted on the procurement options. Dependent on the Procurement Strategy, rollout of the new capability is expected to start in 2004. In the meantime, the Department continues to replace obsolete legacy computer networks with Defence Information Infrastructure-compliant solutions.

Information Age Government 

147. The MOD surpassed the Information Age Government target for 25% of appropriate dealings with the public to be available electronically by 2002, with 73% of relevant services on-line by the end of the year. The Department remained on course to achieve 100% by the target date of 2005. The second version of the MOD's e-Business strategy was awarded 3* by the Office of the e-Envoy, an improvement on the previous strategy's 2*.

148. The MOD continued to introduce a comprehensive e-commerce solution, although the scale and complexity of the system meant that it could not be introduced in time to meet the 2002 target for 90% of low value transactions to be conducted electronically. Nevertheless, the MOD remains committed to achieving the Office of Government Commerce's new targets for low value transactions and e-tendering.

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