Step 1: Preliminary evaluation
Once a project is initiated and the preliminary business case is developed, the Department of Customer Services, Open Data, and Small and Family Business (CDSB) completes a Concept Review and works with the agency to ensure that project is aligned and opportunities for cross-agency collaboration are identified. Summarised findings are presented to the Digital Economy Leadership Sub Group (DELSG) and guidance is provided back to the agency before resources are committed to undertake a detailed business case for the project.
This step continues to ensure the project adheres to the digital investment principles and aligns to digital strategic priorities (where possible) and policies, setting up the project for success.
The CDSB provides advice to the agency on any actions to improve policy alignment, robustness of the project and linkages it may have with programs/projects in other agencies. Guidance is provided early in the project lifecycle.
The agency completes the assurance profiling tool, develops an assurance plan and submits these documents for CDSB review. At this stage the project may choose to provide evidence of strategic alignment work that has been undertaken. The agency will also submit, for CDSB review, the Gate 1 review report, its supporting documentation including the preliminary business case, and action plan once completed.
Consideration of Queensland Government’s Project assessment framework (PAF) as well as the Infrastructure business case development framework administered by the Department of State Development and Infrastructure where relevant, remains.
The funding model for the project should be considered including planning and budgeting for business cases. For example, what will be the source of funding for each digital investment step? Will the funding be capital or operating in nature, sourced internally and/or will a Cabinet Budget Review Committee submission be required?
Other governance policies should also be considered e.g., Project commencement approval policy.
CDSB will complete a concept review - an assessment of each proposal against the digital investment principles and digital strategic priorities and policies. A summary report with key observations from the review will be presented to the DELSG and investment guidance will be provided back to the agency before resources are committed to undertake a detailed business case for the project. The CDSB will also provide advice on the assurance plan.
At this step, the project is added to the digital investments register and if required, updated on the digital investments roadmap.