I guess that what our government needs is access to a good project and programme management framework, something that recognises all the common reasons for IT project failure, and which enables organisations to avoid having to re-invent approaches that have already been tried and tested.
I’d like to recommend that they start with a project management methodology called PRINCE2 and then follow through by investigating a programme management methodology called MSP – Managing Successful Programmes. These programmes were both pulled together by a UK government department, and the IP is still owned by the OGC – who, I’m sure, would be delighted to learn that someone else in the government actually uses these programmes.