This is an old blog post now but reading it for the first time and sad to say that GDS has not really changed – and the outcome of the PAC report seems to not have made a visible impact.

Like those commenting from HMRC, I also object to the assumption that those who are concerned about how GDS operates are vested interests who don’t want change. I, and many of my colleagues in the Home Office, do desperately want change and approve of the outcomes that GDS want to achieve. However, they simply don’t engage in the reality of running operational businesses nor do they have any sense that staff in departments may have much better knowledge of user needs and the risks is transforming their business than the GDS army. In short, if one of their guys haven’t ‘discovered’ it, then it’s not worth knowing. The new methodologies and structures are great – the arrogance and failure to acknowledge that there are passionate people who care and already have done lots of work to understand user need is just unforgivable.

As my HMRC colleague, I won’t give my details as to criticise the GDS army is severely career limiting.