Your address details Dear xxx, I am writing to inform you of a petition currently running to demand the Government review the outdated software development practices it advocates, which is leading to billions of pounds of tax payer’s money being wasted on I.T. projects which have either failed to deliver on their objectives or gone horrendously over budget. You can view the petition here: http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/ITProcessReview Whilst the relative number of signatories is not yet massive, it has been signed by some of the most significant people currently working in software development today including authors, thought leaders, conference speakers and influential bloggers within the community*. We (and I) believe that the overriding reason for so much money being wasted** is the outdated and ineffectual way in which these projects are undertaken – that of designing and contractually committing to hugely complicated systems in a manner which does not take into consideration the nature of software development – that change in understanding is the only constant. Among other negative effects, committing to rigid, fixed term, fixed price contracts means that any changes in requirements are hugely costly and result in enormous delays and overspend. The private sector is increasingly and rapidly moving away from this failed model (often known as “Waterfall”) to more incremental approaches (which generally fall under the “Agile” umbrella of practices and methodologies) and it’s proving to be hugely successful. Most leading technology firms are now developing software this way including Google, The BBC, The Guardian, IBM and countless others. It totally unacceptable that the UK Government still uses and advocates the “big design up front” or “Waterfall” approach*** and it’s costing the tax payer billions of pounds which could have been better spent improving our education or health service. As my representative in Parliament I would be grateful if you could raise the issue with the appropriate members who are responsible for Government technology strategy. This clearly spans all Government departments and their civil service departments, especially the MoD, Health, Defra and Education who all have massive failures reported in their name (see Independent article link below) however I could not find an individual Minister who may be responsible for the overall strategy. If you would like further information on the issue there is a willing and enthusiastic community of software developers (including myself) who would be more than willing to help. Yours sincerely Your name and any significant information about your role. * Signatories include: • Steve Freeman, winner of the Gordon Pask award and author • Rachel Davies, director of the Agile Alliance and author • Karl Scotland, founder member of the Lean Software and Systems Consortium. • Mike Hill, conference chair for SPA • Giovanni Asproni, conference chair for ACCU • Keith Braithwaite, conference chair for XPDay ** The Independent recently reported £26 billion has been wasted on failed government software projects: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/labours-computer-blunders-cost-16326bn-1871967.html *** Ironically the National Audit Office, who are currently producing a (delayed) report on the NHS IT project, still advocate the “Waterfall” approach to systems development according to the “Review of Systems Development” document found here: http://www.intosaiitaudit.org/auditguides.htm#United%20Kingdom