20 March 2026

The DTA has updated our research report, Assessing Delivery Confidence of Digital Projects, to incorporate contemporary research and industry feedback. This ensures the report continues to meet the needs of today’s digital projects.  

The first edition of this guidance, published as part of the DTA’s Assurance Research Series, established a common foundation for understanding delivery confidence assessment (DCA) ratings. It outlined the factors that influence delivery confidence across government digital projects.  

It was developed in partnership with the University of Sydney’s John Grill Institute for Project Leadership and represented an important step in building a consistent capability across the assurance system.

Version 2 builds on this by incorporating insights gathered through a dedicated consultation period. This includes feedback from Senior Responsible Officials (SROs), project teams, independent assurance providers and academic partners

“Strong collaboration with academia and industry is critical to capturing the full picture of digital project delivery,” explains Simon Quarrell, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Digital Investment Advice and Sourcing Division.

“It ensures this advice stays grounded in evidence. Our guidance should be shaped by practical experience and be focused on achieving better outcomes for Australians.”

Key updates in this updated edition include:

  • Consolidation of change management material into a distinct assessment category.
  • Improved coverage of people risk and quality management considerations across risk, stakeholder engagement, and solution sections.
  • Inclusion of a DCA example and two-page overview of the focus areas to help users navigate and apply the guidance.
  • Clearer guidance on how DCA considerations apply at different stages of the project life cycle.  
  • Clarification of the purpose of DCAs, including incorporating feedback on how readers are using the guidance.

These updates are part of the DTA’s continued commitment in ensuring the guidance remains practical, relevant and aligned with the evolving needs of digital projects across the APS.

The updated guidance is now available for SROs, agencies and assurance practitioners | Assessing delivery confidence of digital projects: 2nd edition - refreshing the guidance | digital.gov.au

Reach out to us

We are actively exploring ideas for future research priorities and welcome input from agencies. If there are aspects of your role or common delivery challenges that you consider could benefit from additional support and guidance, please contact the Leadership Programs and Integration team at LPI@dta.gov.au. 

To access the research series instalments please visit digital project research series | Digital project research series | digital.gov.au

Enquiries on this work may be directed to the Leadership Programs and Integration team at LPI@dta.gov.au.  

The Digital Transformation Agency is the Australian Government's adviser for the development, delivery, and monitoring of whole-of-government strategies, policies, and standards for digital and ICT investments, including ICT procurement. 

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