The Digital Transformation Agency (DTA) in Australia is considering making compliance with the ISO 20700:2017 standard mandatory for consultancies looking to participate in its ICT panels. The standard aims to ensure that management consultancies focus on innovation, differentiation and ethical behaviour, while enabling clients to understand what to expect from consultancy projects. The DTA is also recommending that the standard be incorporated into procurement guidelines for Commonwealth entities, as well as the guidance for panel establishment across government. However, the DTA acknowledges that compliance could create a high bar for small-to-medium and Indigenous enterprises, and further research should explore how to minimize the impact on such providers. The agency also suggested consolidating procurement pathways to allow for standard terms and conditions and simplified data management. The submission also outlined the DTA’s commitment to managing conflicts of interest, risk, transparency and accountability when engaging consultants for work.
Scopes of DTA ISO standard for consulting engagement
