Another costly MOD cock-up??

[Osem]

Originally Posted by SMG

You know, thats quite a good post. When you think of the money we have spent trying to make rotten systems work, when theres a better alternative, it makes your blood boil. Nimrod springs to mind too, I wouldn`t mind 1% of that money in my bank.

Our history is littered with costly debacles sadly .......

[Escapee]

Originally Posted by Osem

Our history is littered with costly debacles sadly .......

True, and as someone who works in the defence industry I would make the following statement.

If the customer was intelligent, many of these costly debacles would not exist.

[tweetypie/8]

Originally Posted by RizzyKing

Well yes another one from this glorious government that revels in sending our troops out all over the place but won't give them the kit to get the job done. Pretty soon basic equipment for the British soldier will be sticky tape, string and a blue peter maunal. Send some of these pampered little politicians out to the fun zones and then see how quickly kit goes up in priority bunch of gits.

youve nailed that one rizzy,fair play to you.

[SMHarman]

Originally Posted by Escapee

True, and as someone who works in the defence industry I would make the following statement.

If the customer was intelligent, many of these costly debacles would not exist.

The customer being HMG who overrule those in military ranks who have the intelligence to make these decisions?

[tosh mate]

i have to say that the British armed forces are the best trainned but i do agree they lack the equipment they need and should not be in a lot of the battlefields they are

[Escapee]

Originally Posted by SMHarman

The customer being HMG who overrule those in military ranks who have the intelligence to make these decisions?

No, the decisions are usually being made by ex service people in civilian posts. The fact that they use ex service people (usually ex army) often makes matters worse, because they have no commercial awareness.

For example 2 scenarios.

A. A request is made for a larger kettle to make more cups of tea.

B. A request is made to upgrade the flow widget because of an incompatibility with it connecting reliably to the winky valve, resulting in a possible failure in service.

Scenario A is likely to be approved because any fool understands it, but scenario B is not understood by the people making the decisions. They may decide to seek guidance from one of their consultants or commonly referred to 'Subject Matter Expert'. They may be lucky and have one who understands what he is supposed to be an expert on, but the reality is that his report is too confusing for the non-technical decision makers so they just file the request.

Ex forces personel are not the best people to get involved in technical decision making, I should know I work with a lot of them.

[Osem]

The Ministry of Defence failed to get the best deal for taxpayers when buying a fleet of transport planes for the RAF, the spending watchdog has said.

The National Audit Office said the 14 Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft would be delivered more than five years late.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8593788.stm

[Osem]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-12643966

The Ministry of Defence has admitted it has been paying £22 for a light bulb worth 65p.

Defence Secretary Liam Fox described it as "inexcusable" and evidence of a waste of taxpayers' money by the previous Labour government.

It's so ridiculous that it must be true!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-12538011

[Kymmy]

Last item is already being discussed in it's own thread

http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/20...no-wonder.html

[Osem]

Originally Posted by Kymmy

Last item is already being discussed in it's own thread

http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/20...no-wonder.html

Yes, been having issues posting all morning - site very slow to respond, so that thread was launched whilst I was still posting mine.