Technology Governance Board (TGB)¶
The TGB sets Defra's technology direction. It approves strategies, standards and guardrails, and the investment that shapes Defra's technology estate.
Draft - to be confirmed
Parts of this page, such as names, timings and thresholds, are still being confirmed by the architecture team. Use it as a guide, and check with your solution design authority before relying on the detail.
Purpose¶
The TGB ensures Defra's digital, data and technology estate supports departmental outcomes, is secure and sustainable, and represents value for money. It is where Defra decides what good looks like; the TDA and solution design authorities make sure it happens.
What the TGB decides¶
- Digital, data and technology strategies and roadmaps
- Architecture principles and Must guardrails
- Adoption, change or retirement of strategic platforms and technology capabilities
- Changes to level 1 business capabilities
- Technology aspects of significant investment cases
- Escalations from the TDA, including risks outside Defra's appetite
What the TGB does not do¶
It does not review individual service designs. Those are delegated to the TDA and solution design authorities.
Membership¶
| Role | Responsibility |
|---|---|
| Chief Digital and Information Officer (chair) | Accountable for decisions |
| Chief Technology Officer / Chief Architect | Architecture direction; owner of the guardrails |
| Chief Information Security Officer | Security risk |
| Chief Data Officer | Data strategy and standards |
| Heads of digital delivery and platforms | Delivery and operational impact |
| Arm's length body technology leads | Group-wide alignment |
| Commercial and finance representatives | Commercial and investment implications |
How it works¶
- Meets monthly, with papers circulated a week in advance.
- Items normally arrive via the TDA, which provides a recommendation.
- Decisions, and the reasons for them, are recorded and published here where they are not sensitive.
Bringing an item to the TGB¶
Talk to the architecture team first. Most items need a short paper covering: the decision needed, options considered, recommendation, impact on the guardrails and handrail, cost, risk and the TDA's view.