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GovS 010 Analysis
GovS 010 Analysis
GovS 010 Analysis
Functional Standard
Version: 2.0
Date issued: 4 August 2021 APPROVED
Government Functional Standard
This functional standard is part of a suite of management standards that promotes consistent
and coherent ways of working across government, and provides a stable basis for assurance,
risk management and capability improvement.
The suite of standards, and associated guidance, can be found at GOV.UK/government/
collections/functional-standards.
Functional standards cross-refer to each other where needed, so can be confidently
used together.
They contain both mandatory and advisory elements, described in consistent language
(see the table below).
Term Intention
The meaning of words is as defined in the Shorter Oxford English Dictionary, except where
defined in the Glossary in Annex B.
It is assumed that legal and regulatory requirements are always met.
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Contents
1. About this government functional standard 2
1.1 Purpose of this government standard 2
1.2 Scope of this standard 2
1.3 Government standards references 2
2. Principles 3
3. Context 3
3.1 Introduction 3
3.2 The role of analysis in government 3
3.3 How analysis is organised in government 4
3.4 Analytical practices 4
4. Governance 5
4.1 Governance and management framework 5
4.2 Assurance of analysis 5
4.3 Decision making 6
4.4 Roles and accountabilities 6
6. Supporting practices 12
6.1 Overview 12
6.2 Uncertainty 12
6.3 Analytical verification and validation 12
6.4 Documentation and record keeping 12
6.5 Learning from experience 13
6.6 Analytical models 13
6.7 Statistics 13
6.8 Appraisal and evaluation 14
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A. References 15
B. Glossary 16
C. Analytical professions and their guidance 18
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2 Principles
3 Context
4 Governance of analysis
Analytical cycle
5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.5
Scoping Designing Conducting Delivering the Approving Disseminating
5 the and checking analytical work to the analysis the results of
the
analysis analysis the analysis the commissioner the analysis
Supporting practices
Annexes
A References
B Glossary
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2. Principles 3. Context
Those engaged in analysis shall ensure:
3.1 Introduction
1. Analysis is undertaken for the public
good and is aligned to government This section provides essential
policy and organisational objectives. background information for the use of this
functional standard.
2. A diverse range of perspectives are
considered, from subject matter experts,
other relevant professionals, those
3.2 The role of analysis
affected by the results of the analysis, in government
and those commissioning and using the Analysis is a collaborative activity
results of the analysis. supporting the development and delivery of
3. Analysis uses the most appropriate policy, project delivery and operations.
inputs and methods to derive high The scale and timing of analysis work
quality results. can vary, ranging from ongoing advice on
4. The results of analysis are presented policy papers to major projects or phased
impartially and so they are understood programmes or work.
by, and useful to users; caveats Ministers and other leaders rely on analysis
and limitations on their use are to inform their decisions. Understanding
clearly detailed. the rationale for a decision enables the
5. The effort and costs of analysis provide appropriate type and rigour of analysis
value for money. to be undertaken. A variety of analytical
approaches can be used to build the
6. Continuous improvement is promoted evidence to support decision makers
through using experience and and different approaches can be used at
lessons learned. different points in the development of the
7. Public service codes of conduct analysis results.
and ethics and those of associated Analysis contributes to the government’s
professions are upheld. established policy development and
review cycle [4], which considers rationale,
objectives, appraisal, monitoring, evaluation
and feedback (known as the ‘ROAMEF’
cycle), as shown in Figure 2.
The role of analysts is to proactively apply
their professional knowledge, skills and
experience to address issues of public
concern, and to ensure that the formulation
of government policy is founded on sound
analytical principles and procedures.
This means that analysts are partners
to policy makers and other colleagues.
Analysts are often commissioned to do
work, as described in this document. They
can also proactively suggest solutions
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Government Functional Standard
• ensuring the planned and actual level 4.4 Roles and accountabilities
of quality checking of the analysis
is appropriate for the decision 4.4.1 Overview
being supported Roles and accountabilities shall be defined,
• ensuring an audit trail is in place in the organisation’s governance and
management framework and assigned to
The requirements of the Orange Book:
people with appropriate seniority, skills
management of risk – principles and
and experience. This should include, but
concepts, shall be met [2].
is not limited to, the activities, outputs or
4.3 Decision making outcomes they are responsible for, and the
person they are accountable to.
Decisions relating to analysis work
should be made and approvals given in 4.4.2 Senior officer accountable for
a timely manner, in accordance with the analysis across-government
organisation’s analysis governance and The senior officer accountable for analysis
management framework. Government across government is accountable to the
policy and professional codes of practice Chief Operating Officer of the Civil Service
should be complied with. Decisions should for ensuring effective analytical practices and
be made by assessing options against standards across government, including:
defined criteria and in consultation with • overseeing the effective and efficient
stakeholders, subject matter experts and application of this functional standard
specialists. across government
Decisions may relate to:
• ensuring appropriate standards of
• approving data, models, and methods professionalism in analysis
to be used
The senior officer accountable for analysis
• approving the scope and design across government should be supported by
of analysis and other aspects of the heads of the analytical professions for
planning (see 5.3) providing specific guidance relating to their
• approving the results and timing of the analytical discipline.
dissemination of outputs (see 5.6) Note: This role is often done by the same
• terminating or suspending analysis work person who leads the Analysis function across
if deemed to be unfit for purpose government; for more detail, see GovS 001,
Government functions which sets common
Decisions should: expectations for managing government
• be holistic, taking account functions and functional standards.
of the external context and
uncertainty (see 6.2)
• be communicated to the relevant
stakeholders
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Disseminating
the results
(5.7)
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• recording the perceived purpose of the • escalation routes to enable analysts and
analysis and the levels of quality and stakeholders to raise concerns
certainty required to achieve it (see 6.4) If analytical products and services are used
• exploring the requirements, boundaries, they shall be procured and managed in
and scope with the stakeholders, accordance with GovS 008, Commercial.
seeking a wide range of perspectives The designed approach should:
• be repeatable, producing the same
5.3 Designing and planning results for the same inputs if others
the analysis repeat the analysis
The analysis should be designed and • consider uncertainty (see 6.2)
planned to ensure that the analysis is
• take into account the fitness-for-
sufficient to answer the question posed, is
purpose of underlying data sources to
proportionate, reflects known uncertainties
address the analytical question
(see 6.2) and represents value for money.
• be appropriately documented (see 6.4)
From the outset, the analyst should
proactively ensure that the proposed design The plan may be incorporated within the
and plan meets the analysis commissioner’s management framework of the work the
requirements. Analysts should work with analysis supports.
appropriate subject matter experts to The analytical assurer should, in
design the analysis. Learning from relevant consultation with relevant subject matter
earlier work should be incorporated experts, check that the proposed design
(see 6.5). meets the commissioner’s requirements.
Innovative approaches should be The design should be approved by the
considered where the costs and risk of their analysis commissioner before work
use is proportionate to the complexity of the proceeds. Where analysis is extensive,
problem and the benefits they bring. Costs involving a team over a protracted time
of analysis can be reduced through reuse scale, the management of the work as a
of models and methods and the linking and programme or project in accordance with
sharing of data. GovS 002, Project Delivery, should be
A design and plan, covering the analytical considered.
cycle (see section 5) should be developed
where appropriate and communicated to 5.4 Conducting and checking
those involved in its conduct or who have analysis
an interest in its results. This may include:
The analysis should be undertaken following
• analytical assurance activities (see 4.2)
the approved design and plan (see 5.3).
• decision making (see 4.3) The analyst should, in consultation with
• roles and accountabilities (see 4.4) subject matter experts and the analysis
commissioner:
• the inputs, procedures, techniques
and tools to be used, and the • keep the commissioner informed of
expected outputs progress, agreeing assumptions and
raising issues or requests for direction
• timescales, phasing, costs and
resources needed • provide the analytical assurer access to
the work and information, as required
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A. References
All references are correct at the time of publication; users should check for updated versions.
I.D. Description
1 HM Treasury, The Aqua Book: guidance on producing quality analysis
for government (2015)
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B. Glossary
See also the common glossary of definitions (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/
functional-standards-common-glossary) which includes a list of defined terms and phrases
used across the suite of government standards. The glossary includes the term, definition,
and which function owns the term and definition.
Term Definition
analytically Any person fulfilling a role having received both sufficient training
qualified and experience to properly undertake the tasks at hand. This may be
demonstrated through relevant qualifications.
analytical method A process, combined with the scientific method, to enable analysts to
examine complex relationships between variables.
analytical A model that through experience and research has been critically
recommended proven to reliably lead to a desired result and has been adopted by an
practice model analytical community.
assurance A general term for the confidence that can be derived from objective
information over the successful conduct of activities, the efficient and
effective design and operation of internal control, compliance with
internal and external requirements, and the production of insightful
and credible information to support decision making. Confidence
diminishes when there are uncertainties around the integrity of
information or of underlying processes.
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Term Definition
governance Governance defines relationships and the distribution of rights and
responsibilities among those who work with and in the organisation. It
determines the rules and procedures through which the organisational
objectives are set, and provides the means of attaining those
objectives and monitoring performance. Importantly, it defines where
accountability lies throughout the organisation.
governance and A governance and management framework sets out the authority
management limits, decision making roles and rules, degrees of autonomy,
framework assurance needs, reporting structure, accountabilities and roles and
the appropriate management practices and associated documentation
needed to meet this standard.
plan A plan sets out how objectives, outcomes and outputs are to be
delivered within defined constraints, in accordance with the strategy.
strategy A strategy outlines longer term objectives, outcomes and outputs, and
the means to achieve them, to inform future decisions and planning.
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Profession-specific guidance
Below are some key sources of guidance for specific professions.
Actuarial Guidance
The Financial Reporting Council sets technical standards for actuaries. In the UK actuaries’
work is produced in accordance with the Financial Reporting Council’s Technical Actuarial
Standards. The generic standard, TAS 100, applies to all work which meets the Financial
Reporting Council’s definition of technical actuarial work. Additional technical actuarial
standards should be applied in specified areas of work, where the Financial Reporting Council
has identified risks to the public interest.
Institute and Faculty of Actuaries, Standards and Guidance (2018)
Financial Reporting Council, Actuarial Standards (2017)
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