OGC

Office of Government Commerce

An independent office of the UK Treasury that existed from 2000 to 2011. It was formed by merging the Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency (CCTA) and the Property Advisers to the Civil Estate (PACE). Key responsibilities of OGC:

1. Procurement: OGC was responsible for providing advice and guidance on best practices in procurement for government departments and public sector organizations. It aimed to achieve value for money and improve the efficiency of government purchasing.
2. Project and Programme Management: OGC maintained and developed the PRINCE2 (PRojects IN Controlled Environments) methodology for project management and the Managing Successful Programmes (MSP) framework for programme management.
3. IT Service Management: OGC continued developing and promoting the Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL), originally created by CCTA. ITIL provides a set of best practices for delivering effective IT services.
4. Best Practice Guidance: OGC developed and published various best practice guides and frameworks related to project management, risk management, and IT service management. These included the Management of Risk (MoR) framework and the Portfolio, Programme and Project Offices (P3O) guide.
5. Gateway Reviews: OGC introduced the Gateway Review process, which provided independent assurance at key stages of a project or programme lifecycle. The reviews aimed to improve the likelihood of successful delivery and identify potential issues early.

In 2011, OGC was absorbed into the Efficiency and Reform Group (ERG) within the Cabinet Office. The ERG continued some of OGC’s previously performed functions, such as maintaining and developing best practice guidance and frameworks.

Although OGC no longer exists as a separate entity, its work, particularly in the areas of project management (PRINCE2) and IT service management (ITIL), has had a lasting impact on government and private sector practices in the UK and internationally. Many of the best practice frameworks and methodologies developed or promoted by OGC are still widely used and have become industry standards.

• Abbreviation: OGC

Additional Acronyms for OGC

• OGC - Open Geospatial Consortium