If I may, I'd also mention the balls that is Earned Value Management. This was introduced in MoD just over decade ago in lieu of proper, measurable milestones. Yet another "new" management solution to a non-existant problem (if the regs were implemented correctly). The "flagship" (multi-Billion) programme, against all prevailing advice, based the contract payments on EVM. Suffice to say, the company met all it's EVM obligations, but at the expense of delivering anything the MoD could actually use. The ISD has come and gone, some years ago, with nothing to show. The effect has been all over the press for years (and on full view on Wootton Bassett High Street) but no-one has ever said a thing. It is waste like this that, if corrected, renders any perceived cost of an independent MAA irrelevant.