ICT strategy and services review

The project issues
The Council did not have a current ICT strategy and commissioned Socitm Consulting to identify its strategic priorities and produce an ICT strategy which would deliver them. A key requirement was to review the Council’s readiness for contributing to and taking advantage of the Lincolnshire Shared Services Partnership and the costs and benefits of doing so. In addition, the Council wanted to establish what changes would be needed to its ICT department’s structure and processes in order to deliver the ICT strategy.

The Socitm Consulting solution
We began with a series of in-depth workshops with ICT staff, service heads and Councillors. Two of the workshops were solely for ICT staff in order to capture their thoughts on strategic priorities and to ensure they had ownership of the new strategy. From the key issues raised, we produced an ICT strategy which underwent a review process with key staff to produce the final version.

We then reviewed the ICT Department, including its skills, processes and recruitment and retention issues. Using Gartner research, three new structures were fully costed and recommended salary levels were determined using the Socitm Salary Survey. The Business Change option was chosen for its focus on programme and project management skills which were priorities for delivering the Council’s ICT strategy including its partnership working commitments.

Both the ICT strategy and the new departmental structure were accepted and adopted for implementation by the Council.

The benefits to the client
Boston Borough Council could rely on our experience in ICT strategy development and departmental structuring to give new focus and shape to its ICT service, which can now help deliver the Council’s key strategic priorities including partnership working. The ICT strategy is owned by key staff and the ICT service is better placed to recruit and retain the staff it needs to achieve its goals.

Project identification
Client organisation: Boston Borough Council
Client contact: Lin Sadler, Corporate Information Manager, 01205 314370, lin.sadler@boston.gov.uk 
Lead consultant: christine.westlake@socitmconsulting.co.uk
Project no: 5884