Ten questions every Chief Executive should ask the CIO
Why pose these questions? Your ICT function may deliver 99.9% service availability and deliver projects on time and on budget, but this is no longer enough. Unlocking the value of information by making it available to citizens, businesses, partners and employees just when they want it, in the format that they need it, and only what they need and no more, requires inspiration, imagination and innovation.
Our web services
We have the skills and the tools to help you achieve a website that delivers for your council - that is a website that gives real value in terms of the services it delivers to your customers and the savings it makes for the council. We cover all that is needed, summarised below:
Post election: the shape of things to come
The new coalition government promises a very different approach to public services and the relationship between state and individual, but will be grappling with a huge budget deficit. What are the implications for the management of information, the effective use of technology and efficient service delivery in the public sector? Are the prospects grim, or is there in fact an opportunity to do things better and save costs?
Self assessment for the Council of the Future (14/3/2010)
Since we launched the Council of the Future in October (was it really only six months ago?) we have been speaking to over 150 councils up and down the country about their progress towards this vision - of councils that spend less, but achieve more. Two of the key points to come out of these discussions are (a) "how can we tell how far we are from the Council of the Future?" and (b) "how can we get the message across more clearly to the Chief Executive, Council Leader and the whole of the corporate management team?"
Learning
In an effort to make “Learning” more focused on the specific needs of our membership, we have reviewed our course offerings and launched a completely new programme for the next 12 months. The new programme offers a wider range of course, at more locations, and with more detail provided on each, to help you judge better who to nominate for the course, and the likely benefits to be achieved from it.
Performance management
"Tools and experience exist to manage performance through measurement, evaluation and improvement. Assessment by outcomes not processes"
Best Value Review of the ICT Service
The project issues
The ICT Service is performing well within the Council - apart from a few minor areas where effort could be used more effectively. The key issue to emerge, however, was that the Council lacked an overall strategy for e-government and for the role of ICT in its corporate agenda.
Guidance on ICT management review
The project issues
Following a recent Council restructuring the Head of ICT wished to have some advice and guidance in preparation for an ICT management review. The specific requirement was some guidance regarding the preparation of a business case to support the management review. The advice required was generally around the areas of span of control, allocated responsibilities, customer service and technical services management.