Does your ICT service deliver value for money? Does it enable and support change in the organisation? Is it efficiently run? Is it pro-active in seeking out the most appropriate technical solutions to meet business needs? And how can you tell?

The financial crisis means many IT services have undergone – or are about to undergo – major cuts and restructurings. Is what remains a viable unit in terms of capacity and capability, and can it deliver on corporate objectives?

Socitm Consulting Expertise helps this national charity to save money on IT costs.

Action for Children is a national charity committed to helping the most vulnerable children and young people in the UK to break through injustice, deprivation and inequality, so they can achieve their full potential. Action for Children operates in locations from the north of Scotland to the south of England as well as throughout Wales, Northern Ireland and the Channel Islands.

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:

Because of our independence from suppliers of software and hardware, Socitm Consulting is often called upon to provide an independent view. This may range from reviewing the performance of an ICT service, to reviewing the contractual performance of a strategic partner or outsource supplier. Diplomacy and tact are often required, in addition to the absolute objectivity that we offer.

Related case studies (which have been endorsed by the client):

"Understanding the implications of change, awareness of the risks and how to manage them, utter conviction that the outcome is worth the journey"

Shared services have been high on the agenda since they received specific mention in the Varney report as a means of achieving cashable efficiency savings, and in the Local Government Act as a way two-tier authorities could match the efficiencies achieved in unitaries. In reality, the experience of shared services has been mixed, with relatively few examples delivering the promised benefits. 

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.