Good communication is firmly at the top of the list of
criteria for a successful workplace, according to Chris Guest,
president of public sector IT directors' group Socitm and head of
head of technology and improvement at Flintshire County
Council.
"Well informed staff normally will increase motivation," said
Guest, who is one of the judges for the Computer Weekly Best Places
to Work in IT 2005 awards.
"I am also a strong advocate of empowerment as a means of
motivation: staff having clear vision and direction, with strong
support, but with the freedom to get on with the job in hand and
being encouraged to innovate."
Guest does not discount the importance of pay in the process of
recruiting the right staff but he believes that other factors such
as providing stimulating challenges are of equal, if not greater,
importance. "If you look at local government and the huge number of
services it provides, the IT and communications technology
challenges councils face are far greater than the majority of
private sector companies," he said.
"This helps us to retain staff but we have to be far more proactive
in attracting high-quality new recruits to our sector, particularly
graduates."
Having recruited the right staff, the challenge for any IT director
will be to stop them getting itchy feet. Staff who are stimulated
and happy in their workplace are more productive.
"High employee satisfaction correlates with high performance and
high levels of customer satisfaction (happy staff means happy
customers), it will also reduce staff turnover and sickness and
absence rates," said Guest.
Best Places to Work in IT 05>>
The judging panel
The members of the judging panel for Best Place to Work in
IT2005 combine the best of business, IT and employment expertise.
They include:
- British Computer Society With a membership of more than
42,000, the BCS is the leading professional and learned society in
the field of computers and IT.
- IT Directors' Network This social, networking club for heads
of IT (or equivalent) was formed more than 18 months ago.
Co-founders Roger Ellis and Julie Loveday have had a long
association with the IT industry.
- UK Oracle User Group An organisation that provides an
independent voice for corporations and individuals using Oracle
products and technologies in the UK and Ireland.
- E-Skills UK The industry body responsible for articulating and
acting on the IT skills needs of UK employers.
- National Computing Centre The independent membership and
research organisation whose mission is to promote the more
effective use of IT.
- Communications Management Association The UK's premier
business communications user association represents individuals who
have responsibility for communications systems. Members are drawn
from the ranks of the top 1,000 UK organisations.