Last week the National Computing Centre acquired its
third user group in two years, restructured a mix of acquired and
indigenous services into a new brand called Principia, and
articulated its broader vision.
The moves follow hard on the heels of the NCC winning the contract
with the Office of Government Commerce to certify and accredit all
E-Government Interoperability Framework practitioners.
Since splitting off in 2001 as a separate entity from the NCC
consulting and escrow organisation, now NCC plc, the 1,200-strong
corporate IT user organisation has taken on a new role as a leading
voice in the IT community.
Last year it bought the Institute of IT Training and blue-chip user
group CIO-Connect.
NCC group chief executive Michael Gough explained that his
38-year-old, not-for profit organisation's underlying aim is to
help all levels of corporate user create true value for their
business through the effective use of IT.
"Our mission is to help companies contribute effectively to the UK
economy through the effective use of IT," he said. "The key person
is the head of function in IT, which has a pivotal role to play in
the future performance of British business. Therefore we support
these people with the best advice and guidance and help develop
their personal professional skills. We are in business to position
the CIO to help the chief executive and chief financial officer
take the business forward."
Gough's aim is to provide the NCC's members with the tools to win
back flexibility, agility and competitiveness in their IT, to
retain and enhance their skills and not lose them either overseas
or to supplier organisations.
Where appropriate, he encourages users to insource their IT rather
than outsource it, to develop applications in-house rather than
using external software houses, and to use open source rather than
rely on proprietary software.
Gough warned that mergers have resulted in the outsourced skills
base being put into a smaller number of companies. "Depending on
your outlook, outsourcing is asset stripping," he said. "Its
promise of cost reduction is unproven." Gough added that
outsourcing can worsen the gap between IT and the business an
reduce business agility.
Gough has a adopted a "knowledge management maturity model" to
clarify and guide the work of the NCC. The model (see box, top
right) has eight stages, progressing from awareness through to
advice, briefings, learning and experience sharing. That in turn
leads to professionalism, certification and accredit- ation,
personal development and leadership, and supporting and influencing
the business and the board.
The NCC's acquisitions, which are by no means over, slot into and
boost the upper end of this eight-stage model. Last week, Gough
appointed Stefan Foster from Qinetiq to head Principia, which is
the new umbrella brand responsible for the stages from advice to
experience sharing.
The acquisition of the Construction Industry Computing Association
marks a strengthening of the NCC's vertical sector focus, which
also includes manufacturing, education, central government and
finance.
Gough said the organisation has the money to carry its vision
through. A large chunk of cash came with the split with the NCC
consulting and escrow operations, and a smaller amount comes from
royalties from Filetab, the aged but still lucrative mainframe
conversion protocol.
Gough, who is proud that the NCC receives no government money, also
brings in money from membership subscriptions and services. Gough
sees strong growth ahead. "The NCC is well on course for £10m
turnover by our 40th anniversary on 10 June 2006," he said.
As well as its own staff and the industry names who have come with
its acquisitions, the NCC links up with a range of leading
organisations, including Ashridge Business School, the Society of
IT Management, the Impact Programme, Forrester Research and
Datamonitor.
Gough said the NCC's governance structure makes it flexible. "All
membership organisations suffer from death by council," he said.
"The NCC works through trusted individuals and advisory boards and
has the agility to respond to the needs of its members, which it is
doing."
The NCC does not see itself in competition with the British
Computer Society, which itself has been freshly energised following
the revamp of its Royal Charter earlier this year. The BCS is seen
as an organisation for individuals, whereas the NCC is corporate
membership-based. Neither does the NCC see itself competing with
Intellect, the UK IT suppliers' organisation.
From here the NCC aims to strengthen its position, especially in
promoting IT leadership. "There has been too much griping, risk
aversion and death by committee," said Gough. "We want IT to effect
transformation in business and have a fundamental impact."
www.ncc.co.uk
NCC Knowledge Management Maturity Model
- Awareness (IT Advisor product)
- Advice (Principia)
- Briefings (Principia)
- Learning (Principia)
- Experience sharing (Principia)
- Professional standing (certification/accreditation) (Institute
of IT Training; eGif accreditation)
- Personal development (Certus; Naked Leader; Ashridge Business
School MBS modules)
- Support and influence (CIO-Connect).
About the National Computing Centre
The National Computing Centre was founded in June 1966, just
three months before Computer Weekly launched. It is a
not-for-profit membership organisation. Of its 1,200 members, about
200 are suppliers and the rest are corporate IT users.
The NCC was set up by the government and for many years received
government funding. With the drying up of government funds from the
1980s, the organisation developed its consultancy and escrow
services. That part of the NCC and the traditional membership
parted ways in 2001. Under the terms of its split the NCC cannot
engage in consultancy or escrow services until 2006.