Government CIO Ian Watmore assesses progress on his
pointers for a successful technology profession
When I started in the Cabinet Office a year ago I gave 10
pointers for what successful technology would look like:
"A clear strategic roadmap and policy framework laid
down for the next cycle of technology-enabled
reform"
Last week we published such a strategy entitled Transformational
Government - Enabled by Technology. We believe it is the first
comprehensive, business-led strategy to cover technology deployment
across the whole public sector.
Some people believe that such a strategy will fail due to the
culture of the public sector. I reject that view. Indeed, I am
optimistic that we are on the verge of an era of delivery. So what
does such a strategy have within it to give me that optimism,
especially for my other success measures?
"There has been real progress in the reform of public
services underpinned by technology in the eyes of citizens and
taxpayers"
I believe we are now delivering successful reforms right across the
public sector, but what I think is not the point - it is what
citizens and businesses think. So we are going to ask them and
publish their views, routinely and systematically, to create
"market" pressure on delivery.
"Public services have kept pace with UK citizens'
experience of technology in use by commerce"
Investment has been made in e-enabling services, from which we can
drive high take-up in areas that are critical to people's lives.
However, there is more to be done to exploit the channel offered by
the mobile telephone and other mobile technologies. And we see
great potential from the new digital technologies in the home.
"Public servants increasingly believe they have good
technology tools to help them execute their roles"
A Service Transformation Board of front-line officials will steer
the strategy's implementation, we will routinely consult with
front-line staff on what is needed, and we will deploy technology
imaginatively to help policy makers tackle the most challenging
problems in our communities.
"IT has greatly assisted the achievement of the
efficiency review objectives of 2004"
Shared services
provide the opportunity to reduce waste and inefficiency by
re-using assets and sharing investments with others. We have
appointed a director to oversee this programme, help to unlock the
savings already identified in the efficiency review and create a
basis for the next round of efficiencies.
"There is an appropriate balance between security and
ease of access for services supported by technology"
The key to this is risk management, supported in practice by tiered
networks and an updated protective marking scheme for
electronically held information. Government will also play its part
to promote public confidence by leading the Get Safe Online
campaign on internet safety.
"The capability and capacity to handle the most complex
mission-critical projects now exists in government, so there is
confidence to press ahead with more reform"
Through professional management techniques such as portfolio
management, we are confident we can openly improve our record of
success. We will deliver an annual report to parliament, audited by
the National Audit Office, which will be reporting next year for
the first time on a raft of our most successful projects.
"There is a strong team ethic within the extended
technology community across government and a sense of career,
competence and achievement within technology
professionals"
The CIO Council has already created a sense of teamwork and
competence among the leaders of our profession. The creation of a
profession based on the Skills Framework for the Information Age
will spread this across our 50,000 professionals, making it the
place to be for people who want to achieve lasting change through
technology.
"UK government has achieved a strong competitive and
collaborative relationship with technology suppliers both large and
small"
The strategy recognises the "patchy" record of suppliers and the
"difficult" nature of government as a client. Proposals for
revamping arrangements with suppliers aim to achieve the desired
spirit of partnership underpinned by strong performance
management.
"The UK is among the leading countries for effective and
efficient technology-enabled government"
We aspire
to be in the very top tier. One prerequisite is to have a
published, comprehensive strategy for deploying technology in
support of our business. Our Transformational Government strategy
is not an end in itself, but the beginning of a new era of delivery
recognised by citizens and businesses alike.
Ian Watmore is government CIO and head of
e-government