Local authorities must transform their businesses
because of greater competition from the private sector, according
to the Society of IT Management.
In the trade body's latest publication, Modern Public Services:
The Challenge of Transformation, Socitm argues that improvements in
the private sector are putting pressure on councils.
The Socitm report said, "Public expectation of what constitutes
good service is increasing, based upon transformational changes
they experience in the private sector, particularly concerning
service availability at times and locations to suit their
needs."
Councils should also transform their businesses to reduce the
time their most skilled people spend on administration.
The requirements set by the Audit Commission's annual
Comprehensive Performance Assessment are likely to increase in
future years, the report said.
"There is a risk that senior people will try to drive
transformation through, despite unsupportive cultures, by using
inappropriate, formulaic approaches. Research shows these to be
highly prone to failure."
Some management teams would fail if they attempted business
transformation projects because they were not credible leaders, the
report said.
The lack of a supportive culture was the most difficult obstacle
to business transformation and tended to extend the timescale for
implementing projects.