We must acknowledge the success of public sector IT, but recognise the need for change

Much of the news we’ve heard recently concerning public sector IT has focused on which large-scale projects must be cut in order to contribute to the reduction of the public deficit. For those that are not directly involved with rolling-out projects and running strategic IT programmes on a daily basis (i.e. the majority of tax payers), public sector IT appears to be nothing but a money-sucking hole of doom and gloom. This perception is very frustrating for those of us who are fortunate enough to hear about some of the really successful projects that produce efficiencies and innovation - on both a large and small scale – within the public sector. Take for example, the work done by NHS Tayside Health Informatics Directorate (winner of the e-Government national award: E-government excellence: Innovation in strategy on a national level), or the large efficiency and IT optimisation gains by on the DII project at the MoD.

So what can be done to change this perception, and to make other changes to improve services that are below par?

Last week I spoke to Jos Creese, CIO For Hampshire and the President of Socitm (recently voted the number two CIO in the UK by silicon.com – http://bit.ly/bgDBUo), to find out more about his plans as its new leader. Socitm represents CIOs and IT directors working within Local Authorities and the Public and Third Sectors. Creese recognises that in order to optimize the way IT supports the business objectives of local government, IT directors and CIOs need to change the way they behave. They need to stop talking about the technology, and start demonstrating more explicitly to other internal stakeholders how technology can help with service improvement, efficiency savings, meeting the demands of the public and so on. One of the things Creese described was a range of new membership initiatives in Socitm, including a mentoring scheme to help members.

Creese has a key objective to encourage his membership to share more of their expertise and experience. In other words, be more explicit about the successful projects that remain ‘hidden’ within IT departments. Interestingly, Creese also says that he wants Socitm to “move more into the mainstream of public service innovations”. One of the things that he is encouraging opening up membership to the private sector, to students and to professionals outside of the CIO and IT.

Where we believe Creese is trying to get to is something we have also been advocating via the development of the K2 Research Forum: that there is much benefit in CIOs, CFOs and CEOs from public and commercial sectors knowing more about each others’ objectives within the organisation, as well as sharing more experiences and expertise across organisations.

We have spoken to CIOs in the public sector on numerous occasions who say they are frustrated with receiving the blanket label of being “less innovative” than their counter parts in commercial sectors. K2’s experience, from talking to public and commercial sector organisations is that this is not the case. Creese adds that: “Local government is increasingly seen as the most innovative area of government. It’s not that it’s really clever, it’s that these organisations don’t have lots of cash – when you don’t have the resource, you have to think laterally.” It’s that old adage, isn’t it? “Necessity is the mother of invention” – or rather, “innovation”. If this is indeed the case, then the economic and political setting right now is ripe for more of this kind of behaviour.

Innovation need not be expensive – it can pay for itself if done well. But done really well, innovation in the public sector has the potential to make vast savings. If Creese can encourage local government CIOs to be more open and vocal about the achievements within their organisations, whilst changing from technology providers to agents of change, then there is also the possibility that they will receive more credit for their achievements and be in a position to offer advice to their peers in the commercial sector.

We want your views on the use of technology to drive innovation in public sector. We are currently running research across end user organsiations in various sectors – as well as canvassing the view of vendor community. Drop me a line directly on kate.hanaghan@k2advisory.com and join the debate.