Socitm Insight downloads

Application software index 2009

The Government expects that a significant part of the £35bn of efficiencies required from the public sector in the next few years will come from the back office and the rationalisation of the ICT service.

Customer Access Improvement Service Briefing Issue 3

The briefing covers findings from the last six months of Website take-up service and also from the Channel value benchmarking and GovMetric services. As such if provides a broad view of takeup, satisfaction and other issues across the three key customer access channels – web, phone and face-to-face.

A marriage of convenience?

This report reviews the experiences from partnerships and outsourcing contracts involving the ICT service.

A world denied: a supplement for Better connected 2008 on website accessibility

This report supplements Better connected 2008 by providing more detailed analysis of the rationale and results of the accessibility testing carried out for that document.

A world denied: a supplement for Better connected 2009 on accessibility statements

This short piece of research examines how well local authority websites conform with the latest guidelines for good practice in ensuring accessible websites.

A world denied: web accessibility the movie

Featuring interviews with a number of key figures in the world of web accessibility, this 12 minute film explains the importance of the topic for all organisations, whether in the public or private sectors.

Agile Pathfinder Programme for local public services

This initiative sets out the objectives of a new programme for testing the agile methodology for supporting and delivering radical business change in local public services.

Application software index 2008

Our application software index provides a unique resource for organisations interested in comparing the performance of different software products and the companies that supply them.

Applications Register 2010 - Executive summary

Our new web-based Applications Register provides a unique resource for organisations interested in comparing the performance of different software products and the companies that supply them.

Be prepared: lessons from experiences in business discontinuity

This report draws out lessons from six case studies of local authorities, and their suppliers, who have experienced major disasters where the lack of an ICT service has disrupted business continuity.

Benchmarking business value from ICT flyer

Benchmarking ICT service in 2012 flyer

Socitm benchmarking gives you the means to analyse and demonstrate value- for-money through validated performance management information about the cost and quality of your ICT service.

Benchmarking services summary for 2008

Socitm Insight has published its annual summary of benchmarking in 2008 covering the results from over 150 organisations that have used one of our two major benchmarking services.

Benchmarking services: summary for 2007

For the first time we have combined our end of year reviews of our two main benchmarking services about ICT performance and user satisfaction to give an overview of the state of ICT services, and to provide pointers to opportunities for improvement.

Benchmarking services: summary for 2009

At a critical time for public services, we take this opportunity to combine and analyse the results obtained in 2009 and to reflect upon the current development of public sector ICT compared with our records of achievement to date.

Benchmarking the ICT service across the UK - 1

Presentation by Martin Greenwood, Anna Hooper and Roland Waterhouse.

Benchmarking the ICT service for partnerships and outsourcing 2007 

Presentation by Martin Greenwood, Anna Hooper and Roland Waterhouse.

Benchmarking the ICT service in London in 2008

Presentation by Martin Greenwood, Anna Hooper and Roland Waterhouse.

Benchmarking the ICT service in UK1 2007

Presentation by Martin Greenwood, Anna Hooper and Roland Waterhouse.

Benchmarking the ICT service in UK2 2007

Presented by Martin Greenwood, Anna Hooper and Roland Waterhouse

Benchmarking the ICT service in Wales 2007

Presentation by Martin Greenwood, Anna Hooper and Roland Waterhouse

Benchmarking the ICT service in London 2007 results 21 September

Presentation by Martin Greenwood, Anna Hooper and Roland Waterhouse.

Benchmarking the ICT service in London 2007 

Presentation by Martin Greenwood, Anna Hooper and Roland Waterhouse.

Benchmarking the ICT service: summary for 2005

This report summarises results from the Benchmarking the ICT service managed by Socitm during 2005. It is based on the results from 75 organisations that participated in five benchmarking groups...

Benchmarking the ICT service: summary for 2006

This report summarises results from the Benchmarking the ICT service managed by Socitm during 2006. It is based on the results from 87 organisations that participated in five benchmarking groups...

Benchmarking the ICT service  to schools 2007

Presented by Martin Greenwood, Anna Hooper, Roland Waterhouse, Peter Hunter

Benchmarking the ICT service across the UK - 2

Presentations given at the launch workshop on 10 September 2008.

Benchmarking user satisfaction active data set

Latest mean scores for participants in Benchmarking user satisfaction Series 20 - 25 inclusive.

Benchmarking user satisfaction service series 38 flyer

The crisis in public sector funding is putting all services under pressure, but 'back office' functions like ICT can be particularly vulnerable at such a time as this.

Benchmarking user satisfaction: summary for 2005

This annual report summarises the results from the 2004 and 2005 series of the Socitm Insight service for Benchmarking user satisfaction run in collaboration with Wolverhampton Business School.

Benchmarking user satisfaction: Summary for 2006

2006 marked the seventh year of our Benchmarking user satisfaction service. By the end of the year, we had completed 23 separate series, with 409 participants representing 206 organisations.

Best Practice & Networking Event 7 June 2011

Best practice & networking event Building website take-up and citizen e-engagement 7 June 2011

Better answered? A snapshot of local authority telephone responses

This is the first Better answered? survey of how easy and effective it is for citizens to contact their local council over the telephone.

Better connected - Criteria used for BC2010 Version 3

This document updates Version 2 of the criteria for websites first published in
Better connected: aiming high (January 2005). The third section of the criteria that is related to 'Usage' has not been reviewed.

Better connected 2006: A snapshot of all local authority websites

Presentation by Martin Greenwood at the West Midlands regional meeting 24 March 2006.

Better connected 2006: a snapshot of local authority websites

This is the 2006 edition of Socitm Insight's annual survey of all local authority websites.

Better connected 2006 and website take-up service

Presentation given by Martin Greenwood of Socitm Insight at the South regional event on 16 June 2006.

Better connected 2007: a snapshot of local authority websites

Barking & Dagenham tops the 2007 ‘Better connected’ survey as only local authority website to achieve new ‘excellent’ rating – despite overall improvement in council sites.

Better connected 2008: a snapshot of local authority websites

This is the tenth edition of Better connected. A special feature identifies those councils that have done consistently well in our rankings, compares innovations then and now, describes how our annual report has developed...

Better connected 2009: a snapshot of local authority websites

The structure of this report follows the criteria for high-quality local authority websites that develop the ideas that websites should be 'useful, usable and used' (Version 2 of that framework published in Better connected: aiming high, December 2005).

Better connected 2010

The structure of this report follows the criteria for high-quality local authority websites that develop the ideas that websites should be 'useful, usable and used' (Version 3 of that framework published, September 2009).

Better connected 2011

Better connected 2011, now the 13th edition, is a comprehensive publication, providing a unique blend of hard facts, informed researcher opinion and constructive advice about the state of local authority websites.

Better connected 2011 - Headline results for public use

The Headline results file is part of the Better connected 2011 publication and is available for public use.

Better connected 2011: The customised website assessment service leaflet

Across the public sector organisations now realise just how critical it is to
maximise self-service for all their customers wherever feasible. It is also
critical that their websites are fit for this purpose.

Better connected 2012: Top tasks special presentations

Better connected for business: implementation of the EU Services Directive in the UK in 2010

The new legal requirement to provide businesses with online access to information should reduce the red tape involved when dealing with government for new and existing businesses, whether based in the UK or across the rest of the European Union (EU).

Better connected hospitals: mini-survey of nine NHS websites

Hospital websites have a diverse audience but providing good easy-to-find information for prospective patients and their visitors should be paramount.

Better connected intranets: emerging good practice in driving internal efficiency

Investment in websites for local public services has to date been targeted on the public-facing website, leaving intranets relatively under-developed.

Better connected: aiming high

This report in the Better connected series provides Version  2 of the ' useful, usable and used' framework for local authority websites.

Better marketed:achieving success with take-up of online services

The take-up of online services should be high on every council’s agenda as a way of improving customer satisfaction with services and at the same time achieving efficiency gains.

Better served: customer access, efficiency and channel shift

This new 96-page report presents a wide range of evidence to support its argument that
councils should bring all front office customer contact, whether face-to-face, by phone,
through the website or other means, under the same governance and management.

Briefing Issue 21 – August 2010

The public sector has invested billions in technology. Our Better connected reports call repeatedly for 'channel shift', moving citizen interactions to cheaper, electronic channels. Yet, according to Race Online, over one fifth of the UK population has never used the internet. How to include them?

Building a perfect council website

Presentation by Martin Greenwood at the Socitm Insight/Headstar seminar on website accessibility held 11 July 2006.

Building perfect council websites '10 leaflet

With the continuation of tough economic times for the public sector, it is vital
to ensure that your council’s website works well as an efficient and
effective provider of information and services to local citizens.

Building Perfect Council Websites 2010 datasheet

Annual event organised jointly by Socitm (Society of Information Technology
Management) and Headstar. One-day seminar event covering local authority
website content management and design.

Building usage of council websites (Issue 1)

This first briefing from the website take-up service contains a summary of the key messages using data from December 2004 with supporting case study information.

Building usage of council websites (Issue 2)

This second briefing from the website take-up service contains a summary of the key messages using data from May 2005 with supporting case study information.

Building usage of council websites (Issue 3)

This third briefing from the website take-up service contains a summary of the key messages using data from February 2006 with supporting case study information.

Building usage of council websites (Issue 4)

This fourth briefing analyses the results from the website take-up service using data from July 2006, with specific reference to the national take-up campaign in England.

Building usage of council websites (Issue 5)

This fifth briefing analyses the results from the website take-up service using data from February 2007.

Building usage of council websites (Issue 6)

This sixth briefing analyses the results from the website take-up service using data from September 2007

Building usage of council websites (Issue 7)

This seventh briefing analyses the results from the website take-up service using data from March 2008.

Channel management, take-up and efficiency

A pre-CSR07 briefing for elected members, chief executives and senior managers.

Channel value benchmarking group 4 leaflet

Providing information about the cost and value of access to local authority services through web, phone, face-to-face and other channels.

CIO as an agent of transformation

A presentation given by Chris Head on developing the capability and role of Chief Information Officer and was delivered to the Socitm South Region Professional Development Day on 16 November 2006.

Cloud computing on the horizon

This briefing looks at ‘the cloud’ - the use of web resources to provide services hosted elsewhere on the internet.

Customer Access Improvement Service Briefing Issue 1

This publication is a development of the Website take-up service briefing, expanded to cover findings from the Website take-up service, the Channel value benchmarking service and GovMetric service.

Customer Access Improvement Service Briefing Issue 2

This is the second half-yearly briefing and results summary from the Customer Access Improvement Service. This new publication is a development of the Website take-up service briefing which we have been publishing since April 2005.

Customer Access Improvement Service Briefing Issue 4

The briefing covers findings from the last six months of Website take-up service and also from the Channel value benchmarking and GovMetric services. As such if provides a broad view of takeup, satisfaction and other issues across the three key customer access channels – web, phone and face-to-face.

Customer Access Improvement Service Briefing Issue 5

Welcome to the fifth briefing and results summary from the Customer Access Improvement Service. We set out to take a broader look at customer access issues across the three key channels - web, phone and face-to-face - that are covered by the Customer Access Improvement Service.

Digital by default - why and how: a guide for local public service management teams

The Digital by default report is an executive briefing for Better served and Better connected 2011.

Directory of ICT services (Issue 4)

The latest issue of the Directory of ICT services provides a comprehensive and authoritative guide to help those responsible for ICT management, and their clients, to specify, procure ICT services.

Directory of ICT services (Version 3)

We provide the context for this new version of the Directory of ICT services by setting out its purpose, scope and key concepts.

E is for efficiency

This report identifies the efficiency gains that should be achievable through investment in ICT, illustrating them with three in-depth case studies.

eAccessibility of public sector services in the European Union

This report presents results from a comprehensive assessment of the eAccessibility of government online services across the European Union.

Exploiting the technology: Improving the ICT service (Volume 8)

Realising the investments in existing ICT infrastructure, e-government through transformational government, and CSR07 add to the pressure for transformation. Exploiting the technological opportunity involves not only knowing what is possible, but also engaging and enthusing service managers.

Files from Better served launch workshop

The event was held on 15 March 2011 and was open to Heads of customer strategy, Heads of customer service, Heads of efficiency and/or transformation, Heads of ICT and Web managers.

Flexible and mobile working

Most councils claim to use flexible and mobile working, but few are achieving the benefits. The potential for savings stands out right now, with up to 30% available from reduced accommodation costs...

Freedom of Information in 2005

This report asks questions about the state of readiness of public sector organisations for the Freedom of Information Act.

Green ICT?: current research into the environmental impact of ICT

Whilst many think that ICT is the hero of environmental action and indeed, it has the potential to be so, currently it is one of the villains, since ICT-related CO2 emissions rival those of the aviation industry.

ICT for elected members - Not for kissing babies

The transformation of public services cannot succeed without the involvement of informed and enthusiastic elected members.

ICT governance: Good practice in directing investment and resources

This report explains what comprises good ICT governance, how to design a suitable framework, and the steps to implementation.

Improving the ICT service: Delivering the ICT service

This report, the second in the series on improving the ICT service, examines the overall issues affecting the delivery of the ICT service.

Improving the ICT service: Developing user capability

This report, the fifth in the series on improving the ICT service, describes the five critical elements for developing capability.

Improving the ICT service: Influencing strategy

In this report we look at what is involved in supporting the organisation in the way that it exploits the potential of technology.

Improving the ICT service: Making ICT secure

This report, the seventh in the series on improving the ICT service, describes the four critical elements for developing capability.

Improving the ICT service: Managing procurement

This report, the third in our series on ICT service improvement, provides expert advice about the way in which the procurement of ICT goods and services should be managed.

Improving the ICT service: Managing projects

This report, the sixth in the series on improving the ICT service, describes the four key stages for managing projects with a significant ICT element.

Improving the ICT service: Meeting the needs of customers

This report, the first in the series on improving the ICT service, examines the key ingredients in meeting the needs of the customers of the ICT service.

Independent living for older people

This report describes a pioneering partnership approach in West Lothian between practitioners from the health trust and the local authority using assistive technology.

IT Trends 20010/11 survey templates

We are now conducting the 2010 IT Trends survey. This year is yet another watershed with the first coalition government in 70 years.

IT Trends 2008/9: Uncharted waters

The consequences of the financial down-turn have not yet become clear. We predict that through 2009 the pressures on public services will become severe.

IT trends in local public services 2009/10 - Stretched to breaking point

There is a belief that the cost of public
service ICT is too high. The existing
technology infrastructure was built in an era
of growth and prosperity.

IT trends in local public services 2010/11 - IT Matters

Higher service levels achieved despite cuts in resourcing of 2.6% since 2010/11 and predicted fall in staff numbers of 4%

IT trends in local public services 2011/12: measuring up to adversity

IT management appears to be wielding greater influence in local public services as local authorities and others turn to technology to help them cope with dramatically reduced budgets.

Learning from Better connected 2009: A blueprint for a new, strategic, approach to local government websites

The context for local government on the web has changed. The recession, and the inevitable squeeze on public spending, means that all public sector organisations will struggle to meet future demand...

Learning from Better connected 2010 leaflet

This event will review the findings of Better connected 2010 and relate them to the imminent financial crisis facing the public sector.

Learning from Better connected 2010 presentations

A selection of presentations from the Learning from Better connected 2010 event held on 18 May.

Learning from Better connected 2011 event presentations

A selection of slides in PDF format from the presentations at the Learning from Better connected event held on 24 May 2011.

Learning from Better connected 2011 Leaflet

Learning from Better connected 2011

Lessons from survey of elections May 2010

Lessons from survey of elections May 2010 reports on a series of surveys carried out by members of the Better connected team to assess the quality of online coverage of this years general and local elections held on 6 May 2010.

Making public services 'digital by default' is a route to significant savings

These three publications will tell you why - and what to do.

Managing ICT employees: Improving the ICT service (Volume 9)

With the current government focus on ICT professionalism, this is a timely examination of how ICT employees should be managed, especially the crucial issue of developing their skills and competencies in managing a service that now lies at the heart of change in the public sector.

Managing information: managing the lifeblood of the organisation

Potentially, good information management could protect UK public sector services from
the worst of the financial crisis.

Managing major change: A guide to realising the benefits of major change

Investment in technology is critical to achieving success, but that is not enough. Realising the potential benefits from such investment depends on the capacity to implement change.

Managing the improvement process

This is the tenth and last report in the series designed to help ICT managers improve every aspect of the services that they deliver. This report addresses the process of managing improvement.

Modern public services: a role for change

This report considers the case for chief information officers (CIO) leading the change, the skills they will require to deliver the transformation and the actions they will need to undertake...

Modern public services: business process management

This report makes extensive use of case studies to help heads of ICT understand the wide range of methodologies and select the most appropriate one for their situation.

Modern public services: challenge of transformation

This report, the first in a series on  transformation, explores the reasons why local public service organisations should transform themselves.

Modern public services: flexible working

This report covers the range of modes of flexible working, their benefits and challenges, including: working at convenient times (flexi-time); 'hot-desking'; peripatetic working; working from home.

Modern public services: shared services. Bigger, cheaper, better?

This report investigates the potential of shared services involving the ICT service and the practicalities for making them a reality.

Modern public services: transformation in practice

This report, the second in the series on transformation, analyses in detail 35 case studies that demonstrate proven transformation in local public services that have been enabled through ICT.

Planning for ICT

ICT investment in the public sector should now drive innovation in service delivery, stimulate the redesign of business processes, enable partnershop working and lead to improved services and savings.

Planning for ICT: the information and technology architectures

We provide an overview of this guide in the context of an integrated set of publications. Next, we describe the principles behind the design of the ICT architecture as a major component in building an ICT strategy, and explain the set of architectures involved.

Planning for ICT: the process guide

With so much to do immediately, why bother with a potentially difficult and time-consuming activity such as developing a new ICT strategy? Won't the old one suffice a little longer? No, it will not, and we explain why.

Planning for ICT: the service framework

We provide an overview of this guide in the context of an integrated set of publications and describe the principles behind the design of the service framework as a major component in building an ICT strategy.

Plans for Better Connected 2012

Socitm Insight announces important changes in the way in which council websites will be assessed for the Better connected 2012 report.

Planting the Flag: Leadership

At Socitm 2011 Socitm launched two complementary reports, providing support for the Planting the flag initiative: The pocket guide on leadership and A.. B… CIO: a personal view of leadership from Jos Creese, Past-President

Policies about Better connected

The purpose of this note is to set out our policies with regard to the annual  Better connected reports on topics about which we have from time to time been asked questions.

Professional ICT service management: Experience in implementing ITIL

Professional ICT service management cover
Professionalism in ICT covers a wide range of subjects from project and programme management to service management, from strategy development to implementation. This report focuses on the professional approach to managing the ICT service.

Proposed new ranking system and updated assessment criteria for Better connected

From this page you can download two documents with proposals for a new ranking system and updated assessment criteria for Better connected, Socitm's annual survey of all local authority websites. Responses are required by 25 September 2009.

Public sector network: case studies of a major shared service

This report advises subscribers on the lessons learnt from implementing sub-regional networks that are PSN-ready, including not only the pitfalls to avoid, but also the best practice techniques. It provides important pointers to handling the politics, both party and organisational.

Service improvement for ICT in Scotland: Flexible working

The flexible working concept is far from new,
yet adoption remains low outside urban
centres with high commercial rents and
difficult journeys to work.

Singing from the same hymn sheet? A survey of views of chief executives and heads of ICT about ICT in local government

Our survey of senior local authority managers shows very different outlooks on ICT from chief executives and ICT professionals. Why should there be mis-alignment? What does this mean for exploiting ICT and transforming services?

Social media - why ICT management should lead their organisations to embrace it

Use of social media has exploded, appearing on the radar of ICT managers, but mostly for the wrong reasons. The term 'social' implies 'not related to work', but this is a fallacy. Most ICT managers restrict or even blockaccess social media. They should reconsider.

Socitm Insight Briefing - April 2011

Socitm's appearance before the Public Administration Select Committee
(PASC) on 22 March brought it out into the open. Outsourcing the ICT
service might have many hidden costs.

Socitm Insight briefing - December 2006

This piece focuses on shared services, the latest publication that has been distributed and one that has generated much interest in the past two weeks.

Socitm Insight briefing - December 2007

A flurry of reports before and after Christmas marks the end of another year for Socitm Insight. The inside pages tell all.

Socitm Insight Briefing - December 2010

Adoption of cloud computing makes complete sense – for user organisations, at least – and most of us already use the cloud on a daily basis as private citizens. What are the obstacles to public sector take-up, and how can they be overcome?

Socitm Insight Briefing - December 2011

Strategic commissioning: an answer to austerity?

Socitm Insight Briefing - February 2011

It started with MPs' expenses, then the new Coalition Government asked councils in England to publish online all £500-plus transactions. On a global scale we had Wikileaks, and latterly one can argue that the revolution in Egypt has been driven by the transparency of the internet.

Socitm Insight briefing - January 2006

Lessons from partnerships and outsourcing
of ICT services

Socitm Insight Briefing - January 2011

As a result of the severe financial cutbacks prompted by the Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR) major transformation in the way that they deliver services.

Socitm Insight Briefing - July 2011

Digital by default (Part 1): improving the online customer experience: 'Digital by default' is public policy and a key response to the need for austerity.

Socitm Insight briefing - June 2006

We focus in this edition on the 2006 work programme and on a number of important new
projects that are described in the inside pages: shared services, business process management,
business continuity, marketing services online and use of ICT by elected members.

Socitm Insight briefing - June 2007

We are in the middle of a busy period of events. Our two latest events, back to back on
5 and 6 June in Birmingham, gave plenty of food for thought. We hope and expect that our
last two will inform and stimulate.

Socitm Insight briefing - March 2006

This has been a busy quarter with the publication of two important reports on transformation supporting the Socitm business transformation seminar on 20 February.

Socitm Insight briefing - March 2007

Unsurprisingly this quarter’s briefing is dominated by Better connected 2007. Moreover, another of our publications since the end of 2006 has been Better connected intranets, we also review that report.

Socitm Insight briefing - March 2008

For the past ten years, March has been the month when Better connected is published. In this edition we highlight some of the key issues that we have raised in the 2008 edition.

Socitm Insight Briefing - March 2011

One impact of the budgetary crisis is that more and more organisations are realising the importance of self-service. Another impact is that most now see shared services as a solution to reducing costs. However, very few seem to put the two together.

Socitm Insight Briefing - October 2011

Career crossroads - CIO or CTO?: essential reading for all ICT managers

Socitm Insight briefing - September 2006

By the end of 2006 our plan is to complete seven publications on a range of important topics. We outline what they are and give a flavour of their contents.

Socitm Insight briefing - September 2007

Since our last briefing in June, we have now ended a batch of work with three reports, four events and a DVD all completed. A new phase of work has started with four direction-setting workshops for new projects in three recent weeks.

Socitm Insight Briefing Issue 1 - July 2008

We can all imagine a future of pervasive connectivity on the move, and technology continuing to change our lives both at work and elsewhere. However, there are serious limitations with current facilities. How will these be overcome? Subscribers can download the report to read on....

Socitm Insight Briefing Issue 10 - July 2009

In Briefing Issue 10 (PDF 71KB) we examine how Green ICT can help you cut your costs and save the planet. Across the world CO2 emissions are triggering extremes of weather. Globally, ICT is responsible for 2% of CO2 released. In the public sector, ICT accounts for almost 35% of energy consumption.

Socitm Insight Briefing Issue 11 - August 2009

This issue focuses on People and professionalism: getting fit for a different purpose. Financial pressures are forcing public sector transformation. The question for ICT managers is 'How well equipped are your employees for supporting this?'

Socitm Insight Briefing Issue 12 - September 2009

In this issue we focus on ICT strategy as a way of doing the right things.

Socitm Insight Briefing Issue 13 - November 2009

In this issue we examine the role of information at the heart of business continuity planning.

Socitm Insight Briefing Issue 14 - January 2010

In this issue we look at future public services and how they will depend on information and ICT-enabled change.

Socitm Insight Briefing Issue 15 - February 2010

Our January briefing last year, Cloud computing on the horizon, stated 'there is no doubt that that the cloud is here to stay'. Some may have doubted us. Now the
cloud (G-Cloud) is the backbone of the government's ICT strategy, being a 'key enabler of £3.2 billion savings'.

Socitm Insight Briefing Issue 16 - March 2010

Economics, slashed budgets, green initiatives, new computing and service delivery models, and increasing expectations of what ICT can do to reshape service delivery will all add to a packed agenda. How to cope?

Socitm Insight Briefing Issue 17 - April 2010

In this issue we look at the importance of realising the benefits from ICT-enabled service transformation in the current financial climate.

Socitm Insight Briefing Issue 18 - May 2010

This issue considers the shape of things to come from the policies of the new Coalition Government

Socitm Insight Briefing Issue 19 - June 2010

Long-term demographics and government plans to slash the deficit demand a drastic realignment of local public services.

Socitm Insight Briefing Issue 2 - August 2008

This report looks at the trend to use web technology in almost every new development, or to integrate all new facilities into the web. Subscribers can download the report to read on...

Socitm Insight Briefing Issue 20 - July 2010

Open data and transparency: no turning back. The coalition government believes transparency will reduce public sector expenditure and expose waste.

Socitm Insight Briefing Issue 22 - September 2010

Most now realise the importance of self-service, some accept the case for a customer access strategy to help make it happen, but how many are really dealing with the two barriers that might stop shifting customers to cheaper channels?

Socitm Insight Briefing Issue 23 - October 2010

The Comprehensive Spending Review on 20 October heralds major reductions in block grants from central government, compounding the problems of frozen council tax and salaries, demographic pressures and potentially spiralling energy costs.

Socitm Insight Briefing Issue 3 - October 2008

This month we ask whether computing is becoming a commodity, or even a consumer good, and what this means for the public sector. Subscribers can download the report to read on...

Socitm Insight Briefing Issue 4 - January 2009

This briefing looks at 'the cloud' - the use of web resources to provide facilities and services hosted elsewhere on the internet. When public services are under threatening clouds of financial pressure, is this a
solution that will allow us to achieve more with less?

Socitm Insight Briefing Issue 5 - February 2009

This briefing looks at mobile and flexible working - the key to big savings. Most councils claim to use flexible and mobile working, but few are achieving all the benefits.

Socitm Insight Briefing Issue 6 - March 2009

The outlook for local government budgets looks very grim, but demand for services just keeps on growing. Lean thinking provides an excellent answer: it is a comprehensive approach that will deliver savings for years to come. However, it is not a trivial undertaking.

Socitm Insight Briefing Issue 7 - April 2009

1st April 2009 was an important landmark in UK local government. In yet another reorganisation, nine new unitary councils replaced 44 English two-tier authorities in seven county areas. Looked at from another perspective, it also means shared services imposed by legislative diktat.

Socitm Insight Briefing Issue 8 - May 2009

The 22 April Budget statement and supporting Operational Efficiency Programme report make it clear that all public sector organisations must commit to self-service where feasible. However, that must be backed up by a commitment to ensure that websites do not create avoidable contact elsewhere.

Socitm Insight Briefing Issue 9 - June 2009

Information is the single most important asset for any public sector body. But how well is this recognised by senior decision-makers? It certainly is when a child protection register has critical information that is out of date.

Socitm Insight news - June 2008

Two new initiatives have started since our last issue. We cover a very stimulating start
to a new project about the impact of web 2.0 and social networking. This issue also looks at the launch of our new Customer Access Improvement Service.

Socitm Insight news - September 2008

In this issue we feature the just-published Application software index 2008, the first year when this valuable service has been delivered by Socitm Insight. On the theme of Better connected we also report on two very lively one-day seminars about the web (Web 1.0, you might say, and Web 2.0).

Socitm Insight Special Briefing - May 2009

How can Socitm Insight help you survive the crunch? We already have a lot of relevant material to help you, and plan to produce more this year.

Socitm KPIs version 13

This document sets out version 13 of the Socitm KPIs, created by Socitm's Performance Management Group to help organisations improve performance in the management of ICT.

Strength in adversity: Summary of benchmarking results for 2010

Austerity tests managers. When, where and how to cut are critical decisions. Benchmarking is an essential service to focus savings to where they will do least harm or even improving services.

Subscriber satisfaction survey 2007

Special briefing with the key messages from the 2007 survey of Socitm Insight subscribers. 

Successful sharing: a practical guide for local public services

The financial downturn has now hit the public sector. Now it must find the savings. Politicians want to preserve frontline services as far as possible, but there are only limited ways to achieve big savings without affecting the public.

Technology challenge for 2007

Our annual review of technology provides an overview of IT trends and insight into the dynamics of the IT industry.

The technology challenge in 2006

This annual report analyses the latest strategic trends in the development of ICT as presented by Gartner and relates them to the world of local public services.

The technology challenge in 2008

Continuing the redesign from last year, we have related nearly all our analysis to the components in the Planning for ICT framework and provided a printed executive summary and a detailed report available on CD-ROM.

The technology challenge in 2009

The global financial crisis and recent technology developments will have a major impact on the public sector in 2009 and the next few years.

The technology challenge in 2010

The summary from our latest technology report provides guidance from a technology perspective on how to respond to the unprecedented funding crisis facing the public sector.

The technology challenge in 2011

The summary from our latest technology report provides guidance from a technology perspective on how to respond to the unprecedented funding crisis facing the public sector, following a turbulent year and the most draconian financial settlement for the public sector since 1945.

The technology challenge in 2011

Our annual review of technology provides an overview of IT trends and insight into the dynamics of the IT industry.

Think customer online - a report on mystery shopping in six London libraries

This report assesses the usability of online library services in six London boroughs following a mystery shopping exercise carried of as part of Socitm Insight's annual Better connected survey of all council websites.

Tomorrow's public services: some stories from everyday life in 2012

Socitm has been predicting for a long time that new models for public service delivery are needed. Its vision for 'tomorrow's organisation' was launched well before the current financial crisis facing public services materialised and we can now see that vision becoming a reality...

Too many cooks: the information management implications of place-based public services

Total Place, localism, community budgeting - whatever the moniker, coordinated effort across the public sector to achieve the desired outcomes for the least outlay and avoid the problem of 'too many cooks...' could not be more timely. We explain the concept and how it might operate.

Twitter gritters: council use of digital channels in local emergencies

This briefing shows how Councils are starting to use global social networks like Facebook and Twitter as well as hyperlocal, community websites operating in their areas, to communicate with their residents and businesses when local emergencies arise.

Use of the web - local government compared with central government

The publication by the Central Office of Information (CoI) in June 2010 of some very interesting data in a document entitled Reporting on progress: Central government websites 2009/10 has provided a rare opportunity for comparing website costs, take-up and quality with local government.

Web 2.0: what it is and why it matters - A briefing for public sector managers

If your first reaction when colleagues mention social networking or Web 2.0 is to think about security threats or bandwidth loss, then it is imperative that you read this report.

Web 2.0: what it is and why it matters - Executive briefing

Although lacking a precise definition, Web 2.0 is the next revolution in the information age. Our report explains the scope of Web 2.0 and explores many of the issues and implications.

What all council chief executives must ask about their website

Despite what people might say when asked, most interactions with local councils are now made online. So you really need to get it right. We have identified ten things that council chief executives should ask about their website.

What’s in a name? The practicalities of being a public sector CIO

The ICT function is often the principal enabler of service modernisation, and has a pivotal role in the public service. Who is best able to ensure that organisations seize the opportunity?