Briefings downloads
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 - January 2006
Lessons from partnerships and outsourcing
of ICT services
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 - 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 - Mobile working
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 - Green ICT: time is running out
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 - People and professionalism: getting fit for a different purpose
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 17 - ICT-enabled service transformation: realising the benefits
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 - Post-election: the shape of things to come
This issue considers the shape of things to come from the policies of the new Coalition Government
Socitm Insight Briefing Issue 2 - Service oriented architecture and software as a service
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 22 - Customer access strategy: overcoming two potential barriers
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 - Managing major change - responding to austerity
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 24 - Heading into the cloud
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 Issue 25 - Value from radical transformation: grasping the nettle
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 Issue 26 - Transparency: seeing it through
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 Issue 3 - Commodity and consumer computing
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 31 - Digital by default (Part 1): improving the online customer experience
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 Issue 33 - Ten questions every chief executive should ask their CIO
Ten questions every chief executive should ask their CIO.
Socitm Insight Briefing Issue 35 - Next generation users: keeping abreast of trends in online use
The Oxford Internet Institute has just published its fifth biennial Oxford Internet Survey (OxIS) into internet use in Britain. This latest piece of research identifies one major new shift in the way in which users access the internet with the arrival of 'next generation users'.
Socitm Insight Briefing Issue 38 - Social media goes mainstream - but the right way?
Social media goes mainstream - but the right way? Our research shows that social media has been incorporated into the activity of almost all councils, with blanket bans on access being replaced by more considered approaches.
Socitm Insight Briefing Issue 39 - Information on the move: entering a new era for government
Information on the move: entering a new era for government
Socitm Insight Briefing Issue 4 - Cloud computing on the horizon
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 40 - Shared services: time for a re-think?
The message is stark, the costs astronomical and the failure spectacular. The latest NAO report into shared services in central government has some dire warnings. How relevant are the lessons for the local public sector?
Socitm Insight Briefing Issue 41 - Innovation with ICT: easier said than done?
Innovation with ICT: easier said than done?
Socitm Insight Briefing Issue 47 - The new Government Digital Strategy: what should local public services take from it?
Last autumn the Government Digital Service (GDS) was established. Last month it launched the new GOV.UK, replacing Directgov. This month it has produced a Government Digital Strategy that sets out how the Government will become digital by default.
Socitm Insight Briefing Issue 48 - Smart cities: how are they really different?
‘Smart cities’ is another fashionable term, but means different things to different people. For the EU, it refers to the application of technology to improve transport. The UK’s £24m initiative talks about integrating infrastructure with communication networks.
Socitm Insight Briefing Issue 49 - Digital leader?: it might (not) be you!
Traditionally, we herald each new year with new resolutions: go to the gym more, start a post-festive season diet, and drink less. All are changes of behaviour driven with the best of intentions, but rarely maintained.
Socitm Insight Briefing Issue 5 - Mobile and flexible working: key to big savings
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 50 - Benchmarking: Can you afford not to?
‘What gets measured gets managed’ is sound advice, but not always followed. Without basic information about costs, resource usage, performance and outputs, managers are effectively trying to steer a rudderless ship. They cannot monitor trends, and assess the value of changes.
Socitm Insight Briefing Issue 51 - Flexible working: going into reverse?
Yahoo! CEO Marissa Mayer came in for press criticism when the company-wide ‘proprietary and confidential’ email announcing an end to home working found its way on to the Internet. Virgin boss, Sir Richard Branson, was quick to condemn the idea, blogging that ‘Working life isn’t 9-5 anymore.
Socitm Insight Briefing Issue 52 - Shared ICT services: more than meets the eye?
Sharing services ranks high on the agenda of possible responses to austerity, and many partnerships have emerged since we last looked at this topic two years ago.
Socitm Insight Briefing Issue 6 - Lean thinking: embedding the change
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 - Shared services - time for action
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 - Self-service: working right, first time, every time
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 - Information management: your critical asset
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 - How Socitm Insight can help you survive the crunch
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.
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