Successful sharing: a practical guide for local public services

Produced by: Socitm Insight

Type: Reports

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.

Shared services are a strong candidate for savings. Theoretically, rationalised management structures, back offices and infrastructure ought not to interfere with the front line. As part of the back office, ICT is a candidate for sharing. Furthermore, it can be the enabler for sharing in other services Initiating, planning and implementing shared
services is a non-trivial exercise.

There are many issues relating to organisational politics, people and technology to address. Although new models will emerge, our report examines the practical issues concerning current practice.

Our new report examines practical arrangements for sharing ICT, draws out the lessons learnt, and asks how to apply them. it covers six topics

1. Share and save
2. Getting started
3. Designing the solution
4. Managing the transition
5. Achieving the goals
6. Conclusions

We have also made an in-depth examination of six case studies, which each illustrate different approaches and different reasons for sharing:

• Forth Valley GIS
• Herefordshire Council and Primary Care Trust
• 'Tri-borough' proposal (Hammersmith & Fulham, Kensington & Chelsea and Westminster City)
• Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire county councils
• London boroughs of Newham and Havering
• Worthing Borough Council and Adur District Council

Price list

Subscription	Main report
Socitm Insight Subscribers	Free
Non-Insight subscribers - Socitm members	£175
Non-Insight subscribers - all other organisations	£195
Purchase now

Last modified: 20th July 2011