Modern public services: a role for change

Produced by: Socitm Insight

Type: Reports

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...

The transformation agenda requires a change champion. We look at the background to the agenda and the role of the CIO in leading the change. As part of a series of reports on transformation, we investigate the nature of the role and the skills and activities required to deliver transformation.

The policy context

We examine the transformation agenda and the factors that influence it. In addition we outline the existing work on transformation and explore the elements required to deliver the agenda effectively.

A role for change

There are numerous factors that are required to promote and deliver transformational government. Attitudes, culture capacity and the will to change are all key elements. However, without someone to lead the transformation agenda little will be accomplished. Here we explore how the CIO fits the leadership role.

Skills for change

Although the head of ICT is often the person given the task of delivering change, the traditional skill sets of this role are not necessarily the ones for leading the change. Here we outline the essential skills to deliver the change that the budding CIO or other potential champion of change needs in order to undertake the role.

Preparing for change

Assuming the role of CIO has been created, and a person with the right skills is in post, where do you start? We outline a number of the critical success factors in winning the credibility of the organisation, setting up appropriate processes and taking the lead.

Summary

We summarise the role required to deliver the transformational change agenda, the skills that the CIO requires to fulfil the role and some of the tasks required to begin the transformational journey. Finally, we outline the steps an individual should undertake in order to meet the challenge of a change of role.

Last modified: 20th July 2011