Socitm sets out ICT leadership requirements

Planting the Flag: pocket guide 1 - leadership is the first of six guides covering the strategic capabilities required for public service reform set out by Socitm in Planting the Flag, the strategy for public services reform published earlier this year.  The five other capabilities - governance, shared services, strategic commissioning, professionalism and organisational change - will be given similar treatment in a set of future guides.

A.. B... CIO: a personal view of leadership is being published as a companion to the leadership pocket guide. Written by Socitm's immediate past President Jos Creese, who chairs the local CIO Council and is also CIO at Hampshire County Council, A..B...CIO defines  the role of the CIO as being to translate the potential of new technology into business benefit.

Based on Jos Creese's own personal experience and views, A.. B... CIO promotes eight principal areas for the CIO to concentrate on and a 'baker's dozen' of leadership tips. However, the author's first tip is to take any advice with a 'pinch of salt', since every organisation is different. That, he says, is part of being a good CIO.

Planting the Flag: pocket guide 1 - leadership will be available to delegates at Socitm 2011, Socitm's annual conference, on Wednesday 30 November, immediately after the session from Martin Reeves, chief executive of Coventry City Council, on IT leadership. A.. B... CIO will be available on Thursday 1 December, also at the conference.

Both items are available from the Socitm website (free of charge for Socitm members and £65 each for non-members).