The cross-government panel of Chief Information Officers, known as the CIO Council, has launched its own dedicated website at www.cio.gov.uk.
The new site contains further details of plans for a central team of 'heavy hitters' tasked with ensuring that government departments implement major IT projects successfully. Known as the 'Achieving Successful Delivery Programme', the work will support efforts by the Office of Government Commerce to embed better practices in government IT, the Cabinet Office e-Government Unit said on 1 August.
The eGU adds that the aim is to provide "improved leadership to IT enabled business change programmes, while also providing development opportunities for IT professionals in the public sector".
Under the programme, a "cadre of the highest quality individuals" would be charged to "take ownership of delivery in major government business change programmes", it said.
The e-Government Unit will also provide specialist support "at all levels" to implement mission-critical IT projects.
The new CIO Council website is designed to act as a "focal point" for the CIO Council's work, including the government-wide IT strategy due this autumn.
The Council was set up in January by Ian Watmore, the UK's Head of e-Government, consisting of 28 senior IT directors from across central and local government.
Members include Richard Granger, director general of the NHS national IT programme, Steve Lamey, CIO for HM Revenue and Customs, and Glyn Evans, Birmingham City Council's Director of Business Solutions & IT.
The site devotes a section to activities aimed at bolstering the IT profession in the public sector, on which Mr Watmore will shortly announce a new programme of work.
The initial plan is based around six themes, including a framework of the key professional competencies needed in Government IT; the establishing of a government IT academy to develop talent; networking and mentoring structures; collaboration with the private sector, and communicating with a target audience of 50,000 IT staff and managers.
The final theme is self-selection and registration, and already individuals can register their interest in membership of the Government IT profession via the website. The formal membership arrangements are set to be in place from 2006.
Quelle: eGov monitor, 01.08.2005
