Government IT strategy

On 29th March 2011, the Cabinet Office published the UK Government ICT Strategy. Chelgate has produced a full summary note of the strategy which can be found below.

 

The new approach includes an increased emphasis on transparency and simplification in order to enable SME’s and new providers to successfully bid for Government ICT contracts. There will be fewer large-scale IT projects and software will begin to be shared across the public sector as a new common ICT infrastructure in developed. There will also be an increased focus on Open Source software and mobile technology in future Government work.

 

This new strategy looks likely to transform the Government IT sector as the Government look to make it more streamlined, efficient, and cost effective. The proposed changes offer a great many opportunities for engagement for SME’s and new service providers, but also large IT companies who are in the position to provide a joined-up network across the public sector.

 

It is interesting to note that Chelgate launched Open Form Europe in March 2002 at the FT to raise the profile of open source software, and low and behold, 8 years almost to the day, it is being put at the heart of the Cabinet Office’s IT Strategy.

 

The coming few years are going to be an interesting and exciting time in Government ICT.

 

The New Government ICT Strategy.

 

  • Tom Loosemore appointed to lead work on a prototype single Government web domain.
  • Maude has said the overall plan was to cut out duplication and wastage by sharing more assets and using common systems
  • This new strategy would mean an end to big business providing systems and stated a desire to open up the market to SME’s and new providers.
 

There are commitments to:

 

  • Reduce the cost of using data centres by 35% over 5 years.
  • Increased use of small agile projects rather than “big bang solutions”.
  • Increased transparency and reduced bureaucracy and costs through a streamlined procurement policy to facilitate involvement of SME’s and new providers – In Select Committee, Francis Maude stated a target of 25% of contracts going to SME’s.
  • Develop a common ICT infrastructure, an ICT asset register, and a fully online applications store to enable reuse of business applications across the public sector.
  • Common and open standards to be used across public sector ICT.
 

The Government will publish an ICT Capability Strategy within the next six months, which will set out its approach to increase capability. It will include detail on talent management, the continued growth of the Technology in Business fast stream, and measures to increase the exchange of skills and best practice from the private sector.

 

A Government Skunkworks has been established to develop low-cost, fast and agile ICT solutions. Skunkworks provides a new channel for SMEs and entrepreneurs to participate in government ICT with new and innovative solutions. Skunkworks is embedded into the spending approvals process which identifies where existing products can be reused or solutions developed in-house. Skunkworks is working to develop an environment for SMEs to test their solutions to ensure compatibility within government’s future standardised cloud environment. Skunkworks is working with venture capital, private equity and angel funders to provide support for SMEs and entrepreneurs as part of its work on wider community engagement.

 

The Major Projects Authority has been established as the central scrutiny body to control ICT spending and advise departments at the earlier design stage how best to approach ICT solutions for business delivery needs.

 

The requirements of cyber-security and information assurance will be embedded in the common ICT infrastructure. The Government will develop an appropriate and effective risk management regime for information and cyber-security risks for all major ICT projects and common infrastructure components and services. The Government will also develop an Information Strategy while maintaining necessary protection for sensitive information

 

Managing information effectively and appropriately is essential to the delivery of secure, seamless and efficient operational services. It provides the basis for informed decision making and the platform upon which performance can be measured. Modern, knowledge-based service delivery underpinned by effective information architecture and open standards will support government to build more transparent, trusted and efficient information exchange processes. The Government will develop an information strategy that is supported by an architecture framework which will underpin the design of government’s new information systems.

 

The Government will systematically scan the horizon to identify changes in technology and assess the associated opportunities and risks. A Director of ICT Futures will be appointed to take responsibility for improving the Government’s capability to meet this challenge of fast-moving technology in order to drive change in the way in which the Government adopts a more rapid and open ICT development approach.

 

Moving into more specifics the Government will:

 

  • publish an ICT Capability Strategy within the next six months, which will set out its approach to increase capability.
  • publish a toolkit for government procurers on best practice for evaluating the use of open source software
  • establish an Open Source Implementation Group, a System Integrator Forum and an Open Source Advisory Panel to educate, promote and facilitate the technical and cultural change needed to increase the use of open source software across government
  • the Government will publish a new approach to ICT procurement that will reduce timescales and cost, and will ensure that SMEs are provided with improved opportunities to directly compete for government business
  • establish the common technology components to enable smaller, more flexible projects that can be replicated from one department to another
  • identify a pilot “agile” project within each department and create a virtual centre of excellence across government and the private sector that can enable fast start-up and mobilisation for such projects
  • Establish a new ministerial committee (the Public Expenditure Committee (Efficiency and Reform), or PEX(ER)) to drive progress by providing a forum for scrutiny and decision making in order to ensure that government ICT is used more effectively to power public sector reform.
  • A CIO Delivery Board, comprising CIOs from the large delivery departments, will be established to sit above the CIO Council and advise PEX(ER) on progress. The CIO Delivery Board and CIO Council will be led by the Government Chief Information Officer, supported by the Efficiency and Reform Group based within the Cabinet Office.
  • create a programme to utilise and develop talent amongst civil servants in the field of ICT
    require Senior Responsible Officers to stay in post until an appropriate break in the ICT programme or project life to reduce the risk of project failure

 

On Monday 28 March, the Cabinet Office launched one such online portal. The Innovation Launch Pad allows small and medium sized businesses to pitch their ideas on how they could deliver better value for money in the delivery of Government's business. The best ideas will be handpicked and, after intensive mentoring from some of Britain's foremost entrepreneurs, the successful businesses be invited to present their ideas and invited to a Downing Street reception.

To downlaod the Cabinet Office statement please click here (opens a new browser).

 

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