IT managers still hold the key to public service transformation, Sir Michael Bichard told delegates at the
Socitm Annual conference in Belfast (14-16 October). In a speech based on findings from research with IT managers and chief executives, he said that development in the profession since his address to the Socitm conference in 2004 was positive across most areas examined and IT managers are increasingly able to engage with those in power.
The IT profession does, however, need to improve its communications skills if it is to have the appropriate level of influence at the top table of council management. Sir Michael also said that when it came to generating savings, service design had far greater potential than shared services, but that too little attention was being paid to it at the moment.