The project issues
Like many local authorities, Bridgend CBC is engaged in a number of initiatives, each one with its own ‘high level themes’ or ‘priorities’ or ‘significant challenges’.

The Head of ICT, David Sutherland, was very clear about what he wanted to achieve: given these different initiatives and the various Directorates, what must ICT focus on if it is to be effective? David was also clear that ICT would write their own strategy - they did not want technical input but they did want a clear indication of service delivery needs from all parts of the Authority.

We agreed that the overall aim of this initiative was to align the ICT strategy with the business requirements of the Authority to gain the greatest benefits from technology over the next three years. Their clarity of purpose made it very easy to move forward and explore how we might achieve this aim through a one day facilitated workshop.

The Socitm Consulting solution
We took the overall aim and determine the detailed objectives. We agreed that ICT needed to:

• involve and engage Heads of Service
• identify and prioritise the real business needs
  develop an outline business case.

From these, we put together the agenda – a carefully sequenced approach that was logical, each agenda item being completed before we moved forward to the next item.

The next step was to run the workshop which included one Member, the Deputy Chief Exec, Heads of Service and the ICT management team. First, working in small teams and then in plenary, participants drew up a prioritised list of key result areas (KRAs) – those elements ICT has to focus on to be effective. Then, working in different but separate teams, they drew up a first cut business plan as input to the capital planning process, including owners, dates and actions.

The benefits to the client
Effort spent in briefing, planning and set-up meant the event worked smoothly and the objectives were fully achieved. Every individual had the fullest opportunity to contribute. Disagreement was acknowledged but the focus was on the future. The group identified clearly the prioritised KRAs and the momentum of the process enabled them to formulate business plans in five of those areas.

Two major factors in the successful implementation of a strategy were achieved:

• clarity of focus
• commitment from all.

Project identification
Client organisation: Bridgend County Borough Council
Client contact: David Sutherland 01656 642125, suthed@bridgend.gov.uk
Lead consultant: mike.westwood@socitm.gov.uk
Project no: 5494