BCS ELITE Group (Effective Leadership in Information Technology)

ELITE Group (Effective Leadership in Information Technology)

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Elite Newsletters

August 2005

This monthly e-letter is intended to keep Elite members broadly up to date with Elite activities. If you have news that you would like to share, please email it to Mandy Bauer at: mbauer@hq.bcs.org.uk.

Urgent Messages:

Elite Committee Elections:

You have until close of play on Monday 8th August to vote for your Elite Committee.

In this, the most hotly contested election in recent times, there are 14 candidates for 6 vacancies on the committee. Three current committee members required to stand down as they have served their term, but who are seeking re-election are our chairman, Ben Booth, and also David Roberts and David Tidey. The other three vacancies are due to the retirements of Rachel Burnett, Martin Hughes and Ross Patel, all of whom have contributed significantly to Elite and to whom we are most grateful.

The full list of candidates is as follows: Ali Al-Zoubi; Ben Booth; Jon Dakin; John Leonard Evans; Stefan Fafinski; David Favre; Chris Greig; Ian Hillan; Jean Morgan; David Roberts; M.V. Siva Prasad; Robert Spittal; David Tidey; Martin Vickery.

Each member can vote for up to 6 candidates, only one email from each member. To vote, e-mail up to six names to Mandy Bauer at the BCS mbauer@hq.bcs.org.uk

Results will be emailed out on the 12th August 2005.

Upcoming Elite Meetings

22 September 2005, 11am-4pm, Rugby – Royal Mail Innovation Centre
" Embedding Innovation in the Business.” Speaker: David Burden, Group CIO, Royal Mail Group
Late November 2005, 5.30pm-8.00pm, BCS HQ, London
” Delivering benefits to the business - key lessons for Programme Management”.

News about Elite Members

Congratulations to Elite Chairman Ben Booth who was promoted recently to CIO of research organisation Mori. And also to our Treasurer Roger Ellis, who is now Events Director of ISSA – the IT security accreditation body, as well as Country Manager for peer-to-peer networking group OpenBC.

Elite in the Press

2 August: Computer Weekly: Ben Booth, Elite Chairman, was quoted on the front page as saying that the challenge for IT departments across the UK for the remainder of the year is to be “flexible but not profligate”.

28 June: Computer Weekly: Opinion article by Ben Booth on: “What makes some CIOs worth seven-figure salaries?” The article concludes that the sky is the limit for those who succeed.

7 June: Computer Weekly: Ben Booth, said long hours in the IT industry needed to be tackled.

17 May: Computer Weekly: Opinion article by Ben Booth on: “Budgets: the art of spending well” – Message was: “Be sure your investment strategy has a clear client focus”.

10 May: Computer Weekly: Ben Booth commented on the appointment of Ed Gibson Microsoft UK’s new IT security head. “Given that security is so important, and because Microsoft is very much the focus of hackers, this is a crucial appointment."

Recent Elite activities

1. Elite Meeting 9th June, BCS HQ, London

“Aligning and sustaining IT infrastructure for business benefit.”
Speakers: Denise Plumpton, Director of Information and Board member, Highways Agency and Mark Oram, Deputy Director (Threat Assessment and response) of NISCC (National Infrastructure Security Coordination Centre).

Denise drew on her extensive experience in diverse industries to identify some of the key issues facing IT Directors when it comes to infrastructure and shared her Five Golden Rules on this theme with Elite members. “Relate everything to the business; know why you are proposing a change to the status quo; understand the business benefits; look at the longer term options as well as the solution to the immediate problem; then plan it, promise it – then deliver it,” she said.

She also stressed the importance of security of the infrastructure.

Mark outlined the work of the NISCC, an interdepartmental centre which co-ordinates activity across government, the security services and defence, especially in minimising the risk to the Critical National Infrastructure from electronic attack. He outlined emerging threats and vulnerabilities and how the NISCC is dealing with them.

For more details see: www.elite.bcs.org/pastevents/090605.htm

2. Elite wins massive vote of confidence at IT Directors’ Forum

IT directors do provide real value to their businesses according to a virtual unanimous vote by around 250 IT directors in a lively, lighthearted but thought provoking debate organised by Elite at this year’s IT Directors Forum, onboard the cruise ship Aurora.

Top headhunter Cathy Holley, the Group IT Director of TDG plc Mike Branigan, and consultant John Thorp tried to persuade IT directors that IT directors are DP managers in disguise, that they cannot change from being tactical transactional clients into strategic leaders and with only a 25% project success rate cannot provide value .

But despite their best efforts, the team comprising Elite Management Committee members, Chris Tiernan, David Tidey and Roger Ellis, won the day.

The highlight was a lively riposte by Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea’s Head of Information Systems, David Tidey, who swayed the audience with his argument that there is no other functional head within an organisation with a whole system view.

“Accountants do not look further than the balance sheet, HR people are more concerned about their latest ‘management development programme’, marketing people can’t see beyond their next campaign, and operational people are just there to make widgets,” he said.

The IT Director is the only person in the organisation who has visibility of all the data,” he maintained. “It is the IT Director and the IT function who are the true agents of change within any organisation.”

3. Elite Hosts Cocktail Party on board the Aurora at the IT Directors’ Forum

Elite members kicked off a gruelling but rewarding three day conference in style with a cocktail party on the luxury cruise liner-based event in May.

4. Elite Membership Survey: members join to learn

The main benefits sought and obtained from Elite membership are: Awareness of industry trends and issues; networking with colleagues; knowledge of IT management; and hearing key speakers. This was one of the findings of Elite’s February Membership Survey published in May. According to the survey, Elite members’ major interests are: business/IS strategy and planning (76%); information management (59%); project management (53%); and technical strategy and planning (51%). Interestingly, the respective figures for their expertise against the above were 67%, 52%, 66% and 47%.

More on: www.elite.bcs.org/surveysummary.doc

5. Elite becomes founder member of the Strategic Suppliers Relationships Group (SSRG)

A new consortium of ten IT user groups launched at the end of April. The SSRG aims to build better customer/supplier relationships, particularly for those users in a multi-vendor environment, to provide a common interface on generic issues to short-circuit potential problems and help IT suppliers recognise early the evolving needs of users.

It has taken four years of discussion between many user groups to reach this landmark launch which reflects the need for a meaningful collective dialogue with suppliers.

Software licensing, international purchasing and IT service contracts will be among the first issues tackled by the SSRG.

Leading IT companies, including Microsoft, IBM, Oracle, Sun and the IT vendor organisation Intellect, have all given their support at the highest level to the SSRG. Founder members of the SSRG are: The Corporate IT Forum (Tif); IBM Computer Users Association; UK Oracle User Group; British Computer Society Elite Group; Institute for the Management of Information Systems; The Society for IT Management (Socitm); Charities Consortium IT Directors’ Group; Charity IT Resources Alliance; Chartered Institute of Arbitrators; Computer Weekly 500 Club.

Significant BCS Developments

1. BCS/NCC accord on professionalism

Expect to see much more focus and stress on professionalism in IT from the BCS this year. In a significant announcement for IT users, the British Computer Society and the National Computing Centre earlier this year pledged “to work together to enhance and develop the reputation of IT as a profession and champion the effective exploitation and use of IT in all areas of commerce and industry.”

They also endorsed each others work in this area, committing each other not to tread on each other’s toes. The BCS formally recognised the NCC as the UK’s leading IT membership organisation serving the corporate vendor and government communities.

A vigorous industry needs vigorous representative organisations,” said David Morriss, President of BCS. “I thoroughly underwrite our commitment to work together.”

2. BCS calls for common skills framework

The BCS wants to create a single set of job descriptions and skill levels for all UK IT professionals in both user and supply organisations. The project will make it easier for IT departments to assess the skills of consultants and suppliers, and whether they have the right skills for the job, says BCS chief executive, David Clarke. The BCS is working with suppliers to map the skills of their IT workforce according to the SFIA common framework of definitions (Skills Framework for the Information Age).

Charity Opportunities for Elite Members

Friday 23 September: Byte Night.

For a complete contrast to the IT charity Ball, Elite members can sleep rough overnight near Tower bridge to help the NCH charity keep homeless youngsters off the streets. Sleepers at the event, which last year raised £200,000, will include IT Directors and many senior board members from the largest IT organisations. More on: www.bytenight.org.uk

Tuesday, 4th October: IT Industry Charity Ball

Originally due to take place on 7th July and disrupted due to the London bombings, this annual charity Ball, the high spot of the IT social calendar, will now take place on 4th October at the Hammersmith Palais.. Organised by the Worshipful Company of Information Technologists and the IT suppliers’ organisation Intellect, the Ball hopes to raise over £50,000 in aid of the Starlight Children’s Foundation for seriously ill children. Elite members are particularly welcome – Elite committee members are among those involved: Roger Ellis is chairman of the Ball’s organising committee and John Riley is one of its members. More on: www.intellectuk.org/events.

IT4Communities:

If you or members of your team wish to volunteer professional IT help to deserving charities or your local community in your spare time, then IT4Communities will help you do this effectively and efficiently. Since its launch in 2002 this initiative has provided the infrastructure to bring together over 2,500 IT professional volunteers and over 600 charities and communities seeking IT help.

IT4Communities is backed by the British Computer Society, the Worshipful Company of Information Technologists, Business in the Community, Citizens Online, suppliers’ organisation Intellect, and Computer Weekly. It provides the infrastructural backbone to maximise the effectiveness of all those considering volunteering.

In addition to individual volunteers, IT4Communities is also actively seeking corporate involvement from organisations which may wish to benefit from the team bonding opportunities such charitable volunteering offers their IT workforce. More on: www.IT4Communities.org.uk

BCS Ability Group:

Access to IT for disabled people has moved up the management agenda with the introduction of tighter legislation requiring organisations of all sizes to ensure websites and in-house systems can be used by everyone. The latest issue of Ability Magazine, founded by the BCS and distributed via AbilityNet contains valuable insights into what help disabled people need to access systems and how it can be provided at an affordable price. Sponsored by Microsoft, Accenture, Ulif and Ford Motor Company, Ability provides a quarterly update on the technology, services and legal trends in this increasingly important area. Richard Thwaite, IT Director of Ford, is prominent among the many who personally support the magazine. Elite members may receive a complimentary e-book edition of the Magazine, which is also available on subscription. Download Ability as a pdf file on: www.abilitymagazine.org.uk

Special Offers for Elite members

“Maximising Value Creation from IT” Roadshows

Elite members are invited to regional roadshows organised by the IT Faculty of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales to be held as follows:

Leeds (Wed 19 October 2.00 – 5.30
Manchester (Thurs 20 October 9.00 -12.30)
Birmingham (Tuesday 25 October 2.00 – 5.30)
London (Tuesday 8 November 2.00 – 5.30
Edinburgh (Wednesday 9 November 2.00 – 5.30.

Elite Committee member Chris Tiernan is one of the speakers, along with Paul Williams, Past President of the IT Governance Institute.

For further details see: www.icaew.co.uk/viewer/index.cfm?AUB=TB2I_82126

External IT User Oriented Events in September

1 London
Leadership Skills
BCS Young Professionals Group Event
www.ypg.bcs.org

5-6 London
i2010 Conference
UK EU Presidency 2005 Conference
www.eu2005.gov.uk

8 London
ISSA AGM and Seminar
High Level Security Group

8-10 Oxford
Safety & Security in a Networked World
Three day Oxford Internet Institute Conference
www.oii.ox.ac.uk

13-14 Dublin
InfoIreland 2005
AIIM Enterprise Content Management Association Conference
www.infoireland.net

13-15 London Olympia
Mobile Content World
www.mobilecontentworld.biz

14-15 Düsseldorf, Germany
2nd Annual Future Retail Forum
www.futureretail.access-events.com

14-15 London
Gartner IT Security Summit
Two day conference
www.gartner.com/2_events/conferences/sec6i.jsp

18-20 Northamptonshire
The Triple i Convention
IT Directors conference
www.iiicon.com

19 London
Sarbanes-Oxley for IT Auditors
www.mistieurope.com

19-20 London
Enabling Government efficiency 2005
Institute of Economic Affairs Conference
www.marketforce.eu.com/gov2005

19-21 Eastbourne
UK CIO Business & Technology Integration Summit
www.ukciosummit.com

19-22 Cambridge
Smart Labels Europe 2005
International conference on RFID Applications
www.smartlabelseurope.com

20 Blackpool
Parliamentary IT Committee Meeting
at Lib Dem Conference

20-21 London
Value of Knowledge Management Conference
www.ark-group.com

21-22 London Olympia
Project Challenge Expo
Project and programme managers’ show
www.projchallenge.com

21 Manchester
Delivering Value from IT
NCC Principia Workshop
www.nccmembership.co.uk

22 Rugby
Embedding Innovation in the Business
BCS Elite Group visit to Royal Mail Group Innovation Laboratory
www.elite.bcs.org.uk

22 London
Programme Management Masterclass
NCC Principia Workshop
www.nccmembership.co.uk

23 London
Byte Night Charity Sleepover
www.bytenight.org.uk

26 Brighton
Parliamentary IT Committee Meeting
at the Labour Party Conference

26-27 Paris
The European IT Forum 2005
Two Day IDC Conference
www.idc.com/events/emea/emea_itf05_venue.jsp

27 London
Business Process Outsourcing Conference
Economist Conference
www.economistconferences.com

27-28 London
Agile Business Conference 2005
www.agileconference.org

29 London
Marketing IT Services & Solutions
www.marketforce.eu.com