Elite Newsletters

October 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. Don't forget that Elite’s website contains additional news and more details of Elite and our activities.

Contents:

Hot News! – Bill Gates to speak to Elite members
Results: Elite Committee Elections
Upcoming Elite Meetings: 27th October; late November
News about Elite members
Elite in the Press
Recent Elite activities

• Elite visit 22nd September: to Royal Mail Innovation Centre in Rugby
• Elite Meeting 9th June: The Five Golden Rules for managing infrastructure

Significant BCS developments -

• BCS Awards highlight best UK practice
• BCS/NCC accord on professionalism
• BCS calls for common IT skills framework

Elite Affiliations

• Elite: founder member of the Strategic Suppliers Relationships Group (SSRG)

Charity Opportunities for Elite members

• IT Industry Charity Ball (4th October)
• IT4Communities: the infrastructure to help you volunteering your IT skills to charities
• BCS Ability Group
• Byte Night – 29 September 2006

Special Offers for Elite members
Upcoming external IT user-oriented events
What is Elite?
Your Elite Committee – List of Members

Hot News! – Bill Gates to meet Elite

Microsoft founder Bill Gates will be guest speaker at a specially convened Elite breakfast meeting in London.

On Tuesday morning, 27 October, Gates will outline his vision of the future of Microsoft and what it might mean for its users. He will focus on how IT can help add value to the business rather than speak at the technical level.

This exclusive coup was achieved by the initiative and hard work from our events chairman David Ferguson, working with our Chairman Ben Booth.

“This is an exciting opportunity for Elite members to learn from Microsoft’s chairman and chief software architect what the Microsoft vision for the future has to offer us at a strategic level,” said Ben Booth, Chairman of Elite.

Also at the event BCS chief executive officer David Clarke will update Elite members on current developments at the BCS, following its major period of restructuring. The event is heavily over-subscribed with a waiting list of over 70 Elite members.

Elite Committee Election Results:

In the most hotly contested election in recent times, six members were elected to the Elite Committee in August. Ben Booth, David Roberts, and David Tidey, were re-elected for a new term, and Ian Hillan, Jean Morgan and Martin Vickery were elected for the first time.

In addition two other members, David Favre and Chris Greig have been co-opted to the Committee – David because of his expertise in press and public relations and marketing, and Chris, to be Elite’s representative in the North of England and Scotland.

Upcoming Elite Meetings

• 27 October 2005, 8.00am-10.00am, Bill Gates Breakfast meeting, London.
  
  
• Late November 2005, 5.30pm-8.00pm, BCS HQ, London
  ”Delivering benefits to the business - key lessons for Programme Management”.

News about Elite Members

The three new committee members bring with them much IT user expertise.

Ian Hillan, Managing Director of Extend Ltd, has a wealth of user management experience, including a period as IT Director of WH Smith. He is currently also IT Director at The Sportsman, a new national sporting newspaper.

Jean Morgan is Senior Change Governance Manager at Barclays Bank plc.

And Martin Vickery, until recently CIO of Reuters, is Director of Marvick Management Ltd.

Elite in the Press

27 September: Computer Weekly: Bill Gates to be guest speaker at BCS Elite Group Event. Elite chairman Ben Booth refers to this occasion as an “exciting opportunity” for members to hear about Microsoft’s strategic vision at first hand. Article also explains to readers what the Elite Group is.

20 September: Computer Weekly: Elite Vice Chairman David Rippon is quoted as saying that Microsoft’s changes to its Software Licensing Assurance licensing scheme are a clear attempt to leverage incremental revenues from user. He added that adverse public relations will more than offset any monetary gains the company might achieve.

Recent Elite activities

1. Elite visit to Royal Mail Innovation centre. 22 September, at Rugby

“Embedding Innovation in the Business.” Speaker: David Burden, Group CIO, Royal Mail Group

IT staff are well positioned to kick start and drive innovation across an organisation. That was the view of Royal Mail’s Group CIO and board member David Burden welcoming Elite members to Rugby.

There are two elements to consider when organising for innovation in a business: corporate culture; and the right role for IT.

Instilling the will to innovate is a key factor in marrying the strengths of a very large company with the kind of innovation found in smaller organisations, he said.

“We must reward success, but we must reward failure too,” he said. “That is hard for all organisations.” “We need to give people the space, time financial support and freedom to act,” he added.

Technology has an important role in business innovation, he said. “Technology often enables innovation. IT people are connected across the business so they have the contacts and they know the real problems.”

“IT people are also prepared to take career risks and modest funds can usually be found within an IT department as no-one really understands IT budgets. Most long lasting value is created in skunk works.”

“IT people are also used to dealing with innovative suppliers. Unlike the case in most businesses, they work in an area of fast growing innovation that percolates into in-house IT. “

“Finally,” he said, “The company expects us to be weird therefore we can get away with a lot.”

As a result of all these attributes, IT people are therefore well placed to lead innovation generally in the business, being a source of ideas, a catalyst, and well placed to engage and get those ideas through quickly to the business.

Following David Burden’s welcome, Elite members then had a chance to try out Royal Mail’s creative process, with the aid of facilitators and the stimulating environment of the Innovation Laboratory. The Laboratory, set up by Elite member Dr Alan Shepherd when he was Royal Mail’s Research Director, and who was on the October visit, is a physical building staffed with facilitators designed to stimulate and encourage ideas in a structured but free flow environment

2. 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/events/pastevents/090605.htm

Significant BCS Developments

1. BCS IT Professional Awards 2005 Results

The BCS Awards are the most rigorously conducted awards and the most prestigious in the UK. A selection from the many prize winners this year includes:

Ailsa Beaton (Metropolitan Police) - IT Director of the Year (over 250 employees)
Lee Hendricks (Anite Public Sector Ltd) - IT Director of the Year (over 250 employees)
Beverley Dunn (Post Office Ltd) - Project Manager of the Year
Phil Swallow (The Royal Bank of Scotland Group) - Business Analyst of the Year
Tony Palmer (Yell Ltd) - IT Service Manager of the Year

Business Awards 2005 Winners

Hillarys Blinds Ltd – Sales Advisor Mobilisation
Post Office – Chip & Pin network banking
Rail Settlement Plan – National Reservatons Service
Mothersbliss.com – Business Process Automation

Women in IT Award
Sopra Newell and Budge

For the complete list of winners and medallists see:
www.bcs.org/BCS/Awards/Awards/Professional/2005winners/

2. 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.”

3. 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).

Elite Affililations

Elite is founder member of the Strategic Suppliers Relationships Group (SSRG), a new consortium of ten IT user groups launched at the end of April 2005. 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; BCS 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.

Charity Opportunities for Elite Members

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 3,000 IT professional volunteers and over 600 charities and communities seeking IT help. Cumulatively to date, IT4C volunteers have donated over £500,000 of their time to charities.

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

Friday 29 September: Byte Night 2006

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 this year raised £200,000, will include IT Directors and many senior board members from the largest IT organisations. Sleepers are expected to raise sponsorship of at least £2000. More on: www.bytenight.org.uk

Special Offers for Elite members

1. “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 October/November

October

3-6 Madrid
Broadband World Forum Europe
Conference & Exhibition
www.iec.org

4 Blackpool
Parliamentary IT Committee (Pitcom)
Meeting at Conservative Party Conference

4-5 London
NCC Annual Conference 2005
Realising the real Value of IT
www.nccmembership.co.uk

5-7 London
The Creative Economy & the Value of Intellectual Property
UK EU Presidency Conference
www.eu2005.gov.uk

6 London
CMA Focus Day on Securing Networks, Devices & Information
Communications Management Association Event
www.thecma.com

10-11 London
The New Diversity in Broadcasting & Telecommunications
International Institute of Communications Event
www.iicom.org

11 London
SecureLondon
One day IT security seminar
www.isc2.org

11 London
Intranet Strategy: Aligning User and cultural needs with business objectives
www.ark-group.com/events

12 London
CW500 Club Meeting

12-13 London Olympia
Storage Expo 2005
Data Storage Exhibition & Conference
www.storage-expo.com

12-13 Birmingham
Business Performance & Project Management
Exhibition and Conference
www.bppm.com

13 Milton Keynes
Charities Consortium IT Directors Group Annual Conference
“Gaining Value for Charities from IT”
www.ccitdg.org.uk

16-18 Brighton
SOCITM 2005
Annual Conference for local government IT users
www.socitm.gov.uk/Public/Calendar

17-19 Vienna
RSA Conference 2005
European IT Security Conference
http://2005.rsaconference.com/europe

18 London
Perspectives on Risk
Safety-Critical Systems Club Seminar
www.safety-club.org.uk/

19-21 London
Biometrics 2005
Conference and Exhibition
www.biometrics.elsevier.com

25-26 London
AIIM Europe Conference & Expo
Enterprise Content Management Association Conference
www.aiimexpo.org.uk

26-27 London
Message05
Conference on secure email, IM and mobile messaging
www.message05.co.uk

31 London
BCS Seminar on IT governance.
Speakers: Iain Parker, Boxwood Group;
Bernard Marr, Cranfield School of Management
Chris Piper,The Bank of England.
www.bcs.org/events/governance

31 Oct-2 Nov Birmingham
UKOUG 2005 Conference & Exhibition
Oracle User Group Annual Conference
www.ukoug.org/calendar

31 Oct-3 Nov Cambridge
Safety Critical Systems
IEE Residential Course
Institute of Electrical Engineers
http://conferences.iee.org/scs/

November

3-6 onboard Aurora
City-IT Conference
Finance Directors Forum
Ship-borne conference for IT Directors
www.cityit.co.uk

7-8 Amsterdam
Knowledge, Content & Collaboration Europe 2005
International Conference and expo
www.kcceurope.com

7-9 Brighton
itSMF Annual Conference
Conference for users and suppliers in the managed IT services sector
www.itsmf.com

7-10 London
Data Management and Information Quality Conferences
Four day conference
www.irmuk.co.uk/dm2005

7-11 Cannes
Gartner Symposium ITExpo 2005
Gartner group’s major Annual European Conference
www.gartner.com/2_events/symposium/2005/

What is the Elite group?

Elite, an acronym for “Effective Leadership in IT” is a user-oriented British Computer Society group for IT directors and senior IT professionals as individuals. It runs regular user-oriented management focused meetings and provides a forum for members to exchange experience on how IT can be managed to achieve business objectives. Membership is free, with members paying for each event they attend. There are currently over 1400 members.

Your Elite Committee

Ben Booth, CIO, MORI
John Elsden, Chairman, Allied Powers
Roger Ellis, Managing Director, Black Raven Limited
David Ferguson, Director, Fort Ferguson Associates
Bob Harvey, Director of IS, Barnardo’s
Ian Hillan, Managing Director, Extend Ltd
Howell Huws, Director of IT, Hammersmith Hospital NHS Trust
Andrew Meyer, Programme Manager, O2
Bryan Mills, Chairman, Servicetec International Group Ltd
Jean Morgan, Senior Change Governance Manager, Barclays Bank plc
John Riley, Managing Editor, Computer Weekly
David Rippon, Director of University of London Computer Centre
David Roberts, Chief Executive, The Corporate IT Forum (TIF)
David Tidey, IT Director, The Royal Borough of Chelsea & Kensington
Chris Tiernan, Managing Director, Grosvenor Consultancy Services
Martin Vickery, Director, Marvick Management Ltd