This document discusses the digital journey for a local authority CIO. It outlines several technology disruptions like digital, big data, and the internet of things that are impacting local authorities. The CIO's role is shifting from tightly managing the ICT service to facilitating data sharing and being a community digital leader. Some principles for the CIO include standardizing systems, using open APIs and cloud architecture, and ensuring initiatives are customer-driven. The document cautions that the baseline for local government digital systems has yet to be established and suppliers do not fully recognize the implications of open-by-default approaches.

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A Digital Journey
(for a local authority CIO)
Nick Roberts
Head of ICT London Borough Croydon, &
Immediate Past President, Socitm

2. Digital as understood in 1982

3. A digital journey

4. Leads to a series of questions
 What platform to build?
 Identifying the key processes to
improve end to end
 Deciding which apps must remain
 Customer centric agile design
 Build, Buy, Source?

5. 3 key technologies disruptions

6. Technology Disruption #1 Digital

7. Technology Disruption #2 Big Data
Child at risk analysis to
achieve early intervention:
Health care data
Social care data
Police data
Education data
Customer Services CRM data
Revenue income data
Benefits payment data
More than one data custodian

8. Technology Disruption #3 Internet Of
Things
From independent
living to smart places

9. Future context for Digital
Austerity
Devolution
Joined up data
Community Leadership

10. Place As A Platform
 Community Leadership
role for Local Authorities
 Facilitator of facts
 Connected community
 Economic enabler

11. What does this mean for the LA CIO?
 Many years spent
managing the ICT
Service tightly
 ICT only 3 – 5% of
budget and impacts
can only be limited
 Move away from
organisation centric ICT
 Turning key systems on
their heads
 Method change:
PRINCE2 to Agile
 Our part is not the
whole part – we must
facilitate
 Data syndication
 Build, Buy, Source
 LG and local public
sector needs a baseline
for minimum capability
which is built once and
sourced openly
 Only build, buy, or
source the additional
unique functionality

12. The Dangers
 The platform of Digital local government is not yet well
formed. We can’t afford to wait long.
 The politics of government drives local innovation.
 The baseline for standard business processes and
supporting systems has yet to be set. Difficult to only focus
on the local uniques without this.
 Our LA systems supply chain does not yet recognise the
implications of Government’s open by default approach.

13. Some Principles for the LA CIO
 Standardisation through Software As A Service
 Open Systems that can be Open Source
 Push for Open APIs
 Cloud-based architecture
 Build strong business analysis and Agile development skills
internally
 Ensure you are customer, not just business driven
 Look beyond the perimeter fence – many custodians of data
 Take responsibility for all technology deployments – be innovative
 Be the Community Digital Leader – whether syndicating data,
building smart places, or driving economic innovation

14. Recommended Reading
 An Office of Data Responsibility
 Creation of a new Digital Marketplace
 Creation of a Local Government Digital
Service
How to align the best
complimentary features of
PRINCE2 and Agile
(through DSDM)
Living with austerity
making hard choices for ICT investment
insight

15. Thank you - any questions?
Nick Roberts
Immediate Past President, Socitm
Head of ICT London Borough Croydon
nick.roberts@socitm.net
@NickDRoberts
@Socitm