Fifty States jobs could go in IT overhaul
Friday 16th September 2011, 2:30PM BST.
Treasury and Resources minister Charles Parkinson, left, with the department’s chief officer Dale Holmes at the briefing on the streamlining of States administration – a £8m. computer project that could see 50 posts lost. (Picture by Steve Sarre, 1179482)
AROUND 50 civil servants could lose their jobs if the States approves proposals radically to overhaul its administration and IT systems.
But staff have been told that, where possible, the cuts will be made through natural turnover, redeployment and voluntary redundancies before compulsory job losses are considered.
The project is part of the cost-cutting Financial Transformation Programme and a Treasury and Resources Department report, published today, said the changes are expected to save £1.7m a year as well as improving States business practices.
A total of £9.4m. has been allocated for the project, including the capital cost of £7.9m. and a further £1.5m., which has been put aside to fund any redundancy payments.
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A total of nearly nine and a half million, to lose around fifty Staff! Does n’t sound like saving to me. Why not close down a department and give everyone six months notice,that’s how it would be done in the ‘real’ world.
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Without doubt, the redundancy payments will have to be exceptionally generous to satisfy the unions…otherwise strike action would be on the cards….
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A.J.
Which department would you close?
What services will we lose?
How much will we save?
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What proportion of the £9.4 million is going to non Guernsey consultants in fees?
Ah well, I’m sure Deputy Langlois can be relied upon to run a tight ship, and come in on budget, on time, and with the new stgreamlined departments happy with the new, improved IT!
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How does updating computers get rid of 50 people?
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they need to get rid of the cheif officers not the foot soldiers
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Saturday’s Press
Front page .. States to cut 50 jobs
Inside pages .. Adverts for 6 States posts
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I understand that every States department has their own IT department, all with their own PC’s, Servers, Phone systems etc.
The Isle of Man Govenment combined them all into one central IT department supporting every government department across the whole island. They are responsible for over 5500 PC’s, 300 Servers and 7500 IP phones, all running on one central network. This covers the Treasury, Police, Hospital etc with no security issues etc.
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Mr G, I can’t speak of this project itself but having worked on similar IT projects before its all about data integration (not just updating computers although that will be a part of it too). When business processes are duplicated across departments as I imagine they are in our states departments then many persons are employed who do identical tasks. Since the software allows this process to be undertaken once, then the same data can be accessed from other departments for their use (so they don’t have to duplicate this task) and then naturally it decreases the time taken by employees who subsequently use this data (for example by those who deal with the states finances or human capital management). Data also only needs to be updated only once and is provided in real-time across the network and reduces errors (if set up correctly). Its also great for computer generated reporting. The software is very costly and I suppose there are vendors involved, sys admin and IT support staff as well as communication and trainers which will be required just for the implementation phase – they don’t say anything about these jobs that the system will create but I only have only read the short version above so perhaps it is in the lengthier version. It would be an exciting project to be a part of, i look forward to watching it unfold.
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Surely if ther are combining systems they could combine roles in other ways to make savings.
For instance, If you need a passport, right to work, housing license, income tax number, driving license etc you have to go to different offices and fill in the same data on a number different forms.
Surely all of these application type processes could be combined into a single office (or online preferably) so you could fill in one form and just tick the boxes of what you need.
At the moment, housing have to wait for environment who are waiting on customs whoa re waiting on housing. Things get missed, delayed and repeated at huge costs.
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Yes J you are absolutely correct. However, its very important for those involved to stick to what they have outlined already [assuming they have done that!] and look at further savings upon completion, by not doing this in the past is one of the major reasons why these projects fail and suffer huge blowouts in time and budget.
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£7.9 million capital cost!
Was that the lowest tender?
Did they even go out to tender?
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Of course we mustn’t forget the “Old Boy’s Club”
That secret society that looks after their own.
It is their in every walk of life.
Until a real and honest way is found this so-called 50 jobs are as safe… well what is really safe these days?
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