Memorandum from Intellect (November 2006)
BACKGROUND
1. Intellect is the UK trade association
for the IT, telecoms and electronics industries. Its members account
for over 80% of these markets and include blue-chip multinationals
as well as early stage technology companies. These industries
together generate around 10% of UK GDP and 15% of UK trade.
2. The following paper provides an overview
of Intellect's Concept Viability service and its relevance to
the Parliamentary Administration Committee's inquiry into "Information
and Communication Technology".
3. Intellect welcomes the opportunity to
provide input at this early stage and looks forward to a programme
of continual engagement with relevant stakeholders.
INTRODUCTION
4. On Tuesday 11 July the Parliamentary
Administration Committee agreed the terms of reference for its
inquiry into Information and Communication Technology. The inquiry
will:
Examine the provision for and by the House of
information and communication technology services and equipment,
with particular reference to services and equipment for Members
and their staff.
5. The inquiry is an excellent chance to
review how Parliament can and should make better use of ICT, particularly
to service the needs of MPs. However, the provision of ICT services
and equipment for and by the House is a complex problem due to
the security issues; range of existing legacy systems; varying
requirements; and the unique nature of MPs' roles and responsibilities.
6. Furthermore, the rapid developments in
the private sector and consumer-led innovations have begun driving
the expectations of citizens and constituents. The Information
Committee's report on "Digital Technology: Working for Parliament
and the Public' highlighted the fact that ICT can play an important
role in influencing perceptions and helping to meet public expectations.
ICT provides an opportunity for Members to derive benefit from
ICT in organising their work more efficiently and maintaining
better communications with constituents.
CONCEPT VIABILITY
7. Due to the complexity of the provision
of ICT services and equipment for and by the House, Intellect
recommends that a Concept Viability process be undertaken at the
earliest stage possible.
8. One of the six actions agreed by the
Cabinet in December 2002 was that "no government initiative
(including legislation) dependent on new IT to be announced before
analysis of risks and implementation options has been undertaken."
This action was clearly designed to help senior public sector
decision makers assess the key factors and risks involved in the
delivery of their proposed IT-enabled programmes and projects.
9. The Office of Government Commerce recommends
early involvement of suppliers. This allows suppliers to show
the client how the market can meet their need, provides early
visibility of key risks and issues, and gives suppliers the opportunity
to manage expectations of what the market can and cannot contribute
to the proposed programme. Intellect fully endorses this approach
and offers a Concept Viability service to public sector clients
to help them consult the market.
WHAT IS
CONCEPT VIABILITY?
10. Intellect Concept Viability is a service
offered by the UK trade association, which allows public sector
clients to take market soundings to test the practicability of
their ideas at the earliest stage. Within the Gateway process
this would be before Gate 1 (and may even be before Gate 0), and
before any public commitment (political, financial or "go
live" date) has been made. In essence, the earlier the concept
is tested, the better; clients will gain greater understanding
of the achievability of their ideas and high-risk proposals can
be modified or abandoned before any substantial investment has
been made.
11. This service is intended to assist the
development of a more comprehensive assessment of projects at
their earliest stages. To this end, the assessment should not
be viewed in isolation, but rather as part of a wider consultation
undertaken by the client (ie this will not replace work which
the client undertakes on proof of concept or feasibility, but
rather seek to inform it).
HOW WILL
CONCEPT VIABILITY
WORK?
12. Clients with business needs that require
either a large-scale commitment or demanding solution approach
Intellect to test the viability of the concept. As the leading
representative body for the ICT industry with approximately 800
member companies, Intellect is well placed to draw on the expertise
clients need. Intellect is also technology-neutral, so will be
able to draw on a range of companies providing fundamentally different
solutions, thereby enhancing the variety of options and perspectives
available to the client.
13. The Concept Viability process is flexible
frequently follows the approach outlined below.
STAGE 1
The client provides a short, written description
of the business need to Intellect.
STAGE 2
Intellect circulates this to a selection of
companies who are invited to comment on the feasibility of the
proposal. Consideration should be given as to whether this takes
the form of an agreed list of companies who wish to participate
in the process or whether there should be a panel of companies
with relevant experience in the marketplace (in either case Intellect
invites member companies to participate in this process).
The purpose of this initiative is to inform
and contribute to, but not replace, the wider consultation that
clients undertake with the supplier community.
STAGE 3
Intellect facilitates the exchange of information
between client and suppliers, through workshops where the client
discusses their proposal with suppliers and by inviting suppliers
to comment via written submissions.
STAGE 4
Intellect collates the responses and prepares
a "Concept Viability Assessment", a report reiterating
the requirement, highlighting risks and issues identified in the
discussion and papers received, and, where appropriate, providing
guidance on the budgetary provision needed to achieve a successful
solution. The report also provides a valuable starting point for
further detailed work on feasibility or proof of concept.
STAGE 5
Intellect works with the client to ensure that
this assessment is made available to all suppliers expressing
an interest in bidding for the contract to ensure a level playing
field. Intellect recommends that clients use the report in preparing
a Prior Information Notice or OJEU advertisement.
BENEFITS OF
CONCEPT VIABILITY
14. Intellect's Concept Viability service
highlights where concepts are not technically feasible, are flawed
or high-risk will be identified as such at an early stage, thereby
informing the client of these pitfalls before investment has been
made in the concept. Flaws in proposals can be highlighted without
companies feeling that their position in the procurement is threatened.
Where innovative solutions are required, emerging technologies
can be discussed along with a frank dialogue of the risks incurred
15. The process is quick and provides useful
insights into possible solutions, providing easy access to supplier
expertise and helping to ensure that no initiative dependent on
new ICT is announced before an analysis of the risks and options
for implementation has taken place.
16. The process informs any subsequent work
on feasibility or proof of concept, but is not intended to replace
these activities.
17. The following Government programmes
and projects have used the Intellect Concept Viability service:
— Department for Constitutional Affairs:
HR Shared Services.
— Department for Education and Skills:
Youth Opportunity Card.
— Learning & Skills Council: Re-tendering
Project.
— NHS Wales: Service Orientated Approach
to Healthcare.
— OGCbuying.solutions: Policy Consultancy.
— Scottish Executive: Shared Services.
— Suffolk County Council: Waste Management.
— Suffolk County Council: Transport
Procurement.
— Training & Development Agency:
Teaching Information Line.
— Cabinet Office: Project ISAAC.
— Cabinet Office e-Government Unit:
Shared Services.
— Department for Constitutional Affairs:
DISC Programme (two workshops: procurement and packaging strategies).
— Department for Education and Skills:
Information Sharing Index.
— Department for Education and Skills:
Managing Information Across Partners Programme.
— Department for Work and Pensions:
Document and Output Management Programme.
— HM Debt Management Office: e-Bidding.
— HM Land Registry: e-Conveyancing.
— Home Office: Refugee Integration
Loan Scheme.
— Office of Government Commerce: Commercial
Activities Re-competition (CAR) Project.
— Office for National Statistics: 2011
Census.
NEXT STEPS
18. Intellect looks forward to discussing
Concept Viability and how it can be used in greater depth with
the Administration Committee and relevant stakeholders in order
to ensure that the House makes better use of ICT to service the
needs of MPs, their staff and constituents.
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