By Steve Windsor It was recently suggested that at least half the budget of an IT implementation should be devoted to change management and this indicates increasing recognition of its importance in bringing success. The author sets out his view of the principles of change management and illustrates how he put them into practice in supporting the Forensic Science Service in a change programme.
Researchers funded by the Economic and Social Research Council have devised a satisfaction index which will help councils in their spending decisions. Professor Keith Dowding, author of the research said: “We set out to evaluate how citizens evaluate local services and what implications this has for their efficient delivery.”Findings show that Londoners would be more satisfied if more money was allocated to public transport. Manchester residents would be happier if more was spent on planning and economic development and people living in the West Midlands would be better satisfied if more money was spent on street cleaning.
The 22 councils categorised as ‘excellent’ in the Audit Commission’s Comprehensive Performance Assessment have received their initial rewards. Their funding will no longer be ring-fenced for specific purposes, except for schools, they will be relieved of the requirement to submit plans and they now have a three-year holiday from most inspections. This is the start of a process which it is hoped will lead to significant decentralization and a freeing up of councils.The top councils and central departments are working together to explore the scope for greater freedoms and to find improved ways of delivering services. Integration of council services is a key area of exploration. Initiatives that might be launched include leisure centres or libraries offering any service from health care and policing to education and employment.