Forum members participate at regular workshops, seminars and Internet based discussions to share knowedge, experience and 'best pracice across the spectrum of IT disciplines. Each activity is meticulously recorded and the output made available to the whole community under the Chatham House rule. Below is a small sample of extracts from recent events.
It's quite possible to suggest that the social networking genie is long since out of the bottle. For most organisations, it's not a question of if you adopt social networks but when. Marketing and the business are agitating for greater access to Facebook and LinkedIn and various in-house flavours of the same. And for many IT shops, trying to prevent the clamour is akin to Canute trying to hold back the tide. No matter what the security and
privacy risks, IT is now at the sharp end when it comes to social networking; either in facilitating access; monitoring usage (in the name of HR); or trying to ensure security. Many cyber-criminals now consider social networking to be a better bet for success than email.
So how are IT specialists coping with demands to deliver corporate access to social networking sites? This Forum discussion for members set out to determine what are the current issues for IT departments in facilitating access to social networks, discussing along the way four pilot projects set up by forum members.
The Balanced Scorecard is a strategic performance management tool for measuring whether the smaller-scale operational activities of a company are aligned with its largerscale objectives in terms of vision and strategy.
By focusing not only on financial outcomes but also on the people and skills developmental inputs to these, the Balanced Scorecard helps provide a more comprehensive view of a business, which in turn helps organisations act in their best long-term interests.
This discussion was attended by 12 senior managers from large organisations in Central Government, Energy Supply and Distribution, Financial Services, FMCG, Legal Services, Pharmaceuticals, Regional Government and Transport Infrastructure.
It's been said that you get the suppliers you deserve. Organisations no longer have the resources to just make things work; business partnerships need to be fit for purpose and fit for business. In today's challenging times, companies can no longer afford square pegs in round holes.
Now more than ever, firms need to be proactive about their supplier selection process and be in control of the ensuing contract negotiations. Investing time in getting these processes right will provide a significant benefit in time and cost gained throughout the term of supplier agreements. Forewarned is forearmed.
What does getting it right look like? This workshop discovered how organisations select their strategic suppliers, proactively drive down costs, processes they initiate with new suppliers, the information they use to develop the right contracts for their businesses, what leverage can be applied to get the best deal and how negotiations should be planned and conducted.
Read more for top tips from this event. The next event in the supplier management programme will be Supplier Rationalisation on 6th October.
Meeting the challenges of the current business climate for savings, those responsible for Service Delivery Operations and Infrastructure are squeezed between the demand for savings and quality and robustness of the service they provide. Uncover what others are doing to both drive down IT costs and continue to deliver an acceptable service.
This online discussion was attended by nine senior managers all responsible for service delivery within large organisations.. All organisations had instituted some cost reduction measures. A number have outsourced services or a strategic Partner. Some have large numbers of contract staff.
The Recession has triggered an even greater focus on cost reduction by organisations. A target area for cost reduction is supplier costs, especially service provision costs. The depth of cuts required brings an equal focus on avoiding adverse consequences such as service quality degradation.
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