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Friday, September 18, 2009
Monday, March 2, 2009
Legal threats to IT consultants grow as economy worsens
IT consultants are facing an increased threat of legal action from dissatisfied clients as the economic downturn worsens.
Hiscox, the specialist insurer, has warned that the economic downturn is likely to expose IT consultants to potentially costly legal claims for delivering a product or service that clients allege does not meet their expectations.
Listing a defective product or service from an IT supplier as being the top reason for a breach of contract claim, the insurer urges IT consultants not to over promise and focus on better scoping of IT projects from the outset, and tighter management of client expectations.
Cases of breach of contract - where a company claims its IT supplier has failed to deliver a product or service in line with an originally agreed contract - made up 36% of all the professional indemnity claims dealt with by Hiscox in the IT sector over a four year period.
Of the largest 100 IT claims handled and paid at Hiscox, the main causes of claims were:
68% claiming defective product or services - "it didn't do what they said it would do"
60% claiming inadequate project management
56% claiming inadequate initial scoping of the project
According to Hiscox, breach of contract claims could increase during an economic downturn where companies, who may be short of money, look to make cutbacks and reduce investment.
IT projects often come under cost-cutting scrutiny and some companies decide they can recoup some of their original investment, or get out of an existing contract, by claiming their IT contractor or company has not provided them with the IT system or service they were promised, said Hiscox.
Sam Franks, specialist IT risks underwriter at Hiscox, said: "The current economic downturn highlights the importance of IT suppliers, big or small, properly scoping a project from the outset to avoid costly legal action.
"It is critical they set down in the clearest terms what they intend to deliver with realistic costs and timelines, and then by careful management of the contract and client expectations, ensure any potential room for misunderstandings or disagreements is minimised.
Hiscox, the specialist insurer, has warned that the economic downturn is likely to expose IT consultants to potentially costly legal claims for delivering a product or service that clients allege does not meet their expectations.
Listing a defective product or service from an IT supplier as being the top reason for a breach of contract claim, the insurer urges IT consultants not to over promise and focus on better scoping of IT projects from the outset, and tighter management of client expectations.
Cases of breach of contract - where a company claims its IT supplier has failed to deliver a product or service in line with an originally agreed contract - made up 36% of all the professional indemnity claims dealt with by Hiscox in the IT sector over a four year period.
Of the largest 100 IT claims handled and paid at Hiscox, the main causes of claims were:
68% claiming defective product or services - "it didn't do what they said it would do"
60% claiming inadequate project management
56% claiming inadequate initial scoping of the project
According to Hiscox, breach of contract claims could increase during an economic downturn where companies, who may be short of money, look to make cutbacks and reduce investment.
IT projects often come under cost-cutting scrutiny and some companies decide they can recoup some of their original investment, or get out of an existing contract, by claiming their IT contractor or company has not provided them with the IT system or service they were promised, said Hiscox.
Sam Franks, specialist IT risks underwriter at Hiscox, said: "The current economic downturn highlights the importance of IT suppliers, big or small, properly scoping a project from the outset to avoid costly legal action.
"It is critical they set down in the clearest terms what they intend to deliver with realistic costs and timelines, and then by careful management of the contract and client expectations, ensure any potential room for misunderstandings or disagreements is minimised.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Royal Free NHS boss explains the pain in implementing Care Records IT
Andrew Way, chief executive of the Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust made the following statement on Friday, about IT problems he has had to handle at the Royal Free.
"You may have heard or read about the problems we have encountered during the introduction of the Care Records Service (CRS) at the Royal Free.""I want to thank staff for all the hard work they so far have put in to implementing CRS – Cerner at the hospital. I know that it has been very difficult for them, has created substantial additional work, and often caused concern. I want to thank you, our patients, for supporting the Royal Free through this change. Some of you have asked why it was necessary – indeed I have asked that myself many times.""Technology, underpinning effective, efficient healthcare, is the only way forward for a modern progressive hospital like ours. We now have the basics of one of the world's most highly regarded clinical IT systems established at the Royal Free. It is increasingly more stable, and over the coming weeks and months we will be adapting its use to the way in which our staff – through the trust’s user group, want the system to work to enhance the service we can provide to you, our patients, their families and friends.""The introduction of the system has caused a £10m problem for the trust. The wider NHS has not left us unsupported and we are in discussion over how the Royal Free achievements can be recognised. I am assuming that there will be no need to change our current investment plans, but this will need to be kept under review.""We continue to work with BT and Cerner to decide what clinical IT developments the trust would wish to pursue. We are particularly interested in assessing whether and how a better integration between other clinical systems and the main CRS can be achieved to improve the way in which our treatments are organised."
"You may have heard or read about the problems we have encountered during the introduction of the Care Records Service (CRS) at the Royal Free.""I want to thank staff for all the hard work they so far have put in to implementing CRS – Cerner at the hospital. I know that it has been very difficult for them, has created substantial additional work, and often caused concern. I want to thank you, our patients, for supporting the Royal Free through this change. Some of you have asked why it was necessary – indeed I have asked that myself many times.""Technology, underpinning effective, efficient healthcare, is the only way forward for a modern progressive hospital like ours. We now have the basics of one of the world's most highly regarded clinical IT systems established at the Royal Free. It is increasingly more stable, and over the coming weeks and months we will be adapting its use to the way in which our staff – through the trust’s user group, want the system to work to enhance the service we can provide to you, our patients, their families and friends.""The introduction of the system has caused a £10m problem for the trust. The wider NHS has not left us unsupported and we are in discussion over how the Royal Free achievements can be recognised. I am assuming that there will be no need to change our current investment plans, but this will need to be kept under review.""We continue to work with BT and Cerner to decide what clinical IT developments the trust would wish to pursue. We are particularly interested in assessing whether and how a better integration between other clinical systems and the main CRS can be achieved to improve the way in which our treatments are organised."
Friday, February 13, 2009
Service Desk Team Leader - Current Vacancy
Service Desk Team Leader with knowledge of ITIL (preferably qualified), skilled in providing 1st line support, setting and achieving SLAs, problem resolution and managing staff is urgently required. You will be responsible for playing the lead in resolving, prioritising and escalating calls of diverse nature internal and external of the business. You will take an active role in developing SLA's and the service catalogue, monitor the performance of the helpdesk, ensuring response times are in line with service specification. and analyse all helpdesk queries identifying common themes, and where appropriate, make suggestions regarding the development of non ICT procedures. You will also provide management and leadership to the staff within the 1st line support analysts, ensuring the management of staff performance and development, delivery of work objectives, staff attendance, positive staff behaviour and the provision of support and guidance appropriate to individual need. This is an excellent opportunity to work within a friendly environment. Please do send a detailed CV asap. G & G Recruitment are working as an Employment Agency.
Only half of public sector staff think ICT can help cut costs in 2009, says survey
Civica, a provider of software-based solutions that help organisations to improve service delivery and efficiency, surveyed local authority and housing executives attending its annual conference in Manchester, finding more than half (51%) believed Information and Communications Technology (ICT) can help local authorities drive down costs further in 2009.
While the Efficiency Agenda remains a key priority for many to help reduce internal costs in the light of increased pressure and targets (33%), a greater proportion of interviewees (37%) put delivering the best possible service for their customers as a key priority. 33 per cent felt ICT is an important factor in efficiency but that a shift in organisational attitude is more critical. Only 1 per cent thought that IT will not make a significant impact on efficiency this year. Over half (53%) believed introducing standardised systems and processes across the organisation was important for improved efficiency while 40 per cent felt sharing services important for efficiency gains. Over one third, 37 per cent, claim to be using or planning to use, shared services over the next one to three years. Nearly one third (30 per cent) of the 100 survey respondents thought that the Government will cut funding and support in 2009, over the 4% of those surveyed who believed government will invest more in public services. 53% believe their local authorities are cutting jobs or will cut jobs this year. Val Earle, head of consulting for Enterprise Service Transformation at Civica, said: "In 2009 the challenges facing local authorities and housing organisations are being compounded by the economic climate as executives will be forced to do more with even fewer resources. "The survey highlights that many issues facing public sector organisations in terms of transformation are the same but the current climate is highlighting existing problems and now is an opportune time for a detailed reassessment of spending programmes and analysis of where technology can help make additional efficiency savings. "Job cuts to address the lack of funding is not necessarily the answer as authorities could then lose employees they have been spent considerable time and money training. Using existing technology systems more effectively often has more effect in terms of enhancing services and making cost savings."
BACKGROUND
The survey was conducted with both local authority (62) and housing organisation (38) employees at Civica's annual customer conference in Manchester which attracted visitors from across the public sector and its partners.
While the Efficiency Agenda remains a key priority for many to help reduce internal costs in the light of increased pressure and targets (33%), a greater proportion of interviewees (37%) put delivering the best possible service for their customers as a key priority. 33 per cent felt ICT is an important factor in efficiency but that a shift in organisational attitude is more critical. Only 1 per cent thought that IT will not make a significant impact on efficiency this year. Over half (53%) believed introducing standardised systems and processes across the organisation was important for improved efficiency while 40 per cent felt sharing services important for efficiency gains. Over one third, 37 per cent, claim to be using or planning to use, shared services over the next one to three years. Nearly one third (30 per cent) of the 100 survey respondents thought that the Government will cut funding and support in 2009, over the 4% of those surveyed who believed government will invest more in public services. 53% believe their local authorities are cutting jobs or will cut jobs this year. Val Earle, head of consulting for Enterprise Service Transformation at Civica, said: "In 2009 the challenges facing local authorities and housing organisations are being compounded by the economic climate as executives will be forced to do more with even fewer resources. "The survey highlights that many issues facing public sector organisations in terms of transformation are the same but the current climate is highlighting existing problems and now is an opportune time for a detailed reassessment of spending programmes and analysis of where technology can help make additional efficiency savings. "Job cuts to address the lack of funding is not necessarily the answer as authorities could then lose employees they have been spent considerable time and money training. Using existing technology systems more effectively often has more effect in terms of enhancing services and making cost savings."
BACKGROUND
The survey was conducted with both local authority (62) and housing organisation (38) employees at Civica's annual customer conference in Manchester which attracted visitors from across the public sector and its partners.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Weather can be a right pain
Well, i wouldn't have thought it a week ago when i got to spend Monday stuck in London having snow ball fights that the weather would still be messing with my work schedule.
Back then i was happy. I did my crucial bits of work from home and then headed out to enjoy the day and snow with some friends. Well this weather is now becoming a bit of a pain. Yes, the snow has almost gone from the London / Hertfordshire area but, the cold is still pretty constant and now there is flooding. Yesterday i had to turn back from two roads i was trying to drive down due to recently formed rivers. Now, and im sure the weather is to blame for this, i am suffering from power cuts. From Monday afternoon (approx 4.22) to Tuesday evening (approx 9.40 pm) the office had no power. Upon getting into work this morning i thought this problem had gone, but no another power cut strikes at about 1.40 pm. So now i am still without my database and am having to operate from my laptop from another site. This is frustrating and is slowing up my ability to do work. However, my ability is still there, so never fear if you were about to call me.
This brings me to on to another completely separate point. Have we been completely let down by the country's infrastructure and should this be sorted out? Yes and No.
Firstly, our infrastructure is not designed to deal with high levels of snow (or water on that point), like it isn't designed to deal with extreme heat. So when abnormal weather conditions occur we are often struck by traffic / commuter chaos. This is very annoying but, at a time when money is short shouldn't the correct monetary decision be made? To plough millions / billions into a problem which rarely occurs (apparently the last equivalent snow fall was back in 1991) would be a waste of tax payers money. Tax payers money is currently needed to save the economy so i say wait for this period of weather to blow over and get back to normality. I for one, now, look forward to it.
It also makes me very aware that i should looking into remote working options quickly.
Back then i was happy. I did my crucial bits of work from home and then headed out to enjoy the day and snow with some friends. Well this weather is now becoming a bit of a pain. Yes, the snow has almost gone from the London / Hertfordshire area but, the cold is still pretty constant and now there is flooding. Yesterday i had to turn back from two roads i was trying to drive down due to recently formed rivers. Now, and im sure the weather is to blame for this, i am suffering from power cuts. From Monday afternoon (approx 4.22) to Tuesday evening (approx 9.40 pm) the office had no power. Upon getting into work this morning i thought this problem had gone, but no another power cut strikes at about 1.40 pm. So now i am still without my database and am having to operate from my laptop from another site. This is frustrating and is slowing up my ability to do work. However, my ability is still there, so never fear if you were about to call me.
This brings me to on to another completely separate point. Have we been completely let down by the country's infrastructure and should this be sorted out? Yes and No.
Firstly, our infrastructure is not designed to deal with high levels of snow (or water on that point), like it isn't designed to deal with extreme heat. So when abnormal weather conditions occur we are often struck by traffic / commuter chaos. This is very annoying but, at a time when money is short shouldn't the correct monetary decision be made? To plough millions / billions into a problem which rarely occurs (apparently the last equivalent snow fall was back in 1991) would be a waste of tax payers money. Tax payers money is currently needed to save the economy so i say wait for this period of weather to blow over and get back to normality. I for one, now, look forward to it.
It also makes me very aware that i should looking into remote working options quickly.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Information Project Manager - Current Vacancy
Our client (a mental health NHS organisation) requires an Information Management professional with proven Project Management experience. You will have technical knowledge on Data Warehousing, Business Intelligence, Data Management, Data Migrations and preferably have worked with RiO before. This role will involve providing expert Data Management advice to the organisation as part of their Datawarehouse project and provide high level Project Management support (Prince 2 environment). Due to the nature of the role and the timescale involved the role would initially be part time (circa 2 days a week), would become full time and then become part time (circa 2 days a week) again. The client would consider taking two people, 1 Data Management expert and 1 Project Manager. This is an excellent project opportunity, so please do send through a technically detailed CV ASAP. G & G Recruitment are working as an Employment Business.
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