We started the session with a spectogram - ‘Would funding alone increase use of ICT?’
Yes
Yes was not a particularly popular answer - although it was felt that funding while it was an issue and could increase use, there needed to be a more strategic approach.
Need for ICT focused funding in NI like in UK like ChangeUP.
Unsure
Need to be sustainable - need for funding
Does the end user actually need ICT? If not then why spend the money in the first place
No
No was certainly the most popular answer, with the vast majority of participants swiftly moving to the rear of the room to argue the need for a more joined up approach.
Training is imperative, and need to recognise the fear of ICT that is still prevalent. ICT moves so quickly that people need help to stay in top.
Need to engage the end user - if there is no will to learn then it is a waste of money.
End users don’t see the benefits of ICT solutions
Organisations purchase kit simply to use up money without building in funding for replacement and repair - better budgeting needs to be built in.
Greetings from England!
Looks like an excellent day getting to grips with ICT over in Northern Ireland. Can’t agree more about the funding! Education to funders on why they should fund more than just capital purchases coupled with education of organisations about why they should build in ongoing ICT support costs (even explaining that there ARE ongoing ICT costs) is what is needed. Its relatively easy to throw 20 laptops at a project… but you come back in a year and see how many are sat in a cupboard out of use with minor faults that were not fixed due to lack of affordable (or budgeted for) support.
Picking up on some other points I read (not sure where to feed these in!). Peer support… at NAVCA I manage a very favourably reviewed peer support project where two similar organisations get together for a day and share their good practice… recent examples include swapping of Circuit Rider sustainability issues, looking at shared database solutions etc.
In addition I have facilitated the establishment or ongoing support of ICT Network Forums in each English region, these are also welcomed as a chance for like mined projects to network together, share ideas and work on common strategies. From April 2007 there will also be an ICT Hub funded “Regional Champion” working to guide each of these groups.
Happy to share experiences of these with you if you’re interested.
Paul Webster
ICT Hub - Regional Infrastructure Support
NAVCA - 0114 289 3977 - paul.webster@icthub.org.uk
Forgot to post a link to this which may be helpful http://www.icthub.org.uk/publications/
Scroll down the page - its the “How to Cost and Fund ICT” guide that I am referring to
Paul