School MIS and OFT MARKET STUDY: "Supply of ICT to the public sector"

[vikpaw]

Hi @GREED

 

It is best that we drop you a PM/note on this.

Please be careful not to breach forum rules.

[PotNoodleTech]

Please be careful not to breach forum rules.

 

They turnover over £3million a year, I am sure they can afford to pay for edugeek sponsorship if they wish to conduct business on the forums?

[vikpaw]

They turnover over £3million a year, I am sure they can afford to pay for edugeek sponsorship if they wish to conduct business on the forums?

- on so many levels.

[dawildu]

It's interesting that where LA's are not mandating which supplier their schools should use far fewer use SIMS. If anyone wants stats on that, feel free to PM..

I can't PM but would be grateful for the stats. Thank you

[GREED]

 

It's interesting that where LA's are not mandating which supplier their schools should use far fewer use SIMS. If anyone wants stats on that, feel free to PM..

 

Rich

 

Do please send over and we can appropriately publish those figures, always appreciate data from other perspectives.

[PhilNeal]

The role of an LA is to advise schools that don't have experience & resources on which system best suits their needs. Secondary schools will generally have expertise but that's harder to come by in primary schools simply because they don't employ as many people.

[winng]

Having worked in three different secondary schools in the past ten years I've used and abused three different MIS providers. I've taken a school from one MIS to another following numerous complaints from the end users and then within six months I was again inundated with end user complaints! Clearly, the grass wasn't greener, just a different shade of green.

 

The driver for change in my case was to provide a solution that was primarily easy to use for the end users in order that they could in turn provide the leadership team with required data. Do not underestimate the influence key end users have in the decision to change MIS providers, or anything else for that matter....

 

Then along comes a new Headteacher/Principal who was used to using a particular MIS and understands how to get the data out in a way he/she can use it and it's all change again.

 

I guess what I am trying to say is that irrespective of what framework a school/academy should or shouldn't be using when 'tendering' for a replacement MIS, they will potentially just ask for a few quotes from recognised providers in order to satisfy the basic financial standards. They can always justifying going with a more expensive solution as it is deemed to offer 'best value', better functionality in a certain area perhaps. They pretty much know what system they want to use and why and will steer the decision accordingly.

[GREED]

Do not underestimate the influence key end users have in the decision to change MIS providers, or anything else for that matter....

 

They pretty much know what system they want to use and why and will steer the decision accordingly.

 

Superb points, exactly my thinking too!

[Banjo]

Interesting thread with some illuminating comments. What is apparent is that nobody (with maybe one exception) really 'gets it' when it comes to selling MIS to LA's.

I remember being invited to an RM conference in Abingdon just after the Becta report was published and they definitely didn't get it. Hiring a QC for the day to give delegates a 'telling off' for not tendering wasn't going to make them many friends - nice lunch though.

[Bromcom-PR]

Interesting thread with some illuminating comments. What is apparent is that nobody (with maybe one exception) really 'gets it' when it comes to selling MIS to LA's.

I remember being invited to an RM conference in Abingdon just after the Becta report was published and they definitely didn't get it. Hiring a QC for the day to give delegates a 'telling off' for not tendering wasn't going to make them many friends - nice lunch though.

 

Hi Banjo,

 

We fully agree with you and hence we proposed in the thread along the lines:

 

"An independent survey should be carried out and establish what will motivate LAs to come out to tender. Is it saving, sea change in technology, usability etc.. Such survey will assist the market to understand whether it is something suppliers needs to do, DfE or any other body. It is extraordinary that after Becta Report 2010 and now OFT Market Survey 2014, LAs will defy the EU/UK Procurement Laws and resist tendering. The market has to listen to LAs and together move forward for the good of children education where School MIS is identified as critical mission component in managing this most effectively.

 

Bromcom-PR is happy to contribute whatever reasonable for this LA-Survey to happen and we hope other MIS suppliers will do the same."

 

May be you could throw in some ideas here yourself - so what will motivate LAs to come out to tender?

[GREED]

Well, surely this biggest reason will be they are unhappy with the setup they have currently? Only they and their schools will know that, and really it is up to the schools (that are left under LA control!) to speak up about their dissatisfaction! Either to their LA or more publicly.

 

Perhaps they feel they are charged too much? Maybe you could draw up a proposal for each LA with a price and submit it to them... if it is a good price then they will want to know more...

 

Those would be my biggest two drivers FROM THEIR PERSPECTIVE. If it were me somewhat more educated in the overall market there are many more drivers.

 

Be careful @bromcom_PR you may have what you think SHOULD be their drivers, but that doesn't mean that aligns with theirs.