fatty_wim

A managed service is basically out-sourcing. Why not use the SOCITM KPI's for benchmarking that appear to be widely used in the pubilc sector, the benchmarking has been in place since 1996 and has been amended since then. The KPI's are: User Satisfaction Resolution of reported incidents Project Management Aquisition cost of workstations Support costs per workstation Workstations supported per specialist ICT comptetence of employees Service availability Investment in ICT by ICT user Voice and Data communications TCO for workstations Flexible working Management of printing Elecronic service delivery Investment in ICT per head of population. Some of these could be used as is, some would not be required and some would need modifications, but using these as benchmarking would give a better picture of where ICT is and where it could/couldnt be in an outsourced managed service. Interestingly everyone from Becta, P4s, goverment and local government talk about TCO but when did best value ever mean lowest cost? It doesnt. I was at a meeting on Friday organised by Becta and involving P4s, representatives from local authorities and some representatives from schools and it was interesting to see the divide that was there on opinion on a managed service.

if anyone is interested in further details surrounding options for a managed service then please PM me.

Sorry, wasnt thinking when I typed the original. Yes meant, I was under impression that schools could opt out of managed service if there was evidence to show there is no benefit to managed service. But as you point out, who would do this as the funding lost would be significant. The second point is what I am most interested in. I work in a school built a couple of years ago under the original heading of PFI. Shortly my LA will be rebuilding more schools under the new banner of BSF. Currently there are lots of rumours flying round and no facts. We had a complete re-build under the scheme, and now have an excellent ICT system in place. From service desk, to workstations, servers, backbone etc. The main thing that is being said, mostly by other ICT staff, is that ALL schools will have a managed ICT service at the end, even those that will not see any refurbishment or works under new BSF funding. But I wondered if anyone had come against this already. Again should the managed ICT service be offered to all the schools, I assume that the previously built PFI's have no obligation to take up the service either? Maybe actually writing and asking the LA is my way forward too. Who is P4S? Please excuse my ignorance if I should know.

I am under the impression that individual schools can opt out of BSF but there has to be a very strong case showing that a managed service would be of no benefit. Interestingly does anyone know what is to happen to ICT in PFI schools? Surely there will be no BSF money going to schools re-built under PFI so how can a managed service be implimented there?