PAT to FIRE its I.T. Department. Oh my gosh!

The radio news reported that a big shake up is about to occur at PAT. This includes the termination of the PAT's IT Department.

I've called for a greater investment in IT, not a removal of it.

In other parts of the world, the trend is to get better relationships among leadership and the IT pros. In Pittsburgh, we go backwards. We're going the wrong way.

Councillors And IT Departments Must Build Stronger Relations.

Councils' IT departments must build stronger relationships with elected members if they are to gain the benefits of new technology, a recently published report from the Society of IT Management's Socitm Insight team has found.

The report, the first of its kind, looked at the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) by councillors, elected representatives, scrutiny members, election campaigners and elected members.

The report, called 'Not For Kissing Babies', is aimed at IT heads of departments and managers, and calls on the local authority ICT service to actively encourage elected members to use technologies. However, it may take time to build a good relationship with them, the report warned.

The report suggests that greater use of ICT could ultimately translate into more votes for politicians. Elected members who use ICT could open up new communication channels and find that this increased openness and higher profile "increases public support in the ballot box."

A shorter, special briefing aimed at elected members was published alongside the report, advocating the use of ICTs to help elected members do their job more efficiently; save time; improve communication with people; and balance their various roles. To obtain a copy of the report aimed at councillors, which costs 10 per copy or five pounds per copy if 10 or more are ordered, go to: www.socitm.gov.uk.

I'm sure that IT Departments can get expensive. I'm sure that many IT projects are not fruitful. I'm sure that IT Departments need supervision, strong managers, accountability and production. I'm sure many IT Departments are in need of a good shake up. But, we've got to get elected leaders who are NOT scared to spend efforts in these settings and can make clear decisions for the right reasons and best priorities.

I value IT efforts. Others around here do not.