In many organisations, including local authorities, these technologies streamlined labour-intensive activities and ledger clerks, messengers, telephonists and typists found themselves jobless or needing to retrain. Yet, for most people in these organisations, work carried on as usual. What is different now is that information technology has moved out of the data processing department and specialised applications onto every desktop and reception counter and into schools, libraries, public access points, cybercaf s and homes. ICT is no longer an adjunct to work, learning and service delivery - it is at the heart of most business activities. In contrast to conventional ways of doing things, ICT can be cheaper, faster and better.
Operational filing is almost entirely electronic.
We usually set up a secure website for each client, containing working documents, forums, presentations, surveys, analyses, final reports, etc. From our clients' perspective, we are able to deliver an excellent service in a highly cost-effective way. Furthermore our own use of technology and working practices can act as a catalyst for our clients to take a more innovative approach to work in their own businesses. The 'e' challenge for local government Perhaps not surprisingly, our experience working with local authorities is that several are struggling to set up effective programmes. The problem often seems to be a combination of conservatism, compartmentalism and confused thinking - the latter at least in part fuelled by the wide range of apparently uncoordinated Central Government and European Commission initiatives.