People First: The NSW Government ICT Strategy

People First is a smart and efficient whole of government approach to information and communications technology (ICT), with the world’s best practice as its foundation.

Determining priorities and setting the direction for an annual $1.5 billion ICT spend across the NSW Government, People First has identified and substantially achieved over half a billion dollars of savings over four years. 

The CIO Executive Council is the driving group responsible for People First,adopting a coordinated and collaborative approach. The CIO Executive Council is supported by the Government Chief Information Office, which is part of the NSW Department of Commerce.

Rationale

As technology becomes an increasingly important element of day to day business operations, People First leverages technology and extends benefits across Government.

Bringing together a wide range of common ICT infrastructure including telecommunications, digital communications and back office support systems, People

First encourages collaboration within government to derive improved services and financial benefits.

Capital and recurrent ICT spending is reduced through consolidating and sharing ICT services, applications and facilities across agencies, and through government-wide procurement contracts. 

People First also encourages investment in new service delivery technologies and improved services over the internet, telephone and face-to-face.

Quick facts

• NSW Government currently spends millions each year on telecommunication services.
• Data centre consolidation offers the opportunity to rationalise more than 13,000 m2 of data centre space, securing essential future capacity.
• Various Finance/Human Resource system upgrades are planned. This is being coordinated to maximise their benefit and reduce costs to government.
• The ICT industry globally faces a significant skills shortage. A collaborative approach ensures that agencies are not competing amongst themselves and the private sector for the best staff.
• Environmental and budgetary pressures will continue to create the need for efficient and responsible practice.

Where did People First come from?

People First was approved by the Government in 2006 to set the framework for a coordinated approach to planning, expenditure and allocation of ICT resources.

People First aims to maximise the Government’s investment in technology and drive its dollar further to improve services to frontline workers and the public.

People First was developed by the CIO Executive Council, which is made up of the Chief Information Officers (CIO) from 19 of the largest NSW Government agencies, and Government Chief Information Office.

Together, these agencies represent 95% of the total government ICT budget.

Making it happen: Chief Information Officer Executive Council

A new governance approach was established in 2008 to ensure agency needs are being met through involvement and ownership of People First.

Operating as a management board supporting People First initiatives, the Council is a working partnership – thinking, deciding and operating as a single voice representing NSW Government agencies.

While responsibility for the implementation and delivery of People First programs remains with the Government Chief Information Office, collaboration with NSW Government  agencies through the Council is critical to its success.

The People First strategy is divided into 8 key programs of work that deliver benefits to all agencies. It has been simplified and streamlined to focus on client needs and agency priorities.