Government departments and agencies are under pressure to meet the key challenges outlines in the Gershon and Lyons reviews. Services enabled by IT are required to be designed around the citizen or business, not the provider of those services. Additionally, they must be provided through modern, co-ordinated delivery channels. The key aim of this is to allow both citizens and Government agencies easy and multiple access to resources, whether it is via the Internet, email, phone, information kiosks or face to face.
Many officials work in more than one location so remote working is now a practical necessity. Real-time, any-time remote access to information and a reduced reliance on paper-based records provide real efficiencies. Flexible working also reduces the need for fixed office space and specifically helps meet one of the overall efficiency aims of the UK Government's 2004 spending review.
There is also a requirement, in line with current legislation, for Government agencies to collaborate on projects and share their resources. By creating virtual communities, experts from within Government departments can be combined with those in the private sector to ensure that every interested party has access to relevant up-to-date information.
