SOCITM ConferenceSOCITM ConferenceOctober 2009October 2009

Andrew Ball & Natalie PenroseAndrew Ball & Natalie PenroseAudit CommissionAudit Commission

Is there something I should knowIs there something I should know

Part 1Part 1

The principles of good informationThe principles of good information

Is there something I should knowIs there something I should know

Relevance Quality and PresentationRelevance Quality and Presentation

In The KnowIn The Know (Feb 08)(Feb 08)

•• relevantrelevant for the for the decision at handdecision at hand

•• good information good information depends on good depends on good qualityquality datadata

•• well well presentedpresented for for accurate interpretationaccurate interpretation

Culture People and StandardsCulture People and StandardsCouncils need:Councils need:•• cultureculture that exploits the that exploits the

value and power of value and power of informationinformation

•• expert, professional, well expert, professional, well trained trained peoplepeople working in working in effective wayseffective ways

•• good standardsgood standards -- good good quality data and information quality data and information shared effectively with shared effectively with partnerspartners

And combined this means And combined this means ……

1. An organisation with a 1. An organisation with a cultureculture that says that says ‘‘information information mattersmatters’’ and with information managed as a and with information managed as a corporate asset employingcorporate asset employing……

22……peoplepeople that have the competence, that have the competence, capability and capacity to make it happen working tocapability and capacity to make it happen working to……

33……standardsstandards that provide a governance structure that provide a governance structure for the effective use of data and information for the effective use of data and information leading toleading to……

44……data data qualityquality that is appropriate to the that is appropriate to the business requirement as a basis for business requirement as a basis for information that isinformation that is……

55……presentedpresented in a clear, concise in a clear, concise and understandable way and isand understandable way and is……

6...6...relevantrelevant to the needs to the needs of the businessof the business..

Most councils are starting their Most councils are starting their improvement journeyimprovement journey

13% 47% 40%

47% 20% 33%

47% 20% 33%

Standards

Culture

People

2 7 6

7 3 5

7 3 5

Overall improvement journey made by the 15 councils visited in fieldwork Under developed

Developing

Well developed

Source: Audit Commission Fieldwork, Is there something I should Source: Audit Commission Fieldwork, Is there something I should know? (2009)know? (2009)

TwoTwo--thirds of decision makers struggle to thirds of decision makers struggle to understand the information they receiveunderstand the information they receive

Interpretative skills ofsenior officers

Interpretative skills ofmembers

Extent to which lack of interpretative skills prevent good information use (% of councils)

48% 49%

29% 63% 4%

2%1%

3%

Don't know Prevents good information use to a great/some extent

Totally prevents good information use

Does not prevent good information use

Source: Audit Commission Survey, Is there something I should knoSource: Audit Commission Survey, Is there something I should know? (2009)w? (2009)

Resources are not used effectivelyResources are not used effectively

2%

2%

3%

6%

10%

15%

27%

36%

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40%

Support for funding bids

Consultation (including surveys and focus groups)

Other

Providing information for communication material

Short ad hoc information requests

Research and analysis work

Tasks not directly related to analytical activity

Routine performance monitoring and reporting

Average per cent of analyst time by activity

Source: Audit Commission analyst diaries, Is there something I sSource: Audit Commission analyst diaries, Is there something I should know? hould know? (2009)(2009)

Part 2Part 2

What does this mean for my Council?What does this mean for my Council?

Is there something I should knowIs there something I should know

The workshopThe workshop•• Groups explore each of the six core principles in your Groups explore each of the six core principles in your

councilscouncils•• A person in each group will take A person in each group will take oneone principle:principle:

•• Each person will Each person will brieflybriefly outline to the rest of the outline to the rest of the group how well a principle works in their organisationgroup how well a principle works in their organisation

•• The group will agree on whether this is under The group will agree on whether this is under developed, developing or developing well and record developed, developing or developing well and record the results of the discussion in the grid providedthe results of the discussion in the grid provided

•• There is a guide on each table to help you assess There is a guide on each table to help you assess your own Councilyour own Council

•• Presentation Presentation •• QualityQuality•• RelevanceRelevance

•• StandardsStandards•• PeoplePeople•• CultureCulture

A reminder of the principlesA reminder of the principles

•• CultureCulture•• PeoplePeople•• StandardsStandards•• RelevanceRelevance•• QualityQuality•• PresentationPresentation

For more informationFor more information……

visit:visit:www.auditwww.audit--commission.gov.uk/istheresomethingcommission.gov.uk/istheresomething

Or visit our stand (63) for materials or Or visit our stand (63) for materials or to talk to us about what you have to talk to us about what you have heard todayheard today