	Public Service Commissioner Annual Report 2003-04 incorporating the annual report 2003-04 of the merit protection commissioner	3

	Corporate governance framework Information management The management of the Commission’s information services is guided by its Information Technology Advisory Committee, which is chaired by the Deputy Public Service Commissioner. The Committee met three times during 2003—2004. IT Outsourcing The Commission has received its ICT services under a group contract with Ipex/Volante, an Australian small to medium-sized enterprise since June 2000. Other members of the group, known as Group 8, are the Departments of Agriculture, Fisheries & Forestry, and the Environment & Heritage, the Australian Broadcasting Authority, the Australian Communications Authority, Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Service and the Civil Aviation Safety Authority. As a small agency, the Commission has obtained significant benefit from being a member of a group that includes some large agencies with deep ICT capability. It is not viable, either functionally or economically, for the Commission to enter into an outsourced arrangement as an individual agency or to manage ICT on an inhouse basis. The total value of the Group 8 contract is approximately $42 million per annum of which the Commission’s share is 2.3% ($0.95m). The Group 8 contract is for an initial period of five years, concluding in June 2005, and includes the options to extend the contract for two periods of two years each. There is no scope to further extend the contract beyond these options. The alternative to extending the contract would be for the agencies, either individually or as a group, to undertake a full open tender process during 2004. There were some contract management difficulties during the first year of the contract, however, the partnership has settled into a productive relationship that is delivering value for money to the agencies and is improving as Ipex matures as an ICT outsourcing provider. In February 2004 Ipex merged with Volante Group, another small Australian enterprise, and the merger is strengthening service delivery in applications development and improving strategic management. The Commission, in conjunction with the other Group 8 agencies, conducted an extensive review process to assess the merits of exercising either one or both of the extension options. The review included sourcing expert industry advice: price and service-level benchmarking from Gartner Group business advice from Galt Business Services legal and contractual advice from Mallesons Stephen Jacques. The review confirmed that the current terms and conditions of the contract continued to offer value for money and that there was a strong business case for exercising both two-year extension options. In June 2004 Group 8 notified Ipex/Volante of the extension of the contract for a period of four years to June 2009. The extension included some enhancements to the provisions of the contract with Ipex/Volante that had been negotiated during the first half of 2004 and these improvements will flow through into the extended contract. These changes also ensured that no detriment would result from the proposed abolition of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Srevice (and its consequent disengagement from Group 8) and the planned merger of the Australian Broadcasting and Communications Authorities to form a single entity. On-line service delivery The Commission undertakes a significant proportion of its procurement transactions online, all publications are available electronically and public servants can nominate for Commission learning and development courses online. During the year the online course registration system was enhanced to enable online payment of course fees direct to the Commission’s bank. These enhancement will result in productivity gains for agencies and the Commission through streamlining of payment administration. Internet and intranet The Internet has become one of the most significant information channels for information produced by the Commission. The Commission’s site, www.apsc.gov.au, has continued to improve in quality and usability. It has a sound navigational and graphical structure and the Commission seeks to improve accessibility for all users. The Commission has focused on publishing its major documents in a high quality electronic format as soon as practicable after their release. The Commission’s intranet has been set up as a corporate portal run by a database system. It is used to share significant documents and information across the Commission and has the capability to run useful interactive applications and display material such as short video clips. It is being used to allow teams to collaborate and share information more effectively. Software tools to manage workflow in the Merit Protection function of the Commission and to collect information on the Commission’s contracts have been developed by Commission staff. During the year the Commission’s Intranet was recognised through a Bronze Knowledge Management Award by the ACT Knowledge Management Forum. (See feature) Library The Library continues to play an important role in supporting policy development and research activities within the Commission. The fortnightly bulletin Library News continues to be distributed throughout Australia and identifies current reports, papers, books, articles and internet sites on topics such as public administration, leadership, management and HR. This page is available from www.apsc.gov.au/annualreports/0304/information.htm For information and help with this site go to Using our site	Financial management Ethical standards and accountability Home Index Glossary Download the PDF In this part Governance framework People Work/life award Financial management Information management KM award Ethics and accountability Accommodation Social Club
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Corporate governance framework

Information management

The management of the Commission’s information services is guided by its Information Technology Advisory Committee, which is chaired by the Deputy Public Service Commissioner. The Committee met three times during 2003—2004.

IT Outsourcing

The Commission has received its ICT services under a group contract with Ipex/Volante, an Australian small to medium-sized enterprise since June 2000. Other members of the group, known as Group 8, are the Departments of Agriculture, Fisheries & Forestry, and the Environment & Heritage, the Australian Broadcasting Authority, the Australian Communications Authority, Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Service and the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.

As a small agency, the Commission has obtained significant benefit from being a member of a group that includes some large agencies with deep ICT capability. It is not viable, either functionally or economically, for the Commission to enter into an outsourced arrangement as an individual agency or to manage ICT on an inhouse basis.

The total value of the Group 8 contract is approximately $42 million per annum of which the Commission’s share is 2.3% ($0.95m).

The Group 8 contract is for an initial period of five years, concluding in June 2005, and includes the options to extend the contract for two periods of two years each. There is no scope to further extend the contract beyond these options. The alternative to extending the contract would be for the agencies, either individually or as a group, to undertake a full open tender process during 2004.

There were some contract management difficulties during the first year of the contract, however, the partnership has settled into a productive relationship that is delivering value for money to the agencies and is improving as Ipex matures as an ICT outsourcing provider. In February 2004 Ipex merged with Volante Group, another small Australian enterprise, and the merger is strengthening service delivery in applications development and improving strategic management.

The Commission, in conjunction with the other Group 8 agencies, conducted an extensive review process to assess the merits of exercising either one or both of the extension options. The review included sourcing expert industry advice:

price and service-level benchmarking from Gartner Group
business advice from Galt Business Services
legal and contractual advice from Mallesons Stephen Jacques.

The review confirmed that the current terms and conditions of the contract continued to offer value for money and that there was a strong business case for exercising both two-year extension options.

In June 2004 Group 8 notified Ipex/Volante of the extension of the contract for a period of four years to June 2009. The extension included some enhancements to the provisions of the contract with Ipex/Volante that had been negotiated during the first half of 2004 and these improvements will flow through into the extended contract.

These changes also ensured that no detriment would result from the proposed abolition of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Srevice (and its consequent disengagement from Group 8) and the planned merger of the Australian Broadcasting and Communications Authorities to form a single entity.

On-line service delivery

The Commission undertakes a significant proportion of its procurement transactions online, all publications are available electronically and public servants can nominate for Commission learning and development courses online. During the year the online course registration system was enhanced to enable online payment of course fees direct to the Commission’s bank. These enhancement will result in productivity gains for agencies and the Commission through streamlining of payment administration.

Internet and intranet

The Internet has become one of the most significant information channels for information produced by the Commission. The Commission’s site, www.apsc.gov.au, has continued to improve in quality and usability. It has a sound navigational and graphical structure and the Commission seeks to improve accessibility for all users. The Commission has focused on publishing its major documents in a high quality electronic format as soon as practicable after their release.

The Commission’s intranet has been set up as a corporate portal run by a database system. It is used to share significant documents and information across the Commission and has the capability to run useful interactive applications and display material such as short video clips. It is being used to allow teams to collaborate and share information more effectively. Software tools to manage workflow in the Merit Protection function of the Commission and to collect information on the Commission’s contracts have been developed by Commission staff.

During the year the Commission’s Intranet was recognised through a Bronze Knowledge Management Award by the ACT Knowledge Management Forum. (See feature)

Library

The Library continues to play an important role in supporting policy development and research activities within the Commission. The fortnightly bulletin Library News continues to be distributed throughout Australia and identifies current reports, papers, books, articles and internet sites on topics such as public administration, leadership, management and HR.

This page is available from www.apsc.gov.au/annualreports/0304/information.htm
For information and help with this site go to Using our site