Technology focus too heavy in state position

By ADAM GIFFORD

The State Services Commission is to readvertise the position of head of its e-government unit after deciding it was looking for the wrong sort of person.

Commissioner Michael Wintringham said the position would be redefined and a fresh recruitment process started.

"I have not taken this decision lightly. It was based on a reconsideration of the balance required of the appointee between technology leadership, business integration and transformation, and their application to the business of government," he said.

A commission source said the interviewing panel felt the job description was too IT-focused, and a different combination of skills was needed.

"They wanted someone who was able to work in whole of government and had business skills as well as IT skills."

The unit has been run by the commission's corporate services manager, Bethia Gibson, since former director Brendan Boyle left last month to head Land Information NZ.

It has a budget of just under $13 million.

Although most of the focus on the unit has been on the creation of a government portal and on a failed attempt to create Goprocure (a whole-of-government electronic procurement system) a study of its website reveals a range of significant projects on the go.

It is developing an approach to online authentication which can be used by all parts of government. A business case is due to go to the Cabinet in March next year.

The e-government strategy has been revised to include better integration of services between departments.