NZCS Supports Industry Collaboration

NZCS Supports Industry Collaboration

PRESS RELEASE – NZ Computer Society Inc.

26 March 2008

For Immediate Release

The New Zealand Computer Society (NZCS) has consistently supported collaboration and communication amongst ICT leaders and hence welcomes the Minister’s announcement today of the formation of an over-arching forum to further the work of the Government’s Digital Strategy and to aid collaboration between representative organisations.

NZCS President Don Robertson today said “If participants will be in a position to maintain their own identity and direction, and the government is now prepared to properly resource via this forum those providing leadership and addressing the issues in the sector (rather than spending the earmarked budget on simply operating yet another body), then we strongly support the formation of this over-arching forum.” Robertson said.

Examples he cited that would benefit from greater support from Government included the NZCS’s current drive towards transforming ICT into a true profession via an internationally-recognised professional certification or charter status, and the vision and initiatives outlined in TUANZ’s recent “Towards leading-edge connectivity” manifesto.

Robertson also said that the Society was a little less convinced of the rationale behind the recommendation for the ITANZ-replacement vendor representative, however. “Whilst the concept of a vendor-based organisation is sound, we believe those advocating the creation of this organisation need to investigate the reasons that previous attempts have not been successful before trying the re-create a vendor body, and should also consider whether organisations like the NZ Software Association and TUANZ are already fulfilling this role” Robertson said.

Robertson also noted the irony in the fact that the Government’s perception that there are too many ICT representative organisations was now being addressed by creating two more bodies.

Robertson concluded that “the NZCS does, however, have an open mind and we look forward to evaluating some of the details around these proposals. As always, the devil will lie in the details and we’re looking forward to ascertaining what role the NZCS could or should play once further details come to light.”

ENDS

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