14 ITadviser Autumn 2009
NCC update
IT departments are never short of
challenges: delivering upon changing
business requirements; adopting new
technologies; managing relationships;
ensuring compliance and governance; and,
delivering continuous improvement and
best value.
In such a complex environment, how do
you show your services match good
practice? How can you demonstrate to
your stakeholders that your IT
department has the right processes,
strategy, skills and management to help
deliver the business objectives?
The National Computing Centre IT
Department Accreditation (ITDA) is a new
service founded upon a unique community
standard that, in combination with an
accreditation process, gives you two
things. Firstly, an independent appraisal
of your systems, processes and practices
against good practice used in other IT
departments and secondly, a business
improvement plan and support to see it
through. Positioned above the plethora of
relatively narrow, technical or functionally
orientated standards, the NCC ITDA is an
evidence-based benchmark of all aspects of
an IT departments' business performance.
The assessment scheme that underpins
the NCC ITDA Standard is not a pass/fail
audit. It is a unique business performance
improvement programme that delivers a
bespoke Action Plan, subsequent progress
against which is reviewed annually. You
set your own agenda of continuous
business improvement and we monitor
and help you stay focused on your
customers' needs and on improving your
department.
ITDA � the benefits
l Demonstrate that the best business
practices are used across the IT function
l Drive business performance with a
common framework to deliver continuous
improvement
l A single, cross-discipline accreditation to
build on an IT department's strengths and
eliminate its weaknesses
l Reassurance from a trusted source for
you and your stakeholders that your
business practices are right for the sector
that you work in
l An objective Action Plan, reviewed
annually, to help you focus performance
improvement
l A motivational tool to support customer
engagement and develop the IT team's role
within your host organisation
l A tool to compare capability and
competence of IT functions during
mergers and acquisitions
Who will benefit
The scheme is designed for internal IT
departments, or stand-alone IT service
companies that either specialise in IT
service delivery or buy-in services as
clients for others in their organisations.
The application of the Standard is
scalable and suits all sizes of IT function
and all sectors.
The IT Department Accreditation is a
business management tool to focus on
continuous improvement. It covers the
rigorous business management of the IT
department and stays relevant to the
organisation it serves.
How does it work?
Applicants are provided with details of the
assessment process which identifies all the
requirements in each of the five stages of
business. Applicants are given access to a
named Assessor who will be on hand to
support them through the whole process.
Each requirement is a Line of Enquiry
for which supporting evidence will be
required. The quality of the evidence will
be rated. Some Lines of Enquiry are
considered to be Key Lines of Enquiry for
which formal, reviewed processes must be
evidenced. Again, the evidence provided
will be rated.
The Assessor will then arrange an
Orientation Visit � a pre-assessment
meeting on-site to familiarise you and
your management team with the
requirements of the process and what you
need to do as priorities � including setting
a suitable date for your Assessment Visit.
The Assessor will collect key metrics from
you that enter you into the benchmarking
aspect of the scheme and ensure that your
IT department is assessed according to its
size and complexity.
The Assessment Visit takes one day. The
Assessor will ask searching questions and
view the evidence that you do what you
say you do. At the end of the visit, the
Assessor will make a recommendation that
will be reviewed by the ITDA scheme
Moderators at NCC. The Assessor will also
elaborate on the areas of improvement for
inclusion in the bespoke Action Plan.
Successful departments will be added to
the ITDA Standard Register and awarded
the NCC ITDA Certificate, a plaque, and
permission to use The National Computing
Centre ITDA logo.
Unsuccessful applicants will be given an
opportunity to take short term remedial
action, if that is appropriate and
achievable. A bespoke Action Plan will be
produced regardless of the assessment
outcome to help all applicants identify
areas for improvement.
The Assessor will revisit successful
applicants around the anniversary of
assessment for a Light Touch Review of
progress against the Action Plan. A
further Light Touch Review will be
scheduled for the second anniversary. A
full re-assessment is required at the third
anniversary.
How to Apply
Please contact NCC on 0161 242 2121,
email info@ncc.co.uk or see
www.ncc.co.uk to complete the on-line
application form.
We are happy to provide further
information about the Standard and
answer your questions.
IT Department
Accreditation
A new Standard and an
Accreditation scheme from the
National Computing Centre
"The ITDA is a unique business improvement and
certification team that endorses the management
as well as the function." Michael Dean, Director of
Advisory Services NCC
The Standard specifies a set of
requirements in five key business
areas:
1. The IT function's management
How well does the department manage
itself and its personnel?
2. Service direction
How well has the department planned
its strategy?
3. Business or service generation
How well does the department generate
new business, or take up of its services?
4. Delivery and options
How well does the department carry out
its responsibilities?
5. Customer relationships
How well does the department manage
its customer?
Together these areas provide a
comprehensive benchmark of excellence

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