The Paper Chase: Decade of Change at the DSS
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Author Description
In 1982, the largest-ever civil computerization programme - which was to take ten years to complete - began. The staff of the DSS were using an outdated manual system which was breaking down under the strain of paying over #60 billion to 20 million people every year. The civil servants were drowning under the mountains of paperwork. The working practices of the DSS had to be revolutionized and Andersen Consulting were called in by the Government to advise and direct the operational strategy. Huge budgets were at risk, as were reputations. It was a step into the unknown, and yet this innovative alliance of the Government and the private sector was to prove that two totally different cultures could work together and achieve what they felt was impossible.
Menrva's Summary
THE THESIS
This book investigates the operational and cultural challenges faced by the Department of Social Security (DSS) during its massive decade-long transition to computerization beginning in 1982. Author Ivan Fallon examines the intersection of government bureaucracy and private sector consulting, detailing how the DSS managed the shift from a failing manual system to a modernized digital infrastructure while overseeing the distribution of billions in annual payments. The text provides a detailed account of the strategic alliance between the UK government and Andersen Consulting, highlighting the risks to public funds and institutional reputations during this period of rapid technological change.
THE SCOPE MAP
What You Will Find
- A detailed case study of the largest civil computerization project in the UK during the 1980s.
- Analysis of the operational strategy and management techniques employed by Andersen Consulting.
- Examination of the cultural friction between public sector civil servants and private sector consultants.
- Insights into the logistical complexities of managing social security payments for 20 million citizens.
THE AUTHORITY PERSPECTIVE
The work provides a focused, historical account of a significant administrative transformation, offering a clear view of the logistical hurdles inherent in large-scale government IT projects. It serves as a useful record for those interested in the history of public sector management and the evolution of digital infrastructure in the late 20th century.
Page Count:
244
Publication Date:
1993-01-01
Publisher:
Harper Collins
ISBN-10:
0002552442
ISBN-13:
9780002552448
History
Business
Technology
Great Britain
Management
Public Administration
Community Tags
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