[LINK] ACS, TIPI and ReBranding "tech workers"

[Stephen Jenkin]

<http://australianit.news.com.au/common/print/0,7208,20170194%5E15317%5E%5Enbv%5E,00.html>
(copyright News Ltd)

Brand fix for tech recruitment
Kelly Mills
AUGUST 18, 2006	
THE Australian Computer Society wants a slick new brand name for tech
workers to help lift recruitment to the information industry.	

The brand idea was floated in the ACS National Statement to the
Governments of Australia paper, which was first handed over to the
Queensland government today. The focus of the report, which will be
distributed to other state governments, is to create a competency
framework, integrity system and a governance structure for the industry.

It also raised the issue of government regulation of the industry to
achieve these goals.

The recommendations come out of seven workshops and a survey of 124 people
conducted by Technologists in the Public Interest (TIPI).

TIPI was conceived by the Queensland branch of the ACS, the Queensland ICT
Industry Workgroup and the Queensland Government.

It commenced in early 2006 and brought together 97 senior stakeholders
from the ICT community.

TIPI and ACS Queensland chair Mark Lloyd said the paradox of the ICT
industry was that it underpins the powerhouse of global activity
 but IT project train-wrecks have contributed to it losing some appeal as
a profession.

TIPI marks the first time IT associations have come together to create a
partnership with the government on important industry issues.

However Mr Lloyd said unless one or more governments acted on the report
it would just become another whitepaper.

Data3 managing director John Grant believes this framework is different as
the whole industry is behind it.

Some of the key findings of the report are more than 70 per cent of the
survey respondents believe the ICT workforce would benefit from a single
word `brand' to help create a more positive image of the industry.

Under a proposed ICT Naming and Competency Framework, the word
'technologist' received the greatest support, but respondents were equally
keen for a brand to be created by a marketing firm.

Eighty-five percent of respondents said ICT jobs should be grouped into
logical specialisations.

"Currently there is no competency framework to identify the skills or
educational qualifications that a technologist must have to seek
employment in the industry," the report said.

"There are vast differences in skills sets from one practitioner to
another, even though each may ostensibly claim the same job title.

" The TIPI survey also found 77 per cent supported the establishment of a
defined education and experience framework like that which applies to
teachers.

More than 80 per cent wanted the naming conventions for ICT academic
qualifications rationalised.

With regards to ongoing training, 73 per cent supported the idea that to
work within the ICT industry, it should be compulsory to attend ongoing
training and self-development and to have those attendances logged and
tracked by an independent authority.

The issue of a formal code of ethics was also raised.

Nearly 70 per cent of those surveyed wanted a code of ethics and more than
70 per cent of participants agreed that a national criminal identity check
should apply to some parts of the ICT workforce.

Lastly, the survey respondents favoured a national body to represent its
concerns, similar to the Law Council of Australia.

Less than 50 per cent of respondents indicated the industry should govern
itself on a pluralist basis.


This report appears on australianIT.com.au.w

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Steve Jenkin, Info Tech, Systems and Design Specialist.
0412 786 915 (+61 412 786 915)
PO Box 48, Kippax ACT 2615, AUSTRALIA

sjenkin at canb.auug.org.au http://www.canb.auug.org.au/~sjenkin