The IT industry is often perceived as lacking professionalism. Most IT organisations want to demonstrate professionalism, but there have been no guidelines against which they can measure it.

Intellect has recently started a consultation on its draft guidelines for organisational professionalism in IT. The guidelines, to be launched later in the year, will define and promote the case for organisational professionalism and help organisations to implement and assess it – see box.

This is part of an industry-wide initiative, Prof IT, headed by the BCS, skills body e-Skills UK, Intellect and the National Computing Centre. The aim is to improve professionalism throughout the IT supply chain.

IT professionalism is not an end in itself; it delivers key outcomes, including improved services and better value for money. Professional organisations create confidence and trust in their customers. This reduces costs, increases profits and enhances the reputation of the industry.

Properly focused professionalism will keep UK IT globally competitive and profitable, ensuring that it commands respect from other industries and has a high reputation among stakeholders. It also underwrites the vital contribution of the UK IT industry to the general competitiveness of the UK economy.

In IT work it is not sufficient to employ individual professionals. Successful organisations enforce professionalism to ensure the success of their work, supporting and motivating the work of individuals. They nurture processes that create innovation rooted in the work and experience of their staff.

IT-enabled transformation programmes are typically supported by complex supply chains. Organisational professionalism must pervade the whole supply chain for the desired outcomes to be achieved.

Organisations are often suppliers and customers at the same time, and therefore these guidelines cover both sides of the customer/supplier relationship.

Professionalism reduces costs for suppliers and improves value for money for customers throughout the supply chain, to the benefit of everybody involved. The supply chain is only as strong as its weakest link. So that means every organisation and individual in it needs to operate professionally at all times.

IT suppliers and customers need organisational professionalism to provide a sound basis for effective engagement. Detailed and complex contracts are no substitute for mutual trust and positive relationships; contracts that are negotiated without these characteristics have weak foundations. Strong professionalism engenders trust and recognises the importance of close and professional working relationships. This is a necessary foundation for sound contractual commitments.

Intellect’s initiatives, together with the new professionalism programme, will hopefully go some way to engendering trust between suppliers and customers, enabling the delivery of successful IT programmes which will contribute to the prosperity of the UK.

John Higgins is director general of Intellect, the trade association for the UK hi-tech industry. Anyone interested in participating in the consultation should contact Intellect on (020) 7331 2169. See here for more on the Professionalism programme

Guidelines for organisations

The Intellect guidelines focus on seven key elements of organisational professionalism:

Integrity

Confidence and trust are key factors in any purchasing decision. Customers and suppliers need to be certain that the organisations with which they do business are trustworthy and honest.

Processes

Professional organisations are predictable and accurate in their behaviour and outputs. They reproduce good performance, track the progress of current work and quickly analyse and communicate problems and their solutions. They ensure that employees and contractors comply with all appropriate processes and guidelines. They operate appropriate, well-documented quality systems.

People

The behaviour of the people in an organisation is at the heart of professionalism. Organisations can function effectively only with the loyalty, dedication and commitment of their staff. They must provide an environment in which people can work professionally.

Relationships

The way in which organisations establish and manage their relationships with suppliers, customers and other stakeholders is a critical component of organisational professionalism. Well-established relationships build trust and deliver results, while misunderstandings break trust and confidence.

Learning

The commercial and technical environment in which organisations operate is continually changing. Professional organisations adapt and thrive by learning from experiences, both good and bad.

Communication

Trust relies on clear and effective communication. Common understanding is reached only through good communication. Customers and suppliers need a full and robust understanding of a project’s requirements, including the broader business context. Customers must be clear about what they want, and when, where, and how they want it. Suppliers must be clear what they will supply, when they will deliver it and how they will achieve the objectives.

Citizenship

Organisations are not islands; they are an integral part of the communities in which they operate. They provide employment, pay taxes, pollute, create wealth and affect people’s lives.