BCS NEWS - BCS president speaks out

Ron McQuaker took over the role of BCS president at the society's AGM on 30 October. He gave his inaugural speech in the evening at the BCS' annual dinner held at the Park Lane Hotel in London.

In his speech, McQuaker reminded guests that 'we are all users of information systems - shops in the high street, banks, traffic lights, air traffic control, ticketing systems - all these make use of computerised systems.

'Above all,' he said, 'we need systems we can trust. This is abundantly clear in the safety-critical area, but in even less critical areas we want systems which are trustworthy.'

He continued: 'Second, we want systems which improve the quality of life - in practical ways, such as in healthcare, and care for the environment.

We also need systems for the overall well-being of everyone, in the hope that this will support the poor and disadvantaged by ensuring resources are properly used and well applied.

'Would it not be a good thing if the very best information systems were being mobilised in the fight against poverty, disaster and disability?

'Third, we need systems which are value for money, and by this I do not mean the cheapest. I mean systems which are produced to time and within budget, and which actually produce the intended benefit.

'Lastly, we need systems which don't alienate us. We do not want stressful, frustrating interfaces. We don't want mechanistic systems imposing arbitrary decisions upon us and we don't want to suffer from information overload,' McQuaker stressed.

'Vision, however, is not enough. If we are going to reach the promised land we need to accompany it with a sense of mission. The first fundamental thing I must say about the mission in the BCS is that it is concerned with people and not with technology.

'We must be able to rely on the competence and conduct of people who are effective in creating and sustaining satisfactory systems, who have knowledge of a technological means of providing them and who are sensitive to the effects.

'But technology will not stand still, and true competence requires understanding of the fundamentals, not merely training in specific transient skills which a true professional can easily acquire,' McQuaker explained.

'The competent professional in BCS terms has not only the skills for today's tasks, but the insight and understanding needed to meet the challenges of tomorrow and, indeed, to shape these challenges.

'As a learned society with some 55 specialist groups, the BCS is at the forefront of equipping professionals and influencing progress. We are now doing this increasingly in association with other leading professional institutions.

'We would not claim that all practitioners outside our membership are not competent, but we would say to those non-members who are confident that they are competent, "why not let your peers recognise and test your competence and professionalism?",' McQuaker challenged.

In conclusion, the BCS president's message to employers was to take advantage of the society's professional development scheme through which they can enjoy a superb partnership with the organisation.

Four honorary fellowships were presented at the dinner. The recipients were Dennis Blackwell, Geoff Busby MBE, Tony Sale and Iain Tolmie.

The principal guests were data protection registrar Elizabeth France and Stuart Turner, who was the guest speaker.

Some 25 companies sponsored tables at this year's dinner which was attended by more than 420 guests representing 150 organisations.

The full text of McQuaker's speech can be obtained from Karen O'Sullivan on (01793) 417434.