Time is of the essence

The DTI has finally appointed a chairman to head the bug-busting taskforce Action 2000 - in the guise of Don Cruickshank, Oftel director general, writes Peter Walker.

Although some members of the IT sector are worried that the post involves just one day's work a week, Cruickshank himself believes that the part-time role is enough.

He has indicated he wants to be both a public and private sector player when he quits Oftel in March, and will seek other posts as well.

He says: 'One of my main challenges is to sustain the momentum that a lot of organisations have already got in hand. But my commitment is to do the job and that job will get done.'

Cruickshank publicly introduced himself to the man some think was best placed to fulfil Action 2000's objectives at the press conference announcing his own appointment.

Taskforce 2000 head Robin Guenier was calling for increased investment in his campaign when the government axed funding and allocated #1m for the new taskforce - Action 2000.

Nevertheless, Cruickshank and small business IT minister Barbara Roche are at pains to point out the two taskforces will be complimentary. Cruickshank and Guenier are due to meet this week for further discussions.

And although Guenier's appointment as Cruickshank's deputy is unlikely, given his criticism of government funding, Cruickshank says won't rule anyone out.

Guenier himself said a one-day-a-week chairman could do the job provided he had a good director and team, adding: 'Cruickshank's job is to get to the chief executive's in the boardrooms. If I was director, I would not want a full time chairman.'

As the time ticks away, the new chairman predicts it will take a couple of months to appoint the director, while organisations are already volunteering for Action 2000's advisory board.

Given that his appointment last week came a month after trade board president Margaret Beckett announced the new taskforce, that could mean a quarter of a year's gap before the director's post is filled -equivalent to a tenth of the remaining time.

The importance of Action 2000 was never more relevant, with reports from Sage, Cap Gemini and Midland Bank all indicating private sector inaction.

But Cruickshank's role is also with the public sector. 'I see myself having a direct role in private sector readiness, advising the government on its role vis ` vis the private sector, and contributing to whatever contingency planning the government feels appropriate.'

But while Government departments have been busy, local government is less so.

Martin Ferguson, head of IT at St Albans District Council, feels that numerous factors explain this 'head in the sand' approach.

One is the Compulsory Competitive Tendering regime which has left a legacy of uncertainty about the government's intentions.

Another is that local government could be suffering the same problem as the private sector - IT department heads know the threat of the bug but have yet to persuade their chief executives.