The Intelligent Customer Mechanism
What is the Intelligent Customer Mechanism?
The Intelligent Customer Mechanism (ICM) is at the heart of the Programme’s work. It is a collaborative way of working which enables the UK Government to manage its information in an assured way.
Why is the ICM needed?
Government needs a joined up way of acquiring trusted IA capability. Traditionally, ICT/IA development has been slow and it has not kept pace with developments in communications technology. Industry has limited information on government’s ICT/IA needs and is therefore unable to make sound investment decisions.
The ICM is a joined-up approach, which aims to remove traditional stovepipes and artificial boundaries, allowing government to speak with one voice. It also empowers Industry to respond to real government need within realistic timescales and allows development of profitable solutions which will help sustain the UK Industry base.
UK government needs to maintain a sovereign IA industry sector and the ICM will help to achieve a vibrant IA market place to help ensure its survival.
So what has been happening?
The Commercial project (within the IA Technical Programme) has been designing and developing the ICM. As the financial year 07/08 closed, so did the Commercial project. However, the work continues apace – to take the ICM from concept to reality.
Collaboration in action
What is being worked on?
- Capture of ICT/IA needs from government departments and the identification of ‘common good’ (capability of use, of value or of benefit to more than one government department) needs
- Engagement with Industry to determine what ICT/IA products/services are being produced/developed and then careful analysis to highlight any gaps which need to be filled and where there could be a potential market opportunity
- Government needs information published to Industry to encourage more private venture investment from Industry. The ICM is also supporting Industry in their solution development
- Identification of potential ‘common good’* products and services for collaborative trials. The ICM has been overseeing these trials and sharing best practice
- Production of an Interim IA catalogue. This has involved collaboration with MoD, the Office of Government Commerce and others to include IA products/services on the existing MoD Information Communication Services catalogue which was launched at the beginning of May 2008.
- Development of the ICM Advisory Group (which includes representatives from both Government and Industry) to give guidance on the implementation of the ICM to allow the process to become real and transitioned to ‘business as usual’.
* Common Good: Of use, value or benefit to more than one government department
For details of the projects in support of the ICM see Projects
If you would like to find out more about the ICM please email icm@gchq.gsi.gov.uk.
