“Smart Vision” Is Needed In CIOs, Says Socitm

CIOs and ICT heads must develop a “smart vision” for their cities, region or other local area, claims public ICT representative body Socitm.

In its recent briefing, Smart Places: Smart Infrastructure, Systems or People, the organisation says having such a picture planned is “critical” in ensuring the well-being and life chances of citizens.

Socitm describes a smart vision as a plan where local leaders combine a locality’s natural resources and economic strengths with an appropriate technical architecture.

Its report explains that there is no single model for a “smart place” and CIOs or their equivalents must place a role in developing a wider vision, although designing one requires much more than a technological infrastructure.

Socitm claims ICT heads must explain and integrate the possibilities of a digital future and physical plans for building and infrastructure.

Equally, it claims, IT leaders must be thinking about the exploitation of information assets as part of their contribution.

Key Components For A Smart Vision

Other key aspects including in Socitm’s briefing including economic restructuring, housing and transport and climate change.

These cover the move from an economy based on goods to one based on services, the need to deal with congestions and the “intelligent” use of transport.

Besides this, the report discusses global competition – an area needs to be attractive to businesses, it says.

Digital inclusion is another aspect that the document claims to be essential for smart thinking, including using technology to allow elderly people to live in their own homes for longer.

One part of this is to educate citizens of all ages, who can benefit from a large variety of online resources provided they are given the ability and resources to access this.

Socitm’s briefing also claims that a key component of a “smart vision” is governance and management, allowing multiple organisation and communities to participate in technological developments.

The report concludes that “smart” is defined as a citizen-centred approach, which embraces openness and sharing.

CIOs must develop a “smart vision” that exploits the opportunities information and technology provides in order to improve people’s lives, it says.

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