In the year 2000/2001 the Land Registry made steady progress in implementing its Strategic Change Plan (SCP), aimed at bringing to our customers faster registration and search services and simpler and more cost-effective conveyancing.
Following a consultancy study on the formulation of a 5-year Information Systems Strategic Plan (ISSP) conducted in the previous year, the Registry prepared a tender document for developing a more cost-effective and advanced computer system - the Integrated Registration Information System (IRIS). The system will provide the new, improved IT resources recommended in the ISSP to implement the enhanced operations of a centralized registry envisaged in Phase I of the SCP. The scope of the tender, which was among the first of its type in the Government, was a combination of development of a turnkey system and total outsourcing of IT services.
The tender requirements included system development services, IT support, maintenance and professional services and third party maintenance service of in-house equipment. Digital imaging, Chinese language processing, internet technology, on-line processing and other leading edge technologies will be employed to provide superior technical solutions. The findings and recommendations of a Security Risk Assessment on IRIS by a security consultant were also incorporated so that the future operations will meet world class security requirements and best practices.
With full details of functional requirements and technical specifications, the 500 pages document was prepared. Special clauses were built into the tender to give the Registry sufficient flexibility to extend the project to the second stage of Land Title operations envisaged in Phase II of the SCP. Upon obtaining the approval of the Central Tender Board, the tender was gazetted and released on CD-ROM on 19 January 2001 with a 13-week opening period. It is expected that the contract will be awarded in the fourth quarter of 2001. System development will take 18 to 21 months, so it is expected that Phase I of IRIS can be delivered in mid-2003.
Following a consultancy study on the formulation of a 5-year Information Systems Strategic Plan (ISSP) conducted in the previous year, the Registry prepared a tender document for developing a more cost-effective and advanced computer system - the Integrated Registration Information System (IRIS). The system will provide the new, improved IT resources recommended in the ISSP to implement the enhanced operations of a centralized registry envisaged in Phase I of the SCP. The scope of the tender, which was among the first of its type in the Government, was a combination of development of a turnkey system and total outsourcing of IT services.
The tender requirements included system development services, IT support, maintenance and professional services and third party maintenance service of in-house equipment. Digital imaging, Chinese language processing, internet technology, on-line processing and other leading edge technologies will be employed to provide superior technical solutions. The findings and recommendations of a Security Risk Assessment on IRIS by a security consultant were also incorporated so that the future operations will meet world class security requirements and best practices.
With full details of functional requirements and technical specifications, the 500 pages document was prepared. Special clauses were built into the tender to give the Registry sufficient flexibility to extend the project to the second stage of Land Title operations envisaged in Phase II of the SCP. Upon obtaining the approval of the Central Tender Board, the tender was gazetted and released on CD-ROM on 19 January 2001 with a 13-week opening period. It is expected that the contract will be awarded in the fourth quarter of 2001. System development will take 18 to 21 months, so it is expected that Phase I of IRIS can be delivered in mid-2003.
At this key point in the change programme, managers conducted a comprehensive review of the SCP to continue the momentum of driving towards the strategic goal. Issues relating to HRM, training, operations, business opportunities and implementation were thoroughly analyzed. The review reaffirmed that the SCP was unfolding along the right track. The findings also assisted managers to master the transition strategy effectively and implement the plan smoothly.
To involve every staff in the change process and to bring them fully up-to-date on the development and every aspect of the change programme, a quarterly newsletter, the ChangeNEWS, was published for the first time in April 2000. To keep customers and members of the public abreast of the Land Registry's strategic change, a publicity pamphlet, "Strategic Change & IT Renewal - for the Benefit of Our Customers", was produced in August 2000 for general distribution.
To involve every staff in the change process and to bring them fully up-to-date on the development and every aspect of the change programme, a quarterly newsletter, the ChangeNEWS, was published for the first time in April 2000. To keep customers and members of the public abreast of the Land Registry's strategic change, a publicity pamphlet, "Strategic Change & IT Renewal - for the Benefit of Our Customers", was produced in August 2000 for general distribution.