National ICT Competency Standard (NICS)

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N ^ATIONAL ICT C ^OMPETENCY S ^TANDARD (NICS)

FOR C ^AREER E ^XECUTIVE S ^ERVICE O ^FFICERS (CESO ^S )

Career Executive Service Board

Commission on Information and Communications Technology

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INTRODUCTION

Information and communications technology services must enable the government to realize its strategic business and service goals, and face the drivers of improvement. The development and implementation of ICT services are geared towards improving the Quality of Experience of the various stakeholders and of the citizens.

Hence, the Commission on Information and Communication Technology and the Career Executive Service Board collaborated to develop and implement the National ICT Competency Standard for Career Executive Service Officers (NICS- CESOs) into the Philippine government system. Adoption of an ICT standard for CESOs would ensure the integration of technology in designing appropriate courses on ICT that will help executives develop requisite ICT skills, imbibe a strong and deep appreciation as well as advocate for the use and application of ICT in government.

The objectives of NICS-CESOs are:

To define the core competencies needed by the non-IT managers and

executives in public service to actively participate in e-government initiatives, and perform their functions and responsibilities within the context of an e- government environment; and

To formulate and implement the training design that facilitates capability building.

The NICS-CESOs formulation process involved:

1. Collection, review and presentation of best practices and/or standards from various sources;

2. Conduct of Focus Group Discussions (FGD) with selected CESOs from different government agencies in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. The

FGD identifies the knowledge and skills that will enable executives to realize the efficient, effective and innovative delivery of service through the use of Information and Communications Technology;

3. Conduct of workshop to build stakeholder ownership of the drafted competency standards;

4. Design and development of training modules to support the capability building programs resulting from the formulated NICS-CESOs; and

5. Conduct of executive briefing on e-Government Awareness to introduce the core skills set of the NICS-CESOs.

The NICS-CESOs is a product of consultation processes, series of focused group discussions, and workshops with various CESOs from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

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DEFINITION OF TERMS

Information & Communications Technology (ICT)

Information and Communications Technology" (ICT) is defined as the totality of electronic means to collect, store, process and present information to end-users in support of their activities. It consists, among others, of computer systems, office systems and consumer electronics, as well as networked information infrastructure, the components of which include the telephone system, the Internet, fax machines and computers

Standard

Conventionally, a standard is defined as an accepted or approved example or technique against which other things are judged or measured, or which sets out a set of criteria that serves as a guideline for how something should be done;

accepted level and scope of attainment of proficiency; a reference point against which other things are judged or measured. In the handbook, the term is used to refer to concise statements that describe the key area of competency.

Competency

Knowledge, skill, ability, or characteristic associated with high performance on a job. Some definitions of competency include motives, beliefs, and values.

Competencies can also help distinguish high performance from average and low performance.; A desirable quality or behavior; a performance indicator

e-Government

e-Government refers to the use by government agencies of information and communication technologies (ICT) such as Wide Area Networks, the Internet and mobile computing, that have the ability to transform relations with citizens, businesses, and other arms of government.

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UNDERSTANDING THE STRUCTURE

The NICS - CESOs is a wealth of information presented in a very compact form comprising the following elements:

Standard Title

The Standard Title is a concise statement that describes the key area of competency.

Standard Descriptor

The Standard Descriptor is a brief description of the skills set covered by the standard.

Statements

Statements describe in outcome terms the key areas of competence covered by the standard. Statements are focused on performance and are demonstrable.

Indicators

The Indicators identify the actions an individual would normally take to perform the area of competence detailed in the relevant statement.

They are specific evidence of the achievement of a defined skill or knowledge level or the competent completion of a task.

Underpinning Knowledge

Underpinning Knowledge identifies the essential areas of learning and understandings that underpin the area of competence described in the standard. It also indicates broad areas of learning and development that an individual might consider to strengthen this specific area of competence.

Sample Entry

Statements Standard

Standard Descriptor

Indicators

Underpinning Knowledge

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SKILL SET DIVISION A e-Government Awareness

Competency Descriptor:

This standard comprises the core competencies. The core competencies define the requisite ICT skills to set a broad e-Government vision and show commitment to that vision by: 1) articulating the positive impact of e- Government on efficiency, service quality, and customer service; and 2) to identify the potential benefits of e-Government and how to achieve

them. These competencies are required for entry to the Career Executive Service.

Standard 1: Effectively and efficiently manage the resources of the agency towards attainment of organizational objectives

Indicators:

• Review current policies and procedures

• Scan best practices

• Formulate e-Government policies and procedures

• Advocate the policies

• Orient employees and clients on organizational policies and procedures

• Provide feedback mechanism and information campaign

• Conduct a periodic review of agency policies

Standard 2: Document and understand the information and process flows

Indicators:

• Scan for trends

• Comply with EO 428

• Document existing business process

• Conduct a continuous review of business operations

• Adopt best practices

Standard 3: Determine appropriate information technology applications that will address inadequacies in business processes Indicators:

• Define user requirements and appropriate technology

• Assess existing IT hardware and applications

• Ensure continuous personal development on ICT

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Standard 4: Comply with existing rules and regulations affecting ICT development and applications

Indicators:

• Be a model in adhering to standard policies on security

• Promote transparency in the government

• Build library of organizational rules and regulations

• Set up appropriate committee as prescribed

Underpinning Knowledge:

Organization’s Mission and Vision

e-Government standards and core values e-Government policies and procedures Knowledge Management

Business Process Reengineering Change Management

Best Practices

IT Resource Acquisition

Policies and Rules and its impact to the workflow Clear definition of deliverables and its reusability Competitive e-solutions

Emerging ICT solutions Occupational Safety

Laws and regulations governing ICT in government Ethics in using ICT

Emerging technology for security Intellectual Property Rights e-Commerce Act

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SKILL SET DIVISION B Management and Implementation of e-Government Initiatives

Competency Descriptor:

This standarddefines the advanced competencies. The advanced

competencies define the qualifications of Executives to effectively develop, implement, and manage e-Government programs and initiatives.

Standard 1: Identify appropriate strategies in the achievement of organizational goals

Develop a blueprint for implementing IT programs in the organization

Indicators:

• Validate periodic review, monitoring of ISPs, and identify success indicators

• Encourage strategic partnerships with industry and the academe

• Institutionalize QMS/SM processes

• Plan and manage the strategic plan

• Conduct strategic planning sessions

• Integrate ISP with organizational plan

Standard 2: Attain organization objectives in a responsive, timely, and cost- effective way

Develop an integrated IT applications to interface all business units within and outside the organization

Indicators:

• Develop a mechanism for interaction/interoperability among stakeholders

• Promote ownership of developed Enterprise Architecture

• Develop competencies for planning and assessing Enterprise Architecture

• Identify kinds of data generated and how it is shared

Standard 3: To define targets and milestones

To define and monitor performance indicators Indicators:

• Develop Communities of Practice (COP)

• Develop systems and procedure manual

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Standard 4: To use appropriate tools in providing efficient delivery of services

To set standards for accurate and reliable delivery of services Indicators:

• Develop interoperability among agencies through e-solutions

• Advocate common service framework for e-government

• Determine clients’ needs and satisfaction through surveys and other means

• Determine and establish customer feedback mechanism

• Conduct regular monitoring and evaluation of Terms of Reference (TOR) to assure compliance

Underpinning Knowledge:

Strategic Information System Planning Financial Management

Resource Mobilization Partnership

ICT Trends

Interrelationships with other agencies, industry, and NGOs Best Practices

Organizational Structure and Services

Enterprise Architecture Methodology and Tools

Relationship of Enterprise Architecture to other IT Disciplines Enterprise Architecture Frameworks

Project Management Techniques Drafting of Contract

Project Monitoring and Evaluation Project Management Life Cycle

Code of Conduct/Ethics for Government Employees Clients’ Needs

Parameters for measuring client satisfaction Service Standards/TOR

Outsourcing Insourcing

National ICT Competency Standard (NICS)