Construction Industry Computing Association (CICA)
CICA is an independent membership programme for ICT decision-makers in Architecture, Engineering and Construction sector with over 30 year track record in promoting, facilitating and enabling best practice. It provides truly independent guidance and facilitates genuine peer level networking and experience sharing, to enable its members to improve their performance and competitiveness through the effective use of information and communications technology. CICA is a division of the National Computing Centre.
Aim and Objectives
CICA’s overarching aim is to drive performance improvements and competitiveness within he AEC sector through the effective use of information and communications technology.
Vision Statement
To be the leading membership organisation championing organisational and industry competitiveness through the effective use of ICT in the Architecture, Engineering and Construction Sector.
Mission Statement
“To constantly evolve and maintain a market leading ‘must have’ membership value proposition centred on the ICT needs of our members and the AEC sector through the professional and consistent delivery of an unrivalled suite of highly relevant products and service”.
Key Activities (including outputs produced to date)
- Facilitating connections:
- AEC specific peer to peer networking through the CICA Forum, Intra-disciplinary Workshops, Special Interest Groups and other events
- Learning from other industry sectors: unique opportunity to engage with peers from other industries through the NCC’s cross sector networking events, mini-conferences and workshops.
- Relationship brokering: supporting like-minded peers to help each other solve ICT issues and challenges.
- Evaluation centre: helping members to make connections with the vendor community through CICA’s software directory.
- Staying informed and saving time: independent regular news headlines and periodic email summaries focusing on important issues emerging across the AEC sector,
- Independent advice and guidance:
- Access to AEC Sector guidance as well as the National Computing Centre’s highly valued Principia archive of independent and expert advice, guidance and best practice across a range of topical ICT management issues. Examples include CICA Bulletin, IT Adviser journal, Guidelines (ICT Management, Technical and Legal) and Best Practice Guides)
- Access to hand picked content from the Butler Group through a unique syndication arrangement
- Benchmarking services: access to a portfolio of established annual benchmarks from NCC to enable comparing of ICT spending, strategy, salaries and employment trends across all sectors. These are complemented by online Rapid Surveys which provide immediate feedback on topical issues.
- Complementary value added services: access to a portfolio of quality added-value services e.g. Accredited ICT training, Masterclass programmes, Cross-industry sector events and seminars and personal and professional development programmes.
Programme of work for 07/08
- CICA Forum
- CICA Forum 1 18th April 2007
- CICA Forum 2 12th September 2007
- CICA Forum 3 16th January 2008
- CICA Intra-disciplinary Workshops
- CICA Workshop EDRMS 20th June 2007
- CICA Workshop (Topic TBC) 7th November 2007
- CICA Workshop (Topic TBC) 12th March 2008
- NCC Mini Conferences
- Business Continuity Conference 20th September 2007
- 2007 West Midlands ICT Conference 22nd November 2007
- Convergence Conference 28th November 2007
- NCC Workshops
- Programme Management Masterclass 26th November 2007
- Successful Change Management Workshop 24th October 2007
- Service Oriented Architecture 2nd-3rd October 2007
- Programme Management Masterclass 4th December 2007
- Enterprise Architecture 12th-13th February 2008
- NCC EA-SE Workshops
- Enterprise modelling, tools and techniques 28th June 2007
- Interoperability, standards and standardisation 18th July 2007
- A contingent approach to legacy systems 5th September 2007
- Performance and capacity planning 25th September 2007
- Migration management and transition 17th October 2007
- Identifying risks and managing complexity 6th November 2007
- Enterprise security and integrity; systems reliability and availability 12th December 2007
- Building EA-SE capacity and capability 17th January 2008
- The management of technology 12th February 2008
- Events
- Leadership 13th March 2008
- Publications:
- NCC IT Advisers (6No – two with specialist supplements)
- CICA Workshop Outputs (3No.)
- Principia Best Practice Guides (2No.)
- Principia Management Guidelines (10No.)
- Principia Legal Guidelines (4No.)
- Principia Technical Guidelines (4No.)
The Business Model
CICA is a membership body and a division of the National Computing Centre (NCC).
It is a ‘by members for members’ organisation. The Members Advisory Board, consisting of members who are senior ICT Directors in the AEC sectors, works closely with the Head of CICA to develop CICA’s strategic direction, business model and product/service portfolio. This means that CICA’s agenda is always relevant and that it can help with the ‚Äúhere and now‚Äù as well as providing insight into the future, all based on real experiences, views and opinions. All CICA members are required to adhere strictly to its Code of Conduct.
The CICA Forum and CICA Intra-disciplinary Workshops form the critical components of the CICA Knowledge Transfer Network.
The CICA Forum meets regularly throughout the year and is open to CICA’s Premium Level members. It enables peers to share views, experiences and identify the most topical cross-disciplinary issues for CIOs and ICT directors in the industry. The Forum also develops and drives the agenda, content and outputs for the CICA Intra-disciplinary Workshops.
CICA’s Intra-disciplinary Workshops are held throughout the year to share experiences, discuss problems and opportunities and ultimately identify and publish new best practice. The CICA Workshops are open to both members and non-members.
Publications consists of a combination AEC sector specific and cross-sector bulletins, journals, guidelines (management, legal and technical), best practice guides, benchmarks, research and access to hand picked content from Butler Group Services (and/or other such services syndicated from time to time).
CICA members also have the unique opportunity to engage with their peers from other industries through NCC’s cross-sector, networking events, mini-conferences and workshops.
CICA also provides complementary value added services which are discounted to members:
- Accredited ICT Training (ISEB, PRINCE, ITIL)
- Masterclass Programme (one & two day workshops on contemporary topics)
- Personal and Professional Development
Other products and services are currently being developed, based on member demand, utilising experience and expertise from the National Computing Centre group of companies and external organisations.
Funding Mechanisms:
Membership and associated revenues
CICA is primarily funded through revenues generated from membership/ associated services (e.g. events, publications, etc.).
There are three memberships categories - CICA Associate, CICA Foundation and CICA Premium. Members belong to one of these categories based on their desired level of engagement and access to information.
Revenues from other services
CICA provides a range of services (e.g. training, consultancy, surveys, etc.) which also further revenue streams.
Public/private funding
CICA’s commitment to working collaboratively with other UCI and industry partners on a range of initiatives will, in future, yield a further revenue streams from both the public and private sector as these relationships mature.
Principal Contact(s)
Head of CICA: Davendra Patel
National Computing Centre, Oxford House, Oxford Road, Manchester M1 7ED
Tel: +44 (0) 161 242 2262
Fax: +44 (0) 161 242 2499
Email: davendra.patel@cica.org.uk
