Cultural change next challenge for telepresence

James Riley
Tuesday, 03 November 2009 08:24

Business IT - Networking

The challenges of cultural change within the public service could mean the benefits to the Commonwealth of its telepresence investments may take a couple of years to understand, Finance Minister Lindsay Tanner said.

With the first facilities in a network that will span 20 Commonwealth office locations just now becoming operational, Mr Tanner is already a huge fan. But changing the work habits of an organisation the size of the Australian Public Service presents huge challenges.

And besides, while Mr Tanner says Government is of course interested in the savings derived from reduced travel or saving time, he says the real productivity benefits of the telepresence systems might be delivered in ways that aren’t yet obvious.

"The first two or three are under the process of being tested, but as we get into next year I think they will start to become part of the general landscape," Mr Tanner told iTWire. "And then the real challenge is culture change."

"Creating the facilities and getting the whole system up and running is the easy bit. The hard part is changing habits," he said.

"I'm certain that will happen, but it is a question of how smoothly that occurs – because the productivity gains from this are potentially enormous."

Government announced it would spend $13.8 million over four years on the first 20 telepresence systems. Mr Tanner says he’s hugely optimistic about productivity benefits the facilities will deliver – but won’t commit to extending the roll-out until the full benefits of the initial system have been properly measured.

"I certainly wouldn't rule out the idea of building more, but you have to be a bit cautious with (these decisions)."

"Because until they are up and running and until you've had a bit of experience, you don't really know."

"There is no question that there will be major net benefits to the Commonwealth as a result of installing these telepresence centres, but how much that will be and how quickly it will arrive we don't know," he said.

"But the technology is mind-blowing, really."