FITS OM: Approach to implementing FITS OM
In our experience, ICT technical support staff have little free time to spend on implementing processes, procedures and policies because their day-to-day activities are unpredictable and must take priority. However, in a school with an existing ICT infrastructure, many of the FITS OM functions may be partly or fully in place and in use.
Our aim is to help you begin to remove some of the unpredictability you face, by introducing best-practice operations management functions in small steps and so begin to realise the benefits of FITS OM as quickly as possible with the minimum impact on your normal activities.
We recommend that, before implementing any of the FITS OM functions, schools implement all the FITS processes to a level of maturity. This is because all the FITS OM functions use the FITS processes to manage the activities within them.
FITS OM brings all the best-practice functions together and defines all the activities of the functions. This allows schools to examine their existing practice and put in place the areas that are either missing or not working effectively.
It is impossible to implement all the functions of FITS OM at the same time. Therefore, Becta believe that a cyclic approach to implementation is beneficial, as it enables you to build solid foundations on which to develop your functions without spending an unrealistic amount of time on getting started. We at Becta have used our collective experience to apply the lessons we have learned over many years to develop this approach for schools to help you to implement best practice successfully from the outset.