Voco cleared by indpt inquiry into GSN project

Media Statement Embargoed until 3:00pm
Thursday 2 April 2 April 2009

Voco cleared by independent inquiry into GSN project

ICT consultancy Voco said today its position had been vindicated by the release of the independent inquirer’s report into the Government Shared Network (GSN) project which finds no wrong doing by Voco staff.

“The report refutes allegations made about Voco’s performance and conduct in relation to the GSN contracts,” said Voco director Michael Foley.

Voco is a leading New Zealand owned ICT consultancy which was contracted in late 2004 to manage the design and build of a shared telecommunications network for public sector agencies.

“The independent inquirer, respected public servant Neil Walter, has done a thorough job and presented a balanced report.

“In particular we note his findings that there was ‘no deliberate wrong doing on the part of either (State Services) Commission staff or Voco employees in relation to these contracts’ and significantly that there were no conflicts of interest which could have influenced contract decisions.

“We always maintained we behaved professionally and in good faith and are pleased that Mr Walter agrees.

“He makes it clear that a number of factors were outside the control of Voco and client, the State Services Commission, which were to a ‘large extent’ responsible for the project’s difficulties. These included the ‘increased competitiveness of major telecommunications firms and delays and technical problems caused by key suppliers not living up to their obligations’.

“He also notes that some of the problems were ‘inevitable given the complexity and “first of its kind” nature of the project.’ “In relation to the PricewaterhouseCoopers reports, also released by the Commission today, we point out that this was a project undertaken in an extremely hostile environment with many competing interests seeking to maintain the status quo of individual arrangements between pubic sector agencies and existing suppliers of telecommunications services.

“We, along with other project participants, learned much along the way. We note that Mr Walter comments that ‘the Commission management team rated Voco’s performance highly’ and further note that the Commission extended the contract with Voco after the initial media reports.

“There has also been much comment about the numerous contract extensions and variations involved in the project which contributed to delays and cost overruns. In observing some 2 unintentional untidiness in some SSC contracting processes, Mr Walter states: ‘I do not attribute any responsibility to Voco for any of the slip-ups’.

“We are proud to have been involved in this project and stand by the quality of work we were charged to deliver,” Mr Foley concluded.

ENDS

Background on Voco

Voco Limited is a New Zealand owned company that provides a local alternative to multinational consultancies in the area of ICT-related business change. Voco was established in early 2001 by Michael Foley and Paul Gordon, who along with Jon Wallace are the company’s directors. The company’s independent chairman is Marcel van den Assum.

Voco undertakes strategy, architecture, design, sourcing and programme management in the telecommunications, converged ICT and customer interaction areas. The company has successfully undertaken large-scale, often high-profile projects for over 70 private and public sector organisations. It employs approximately 20 experienced professionals in Wellington and Auckland.

Having no physical premises, Voco operates as a “company without walls”, using secure internet-based portals in a virtual office model that enables consultants to maximise their effectiveness and the targeted application of the company’s intellectual property for clients wherever they need to be.