Technology - News in Brief.

JD Edwards, a provider of solutions for the internet economy and Deloitte & Touche, have announced the launch of a new joint solution, Express for e-government. The project is the first ERP solution for UK local government. The solution will enable public sector organisations to deliver on the UK government’s vision of 100% electronic delivery of services by 2005. The initial components of Express for e-government focus on core financial and accounting modules, which will link with other JD Edwards’s solutions.
Additional information can be viewed at www.jdedwards.com

Martin Leuw has been appointed as the new group chief executive of Transaction Technology, the authors of the IRIS range of software to the accountancy profession. Leuw, a chartered accountant who trained with Arthur Andersen, succeeds founder David Guest who will take up a non-executive director role. The move follows the #32m investment by Lloyds TSB Development Capital in October 2000, with the move viewed by the company as a step to driving the business into its next phase of growth.
Boost for Iris firm www.accountancyage. com/IT/1113595

Recent research into the IT skills shortage in the UK has found the crisis is still very much alive – with 55% of respondents suffering from the effects – 70% in the telecoms sector. According to Interliant UK, many of the actions companies are taking to tackle this problem show a level of naivete, suggesting that they are ‘planning to fail’.
Skills shortage threatens e-business www.accountancyage.com/IT/1118841

Chris Houle, CEO of Scala Business Solutions, said last week that in the so-called new economy the same fundamental business rules apply as to brick and mortar companies. He added: ‘The belief that an e-business strategy should be any different disappeared when the dotcom bubble burst. There is no new economy. What we are seeing is the major multinational companies making their moves to put in place the right software infrastructure to support their ebusiness strategies.’
Visit Scala’s website at www.scalaworld.com

Andersen has unveiled findings from its internet workforce remuneration and benefits survey ‘dot.comp’. Conducted online, the survey found training and development, and reward as large issues of concern. Andersen human capital partner, Nicki Demby, said: ‘Solutions to the problems have been a recent subject of lively debate in the US. Creative solutions are needed.’
Visit the firm’s site at www.andersen.com