Dr. Tony Murphy is a Vice-president at Gartner Consulting, Europe and has almost 30 years experience in information technology across a wide spectrum of roles and technologies.   These include IT strategies, business process redesign, product evaluation, IT auditing, systems implementation, and the design and delivery of IT awareness programmes to senior management. He heads Gartner’s Public Sector consulting practice for EMEA. He has specialised skills and has undertaken original work in the areas of IT investment appraisal and benefits realisation. His recent book ‘Achieving Value from Technology: A Practical Guide for Today’s Executive’ (Wiley/Gartner Press) has become an international best seller and is becoming standard practice for many organisations world-wide.

Dr. Murphy began his career with the Ford Motor Corporation as an economist, moving to the IT area after a number of years.  As Systems Manager he had responsibility for the design, development and project control of a comprehensive range of commercial applications, including accounting, inventory control, HR, payroll and financial modelling.  He was also an IT Auditor and security specialist for European Operations, undertaking audits in relation to security, disaster recovery and financial procedures.  He also held senior positions in finance and economics with Ford.  After leaving Ford he worked for a time implementing the COMETT ERP system, during which time he developed techniques for reducing implementation time by up to 30%.

Recent assignments include:

• Lead developer of the Gartner Digital Society/E-Government Readiness Assessment Toolkit.

• Working closely with the senior management team to develop an IT strategy for a range of leading corporations and public bodies. These incorporated recommendations on packaged applications, outsourcing strategies, architectural and desktop strategies, security/confidentiality programme, recommendations for staff development, sourcing/outsourcing strategies, and a programme for investment appraisal and benefits realisation.

• Leading team undertaking an IT organisational review, outsourcing strategy and facilities management assessment for the Finance Ministry of an African state under the auspices of the World Bank.

• Undertaking role of arbitrator for IT pay claims in a number of public sector organisations.

• Project Manager for a range of Digital Society/e-government projects in the Middle East.

• Much of his work has been in the field of IT-related due diligence. Currently he is acting for a number of investment bankers and venture capital corporations, assisting them in assessing candidates for funding and/or IPOs. These include companies in the fields of IT security, the e-business platform, electronic messaging and supply chain integration (SCI).

• Heading team which developed leading-edge e-learning product and usability methodology under an EU-funded research program.

• Undertaking an investment appraisal and benefits realisation exercise for several leading multinational corporations.

• Undertaking IS organisational review and e-government strategy development for an Irish Government department.

• Facilitating e-government executive workshops for a range of organisations.

• Leading team that developed a Web portal and intranet strategy for a leading Western European government body.

The Irish Government has been highly successful in developing Ireland into a world leader in IT, and Dr. Murphy has played an active role in this.  Some examples:

• Under the Irish Programme for Advanced Technology (PAT) he set up and headed an R&D centre (the National Institute for Management Technology) which built an international reputation in the field of management information systems.

• Member of the Strategic Software Initiative (SSI) group which played a key role in the Irish software strategic national plan.

• Headed the Irish contribution to the EU program URBIS (Uptake of Re-engineering for Business in the Information Society). This major project established and consolidated IT and re-engineering best practices throughout Europe and made these available to SMEs, seeking to bridge the gap between advanced users and those lagging behind.

• Technical and commercial viability evaluator for IT initiatives seeking EU or Irish Government R&D and/or marketing funding.

• Member of the IT Advisory Group for the National Council for Educational Awards (NCEA), the body which formulates and monitors curricula for Ireland’s acclaimed third level educational sector.

• Advisory and evaluation roles for a number of IT Programmes for the EU Commission.

• Served on the Cork Harbour Development Board (“Dineen Committee”) set up by the Irish Government to develop the economic infrastructure of Cork city and environs.

• Fellow and former Vice-President of the Irish Computer Society.

• Lectured in IT at university Post-Graduate level.