In the light of the decision of the Melbourne General Assembly to call for
a far-reaching review of ICOM's polices and organisation by all ICOM
bodies (Executive, Advisory, Secretariat, national and international
committees) plus a special Task Force, the ICOM Training Committee (ICTOP)
allocated half a day of its 1999 Annual Conference in London to this
topic, using the common management technique of a "SWOT" analysis of the
organisation.

This technique aims to identify the perceived Strengths, Weaknesses,
Opportunities and Threats (hence S-W-O-T) of the organisation.

During the ICTOP session we began with an individual written SWOT
exercise, followed by group and finally plenary discussions.

It was agreed that the relevant views should be forwarded to the ICOM Task
Force that is being chaired by Vice-President Bernice Murphy, and
distributed to other interested parties through ICOM-L and the ICTOP web
site etc. as a contribution to this important debate about ICOM's future.

So that ICOM-L and its users are not over-loaded by trying to cover all
four "SWOT" aspects at the same time, I am posting each of these aspects
separately with a few days' interval between each one, to allow time for
reactions, both supportive and negative of course, and to give time for
others to post their own views, or the results of similar reviews within
other international or national committees, to ICOM-L as well.

In order to kick things off with the positive views, the ICTOP responses
to the first letter of "SWOT", i.e. the question: "What do you see as the
Strengths of ICOM?" are summarised below.


Patrick J. Boylan
Chairperson, ICTOP

City University, Frobisher Crescent, Barbican, London EC2Y 8HB, UK;
phone: +44-171-477.8750, fax:+44-171-477.8887;
Home: "The Deepings", Gun Lane, Knebworth, Herts. SG3 6BJ, UK;
phone & fax: +44-1438-812.658;

==================================================================
ICOM-ICTOP, LONDON MEETING, 1999

"SWOT" (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) ANALYSIS OF ICOM:

(INTERNAL: Strengths & Weaknesses;
EXTERNAL: Opportunities & Threats/Weaknesses)


STRENGTHS:

S.1. ICOM is a global organisation in a global age, within which
museums need to search for ways to find common ground between
different regions, countries, systems and types of museum, and
ICOM provides opportunities for this.

S.2.  ICOM's history and continuity as a permanent international
organisation with a record of more than 50 years' commitment and
activity.

S.3.  The ICOM Code of Ethics and definition of museums are
important unifying tools, despite some faults and weaknesses.

S.4.  ICOM has accomplished excellent work in several areas, e.g.
ICOM's work on illicit traffic, and in other efforts to protect
the cultural heritage, ("Blue Shield" etc.).

S.5.  ICOM provides up-to-date information on museums and the
profession. (but see "Weaknesses" also).

S.6.  ICOM, its constituent bodies and its large, world-wide
membership, provide many possibilities for contact and networking
with people one might otherwise never meet & these opportunities
continue to grow the longer one is involved in ICOM.

S.7.  Work in museums is very international rather than local or
national, making wider contacts necessary for those in the
profession. ICOM provides the necessary  forum for consideration
of important professional and international issues.

S.8.  Some International Committees are very strong and
effective, providing and advancing both specialist knowledge and
networking; they are often more effective than some national
committees in terms of  communication with ICOM members.

S.9.  ICOM provides a platform for self-evaluation, both
professional and institutional against the standards achieved
elsewhere, giving confidence one's own professional leadership
and achievements.

S.10.  ICOM has some effective publications, particularly ICOM
News, (though there is room for improvement - see Weaknesses).

S.11.  ICOM has an effective and progressive Internet policy and
services (but see "Weaknesses" as well for problems of
implementation).

S.12.  ICOM's recognised Non-Governmental Organisation status,
with close links to other bodies e.g. UNESCO, Blue Shield
Committee partners, World Bank etc.

S.13.  Good new Secretary-General with considerable museum
experience, and good Executive Council.

S.14.  ICOM's Triennial Conferences.

S.15.  ICOM's financial support to International Committees
(though the formula and priorities on which these are allocated
is not generally understood).


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