Digital

An introduction to the Digital Programme

July 17, 2024 by Stewart Hamilton No Comments | Category Digital Programme, Digital Scotland

Blog by Paul Fagan, Head of Digital Programme

This is part of series of blogs about the Digital Programme.

Introduction

Hello and a very warm welcome to the first in a series of blogs on the Digital Programme! For our first outing, we’re keen to give you an overview on why we need the programme, what it is, who it is for, what it will do and how it changes how we design and deliver user-centred digital services.

The programme has been live for around a year now and is shifting from planning and into delivery, as we move ahead with early stage implementation. We’ll do this incrementally and very much in step with each of you as we progress on this shared journey together.

The programme address the key challenges of how Scottish Government and public sector delivers on its digital ambitions as outlined in the digital strategy. This includes the introduction of a new operating model and updated ways of working, with a shift away from thinking about what teams do locally and towards a system wide public-sector view when embarking on new digital transformation projects.

The programme changes how colleagues in the public sector think about, design, deliver and maintain digital public services and has been introduced to further the outcomes of the rapid review of digital functions and is tied to wider public sector reform.

While we know that public bodies and organisations are an important part of the system, the major efficiencies and value creation opportunities are at the service level, particularly where services run across multiple organisations. This will lead to higher quality end to end services supported by good quality data, which I am sure we can all agree will be transformative for public service delivery and, ultimately, save money.

Scope

The scope of the programme reflects that of the Public Sector Reform agenda, except for health and local government, and applies to core Scottish Government, agencies and public bodies in scope of the Technology Assurance Framework.

There are some exceptions to this, specifically in relation to the introduction of digital portfolio management. The initial scope includes core SG and agency digital initiatives above a spend threshold that is still to be defined. Projects that fall under the agreed threshold will continue to be assessed by the Digital Assurance Office as they are today.

While the new approach does not extend to health, local government or associated bodies they can, however, make use of things like the Digital Scotland Service Manual and shared components such as ScotPayments, Cloud platform service and ScotAccount in the same way that in scope organisations can.

Work underway to deliver the programme

There are a number of projects and work packages in flight that make up the digital programme. They are:

Common components

The development, deployment and expansion of the aforementioned use of common components, such as Cloud platform service, ScotAccount and ScotPayments

Common processes

The development of new approaches to common processes, such as fireworks licensing; this approach will include shared governance and a delivery approach that is currently being identified.

Portfolio management

Development of a shared model for managing and approving new digital investments through the introduction of a prioritisation process. This will be based on both business need and contribution to digital public service, and includes the establishment new processes to manage the successful delivery of the digital portfolio once things have been prioritised

Domain focus

Structures that support individual domains, including common approaches to architecture, reuse of common components and capability management. These new or improved processes will both support the model for individual projects and direct those processes.

Common methodology

Common methodology is a shared model for how we design high quality, user-centred digital public services. This is surfaced in the new Digital Scotland Service Manual – an online information and guidance service that will help us all to build higher quality and more user-centred digital services.

You can find out more about work taking place to deliver the programme on the transforming public services webpage.

Our digital future

We’ll have a system level portfolio approach to ensure that we are doing the most important digital work including greater control over the pipeline of new projects.

This will:

• ensure we’re doing the most important work
• help achieve strategic objectives and solve problems we all share
• give us a better balance of delivery, budget + resource

We’ll have improved guidance and ways of working via the DSSM.

Meaning:

• consistent delivery models being utilised in transformation initiatives
• predictable + seamless user experience

We’ll have central management of capability and the process we use to recruit and retain staff with reduced reliance on contractors and managed service contracts.

This will lead to:

• a more flexible workforce maximising use of resources
• reduced costs with less contractors and managed service contract

We’ll have an increased use of common infrastructure and data sources, alongside user-centred processes, products and services.

With all new:

• processes and services designed and delivered in a way that works for users who are likely to be engaged with multiple organisations

More use of common platforms such as ScotAccount, Cloud service platform and ScotPayments, to create a seamless user experience, reduce cost and increase the pace of change.

What’s next and how to take part

As we progress through the summer, myself and those responsible for delivering the programme will continue to work closely to deliver on our ambitions. We’ll keep everyone up to date with further blogs and more engagement sessions once we have progressed further, and report back on this as appropriate.

If you would like to ask us a question, give us feedback or share your own insights, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Tags: Digital Assurance Office, Digital Programme, public sector reform, Technology Assurance Framework

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