{"id":1173,"date":"2017-03-07T16:28:00","date_gmt":"2017-03-07T16:28:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.gov.scot\/digital\/?p=1173"},"modified":"2019-02-20T15:47:47","modified_gmt":"2019-02-20T15:47:47","slug":"re-use-it-dont-lose-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.gov.scot\/digital\/2017\/03\/07\/re-use-it-dont-lose-it\/","title":{"rendered":"Re-use it, don\u2019t lose it"},"content":{"rendered":"

One of the underlying principles of how we work in the Digital Directorate is the concept of re-use before buy before build<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Even if understanding user needs is firmly embedded into an overall approach, when it comes to technology, projects often focus on what they can \u2018buy\u2019 or \u2018build\u2019.<\/p>\n

Instead, we\u2019ve been casting our net wider to see what we can re-use or re-purpose \u2013 potentially saving time, money and effort.<\/p>\n

Discovery \u2013 finding out about users and services<\/h2>\n

Our current project is centered on how people and businesses apply for grant funding and licences across the Scottish public sector.<\/p>\n

At the end of 2016 we undertook an extensive Discovery project where\u00a0we talked to a wide range of people involved in the application for,\u00a0and administration of, grants and licences.\u00a0This helped\u00a0develop\u00a0our understanding of\u00a0their user needs, current technology practice, and what improved services might look like.<\/p>\n

The results highlighted that despite having different end points (one is about getting funds, the other is about gaining permission to do something), the application process for both grants and licences\u00a0is very similar.<\/p>\n

Knowing this, we created a \u2018common service pattern\u2019 \u2013 which shows the 10 stages we identified in an application journey: from a person \u2018knowing\u2019 they need to apply through to the ability to \u2018review\u2019 the delivery of successful applications to ensure they are providing the promised benefits.<\/p>\n

\"Image<\/a>

Our common service pattern for grants and licence applications<\/p><\/div>\n

Alpha \u2013 testing out our ideas<\/h2>\n

We\u2019ve recently moved into an Alpha phase \u2013 this means\u00a0we’re starting to\u00a0prototype and test specific parts of our service pattern and work out what’s technically possible. We’re running this as a 6-week process, so it’s a fairly intensive burst of activity where we make decisions and demonstrate progress continually.<\/p>\n

This will involve asking users to complete a version of the online application process where they input key information and submit their details.<\/p>\n

These details will then get passed through to a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system \u2013 for the purposes of our prototype we\u2019re using Microsoft Dynamics.<\/p>\n

Along the way we\u2019re looking to:<\/p>\n