{"id":5078,"date":"2024-07-17T08:03:05","date_gmt":"2024-07-17T08:03:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.gov.scot\/digital\/?p=5078"},"modified":"2024-07-17T08:03:05","modified_gmt":"2024-07-17T08:03:05","slug":"an-introduction-to-the-digital-programme","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.gov.scot\/digital\/2024\/07\/17\/an-introduction-to-the-digital-programme\/","title":{"rendered":"An introduction to the Digital Programme"},"content":{"rendered":"

Blog by Paul Fagan, Head of Digital Programme<\/strong><\/p>\n

This is part of series of blogs about the Digital Programme<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Introduction<\/strong><\/p>\n

Hello and a very warm welcome to the first in a series of blogs on the Digital Programme! For our first outing, we\u2019re 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.<\/p>\n

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\u2019ll do this incrementally and very much in step with each of you as we progress on this shared journey together.<\/p>\n

The programme address the key challenges of how Scottish\u00a0Government and public sector delivers on its digital ambitions as outlined in the\u00a0digital strategy<\/a>. 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.<\/p>\n

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<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Scope<\/strong><\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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<\/a> and shared components such as ScotPayments<\/a>, Cloud platform<\/a> service and ScotAccount<\/a> in the same way that in scope organisations can.<\/p>\n

Work underway to deliver the programme<\/strong><\/p>\n

There are a number of projects and work packages in flight that make up the digital programme. They are:<\/p>\n

Common components<\/em><\/p>\n

The development, deployment and expansion of the aforementioned use of common components, such as Cloud platform service, ScotAccount and ScotPayments<\/p>\n

Common processes<\/em><\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Portfolio management<\/em><\/p>\n

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<\/p>\n

Domain focus<\/em><\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Common methodology<\/em><\/p>\n

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<\/a> \u2013 an online information and guidance service that will help us all to build higher quality and more user-centred digital services.<\/p>\n

You can find out more about work taking place to deliver the programme on the transforming public services<\/a> webpage.<\/p>\n

Our digital future<\/strong><\/p>\n

We\u2019ll 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.<\/p>\n

This will:<\/em><\/p>\n