The project aimed to take user-centred design approach to identifying barriers and agreeing solutions to improve technology commissioning, including:
Representing a complex group of stakeholders, we recruited user research participants from 17 boroughs, developing and segmenting user personas according to different needs and functions. We used service design approaches in 30+ structured interviews and two multi-stakeholder workshops to elicit a concrete set of user needs, including business analysis of current business processes. We turned these complex user journeys and interactions, including where needs were being met and not met, into business and solution outcomes.
We worked in the open throughout the project through regularly sharing with a wide audience. For example, we captured and openly published needs and insights in an open-source user research library, categorising problem statements and prioritisation by user group.
The output of this work was the creation of a digital guidance and workflow tool in line with GDS best practice for use by London’s commercial and service teams, supported by the delivery of virtual training sessions for London boroughs. The tool provides guidance, templates and workflow features to allow London boroughs to work together across the lifecycle of the contracting process, from planning and market engagement, to contract management. The tool can be found here: https://loti.london/resources/innovation-in-procurement-toolkit/
The Innovation in Procurement toolkit is being used across London’s boroughs and by Transport for London to achieve better technology procurement outcomes, and within a first-of-its-kind collaborative procurement between six authorities for a core housing technology system.Through providing bespoke expert guidance and building a robust peer support network, PUBLIC also created an ongoing community withstanding beyond the project timeline.
Authors
Helping three councils to analyse their unstructured financial data to optimise spend, drive collaboration and measure sustainability performance
Working with the Cambridge City Council (CCC) to build a clear, actionable digital transformation strategy to ultimately serve its communities
Working with DLUHC over a 3-year period to conduct a robust, research-driven evaluation of 60+ local government digitalisation programmes
Working with BEIS to enhance user engagement with digital services to drive its Climate Finance Accelerator (CFA) initiative
Partnering with the BEIS to design and establish an effective digital policy engagement system to propel the energy sector toward a Net Zero future
Employing a user-centred and design-driven approach to enhance the Crown Commercial Service’s guidance to public sector buyers
Employing mixed-methods user research to pave the way for a forward-looking eProcurement and data strategy for the Welsh Government
Partnering with the Crown Commercial Service to facilitate the enhancement of the Government-wide Procurement Spend Data Service
Supporting the Frontline Digitisation team in the NHS to design a programme of support for hospitals purchasing and implementing electronic patient records (EPRs)
Partnering with the Local Government Association (LGA) to build a practical, user-friendly guide to help local councils put digitalisation into practice
A practical resource for governments looking to rethink sustainable procurement
Developing learning materials to embed cyber resilience into local government supply chains
