Data Literacy and the GDS journey so far

A short talk at the Web Science Institute annual conference as part of a session on "data literacy". The talk covered some of the journey so far, how data is becoming a more fundamental aspect of government transformation, and three areas of focus for development.

1. James Stewart
 Director of Technical Architecture
 Government Digital Service
 @jystewart
2. I’m from the Government Digital Service @jystewart GDS @jystewart GDS
3. We’re a team at the heart of government building digital public services GDS @jystewart GDS @jystewart GDS
4. Our job is to transform government... GDS @jystewart GDS @jystewart GDS
5. Making services so good that people prefer to use them GDS @jystewart GDS @jystewart GDS
6. We started by building GOV.UK GDS @jystewart GDS @jystewart GDS
7. The best place to find government services and information GDS @jystewart GDS @jystewart GDS
8. 12 million visitors every week Home to over 300 departments and organisations Saving more than £62 million a year GDS @jystewart GDS
9. We’ve also been transforming government services… GDS @jystewart GDS
10. GDS 25 of government’s biggest services redesigned to meet the needs of users @jystewart GDS
11. Services like... GDS @jystewart GDS
12. GDS @jystewart GDS
13. Carer’s Allowance 60,000 claims Building DWP digital capability in Preston 89% user satisfaction GDS BETA @jystewart GDS
14. GDS @jystewart GDS
15. Register to vote 45 million users Individual electoral registration – fundamental change to democracy Connects to all local authorities GDS LIVE @jystewart GDS
16. GDS @jystewart GDS
17. Lasting power of attorney 89% user satisfaction Run by new MOJ digital services team First service to meet Digital by Default Service Standard GDS LIVE @jystewart GDS
18. To do that we’re working with digital teams all over the country GDS @jystewart GDS
19. We’re building a common way to sign in to services too GDS @jystewart GDS
20. And we’re exploring opportunities for more shared platforms to deepen the transformation GDS @jystewart GDS
21. Unless we get to grips with our data, our ability to deliver great services will be limited GDS @jystewart GDS
22. Unless we can develop our data skills there’s no way we can take advantage of the new tools at our disposal GDS @jystewart GDS
23. The UK government has been a leader in opening up public sector data GDS @jystewart GDS
24. Often our approach has been short-term, not systematic GDS @jystewart GDS
25. Often our approach has been short-term, not systematic That’s usually the best way to start GDS @jystewart GDS
26. Often our approach has been short-term, not systematic That’s usually the best way to start But if it works, you need to go further GDS @jystewart GDS
27. There are three big areas we need to address GDS @jystewart GDS
28. There are three big areas we need to address Ambition and curiosity GDS @jystewart GDS
29. There are three big areas we need to address Ambition and curiosity Capability and embedded behaviours GDS @jystewart GDS
30. There are three big areas we need to address Ambition and curiosity Capability and embedded behaviours Systems and technology GDS @jystewart GDS
31. It needs to be easy to grasp what is possible GDS @jystewart GDS http://blog.whatfettle.com/2014/10/13/one-csv-thirty-stories/
32. That can be about deep quantitative analysis, but we find it’s better to start with something simple GDS @jystewart GDS
33. Like watching a few users try out your product… GDS @jystewart GDS
34. …or seeing some simple dashboards that show a few performance indicators GDS @jystewart GDS
35. GDS www.gov.uk/performance @jystewart GDS
36. We need to build capability, but we also need to make designing with data normal GDS @jystewart GDS
37. “GOV.UK is the result of a thousand little observations” Rt. Hon Matthew Hancock MP GDS @jystewart GDS
38. GDS @jystewart GDS
39. GDS We need the right tech to really make this how we do business
40. “one of the biggest barriers to widespread adoption of digital services is that it’s time- consuming and expensive for departments to build the underlying infrastructure.” The Rt Hon Matthew Hancock MP GDS @jystewart GDS
41. We need to take control of our IT so we can respond to new challenges and opportunities GDS @jystewart GDS
42. We need to move from data as the exhaust fumes of our services, to data as their fuel GDS @jystewart GDS
43. As we recognise data as an asset, our services and processes need to understand the importance of maintaining it well GDS @jystewart GDS
44. And to really allow service design, that data has to be available equally across services GDS @jystewart GDS
45. And to really allow service design, that data has to be available equally across services even if that’s hard for our organisations GDS @jystewart GDS
46. Ambition and curiosity Capability and embedded behaviours Systems and technology Infrastructure and ability to change GDS @jystewart GDS
47. Thanks! James Stewart
 @jystewart