Notes on better digital directions

Here’s some rough notes of some things that we know we ought to be doing as directors of digital stuff in the public sector but often forget or scrimp on. Observations from my stints in the sector and with the benefit of a wee bit of head clearance after a month out.

I’m thinking to work these up into a more coherent set of recommendations. But first some feedback please on this rough cut.

A. The less you ask for from your teams the more you’ll get done. Less direction, more delivery.

B. Do make that roadmap public. Keeps you honest. Does much of your comms and recruiting for you.

C. Open up those code repositories. If you’re closed, you’re hiding from something. Again, great for recruitment.

D. Once you’ve got your delivery teams going. Reform your programme management. Otherwise they’ll clash. That’s next level maturity.

E. Close the design authority. The formal authority needs to be in your teams, supported informally by your communities of practice. Invest in communities of practice.

F. Remember to retro. And check in on the list of actions from the last one.

G. Remember to check in on wellbeing but remember also that being able to get on with delivery is so important to wellbeing.

H. Insist on fewer meetings and reports for better governance. Instead get along to the user research sessions, sprint planning/reviews, and show and tells.

I. Do internal operations like you do external facing products and services.

J. Start knowing the energy costs of your services. It was always important and we need to make up for lost time.

K. Take a punt on the juniors. They’ll always surprise you. And they’ll stick around longer.

L. Good content design is as precious as good coding.

M. Continuously improving existing things is as sexy as doing new things. Ask for improvements to your current portfolio, and the innovation will flow.

N. Go easy on yourself. It always takes longer than you think. And you often don’t make all of the mistake first time.

O. Remember to speak and share with other owners of services. Outside of your department. Outside of your organisation. Outside of your sector. Outside of your country. If you don’t have competition, you have to learn from community.