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9. Define what success looks like and publish performance data

Scotland has a national performance framework to help set priorities and understand how government spends public money.

This framework measures Scotland’s progress against a set of national outcomes (aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals) to help track progress in reducing inequality.

It’s important that services contribute to these outcomes - and that we can report progress against the national indicators.

When measuring the performance of a service, defining what good looks like and identifying appropriate metrics means that you’ll know whether the service is solving the problem it’s meant to solve.

Collecting the right performance data means you’ll be alerted to potential problems with your service. And when you make a change to the service, you’ll be able to tell whether it had the effect you expected.

Publishing performance data means that you’re being transparent about the success of services funded by public money.

How you do it

  • Map to the national outcomes in Scotland’s National Performance Framework
    Describe which national indicators your service contributes to
  • Understand what success looks like for your service
    Identify metrics which will tell you what’s working and what can be improved
  • Use a wide range of data to make improvements
    Collect and use performance data from different sources, both online and offline
  • Continually review the performance of the service
    Use data to make decisions about how to fix problems and improve the service
  • Improve your management information over time
    Review and improve your metrics and data collection practices as you learn more about user needs
  • Publish data to help inform and improve future government services
    Publishing information about your service will help government be open, accountable and make evidence-based decisions on future services

Links to detailed guidance:

Digital Scotland Service Standard

1. Understand users and their needs

2. Solve a whole problem for users

3. Design and deliver a joined up experience

4. Help users succeed first time

5. Make sure everyone can use the service

6. Have a multidisciplinary team

7. Iterate and improve frequently

8. Create a secure service which protects users’ privacy

9. Define what success looks like and publish performance data

10. Choose the right tools and technology 

11. Make new source code open

12. Use and contribute to shared digital practices, processes, components, standards, patterns and platforms

13. Operate a reliable service

14. Ensure sponsor acceptance

 

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