Inside Government is now home to 24 ministerial departments and 32 other departments and public bodies. A huge amount of work has gone into this transition, but there's even more still to do.
Around 275 agencies and arms-length bodies will join the platform by April 2014.
Government Digital Service (GDS) is awaiting formal approval to proceed with this - specifically the approval to recruit the transition managers, editors and project managers who will work alongside departments and their partner organisations to complete this mammoth task.
In the meantime, GDS has suggested a range of warm up activities that colleagues in agencies and ALBs can do in preparation for the heavy lifting of transition:
1. Do some background reading
- Martha Lane Fox Report - Digital by Default - Revolution not Evolution - where the idea for GOV.UK started
- Inside Government tumblr - how the product is developing - subscribe to email or RSS updates
- GDS website - the latest news on government digital
- GDS Service Manual - how to build better digital services
2. Look at your analytics and performance data
Look at Google Analytics. If you don’t have access, speak to your web support team to help you sign up (it's free). This will help with your needs-analysis work.
Look at search logs from your site and external search engines such as Google - see what search terms people use to find you, and what they search for once they arrive.
Set up a Google account so you can access shared documents via Google Drive. If you're blocked from using it, start a discussion with your IT colleagues.
3. Learn markdown
At this stage it would be useful to learn and/or practise using markdown. See Using govspeak on GOV.UK.
4. Read the GDS Style Guide
The GDS Style Guide covers all content types on GOV.UK and all your pages will need to conform to it.
5. Create a sitemap
Are you able to produce a sitemap or list of all your site's URLs? If not, speak to the technical experts in your organisation to find out whether this can be done.
6. Explore Agile methodology
Spend some time understanding Agile and how it's used at GDS - this will help you to understand how GDS manages its portfolio of programmes:
- What we’ve learnt about scaling agile
- Agile projects: the people side
- The role of the agile wall at GDS
- Agile does work in government
7. Learn from departmental colleagues
Departmental colleagues are encouraged to share their knowledge and experience of the transition process with their respective agencies and ALBs - to discuss how the process worked and to provide advice on resourcing. I've already had these conversations with many BIS partners, but if you need further information you know where I am - give me a call!
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