Data transformation framework: data personas report

1 Background to the project

The Data Standards Team (DST) in Scottish Government are currently in the process of developing a Data Transformation Framework (DTF). This is included in the vision of Scotland's refreshed digital strategy Realising Scotland's full potential in a Digital World', which aims to put digital at the heart of everything. The DTF has a strategic role to encourage organisations to become data-driven. It will provide:

• Strategic engagement – connecting leaders and peers to drive data transformation, building data skills in organisations to realise opportunities for data improvement, reuse and innovation
• A learning environment - support and resources for upskilling and training, to create a collaborative community around sharing best practise and common approaches
• A knowledge base – a repository of strategic drivers and guidance on policies and initiatives, co-designed with the data community to ensure it is populated with current and relevant resources, connections, and communities of practice.

Data transformation is the journey towards improvement and increased capability in using data. The Data Transformation Framework is being developed to support organisations in understanding not only where they are currently, in terms of data maturity and use, but how they can improve this, realising more of the value potential through data use.

There will be multiple ways into the DTF, one of which will be through data maturity assessments. Other routes may include a diagnostic tool to allow a quick assessment or a fast-track option. Utilising data maturity assessments (and other diagnostic routes) within the public sector will help to create a shared view on the level of individual and organisational data maturity, identifying practical pathways for upskilling and retraining, encouraging data improvements and reuse. The creation and use of data personas will enable the framework to be tested and validated for all the different user types at different current levels of data maturity. It will help to foster a common understanding within the public sector of what 'good data' looks like and how organisations can improve their collection, usage and sharing of data.

There are a number of existing sets of data personas in use both within and outwith the Scottish Government. The aim of this project is to review and validate these existing personas within the scope of the public sector users that will be engaging with the DTF and supporting data maturity assessments with a view to understanding the completeness of any set for this purpose and identifying any gaps.

This project involved specifically:

1. Carrying out research in consultation with Scottish Government to review existing data personas/ user models in use for the public sector that may be relevant.

2. Carry out a survey and workshops and develop data personas.

3. Evaluate the personas using peer to peer or other methodology.

4. Produce a final report detailing the methodology, activities, outcomes and next steps.

The outputs included:

• A research paper reviewing the existing relevant data personas/user models in use for the public sector.
• Conducting at least two workshops with target users to carry out discussion and activities to build a better understanding of potential users and then evaluate current personas for the Data Transformation Framework.
• Producing a report reviewing the workshop findings and sense checking the personas (this document).
• Presenting outputs to the Scottish Government with a draft and then final report detailing methodology, activities and outcomes.