Policy toolkit: alpha

When developing your solution, it is important to understand how it will integrate with the existing structures. 

This is essential for consistency and a unified strategic direction and alignment with government-wide standards and frameworks. 

Understanding existing structures and how your proposed solution fits with them will help you build a solution.

Integrate solution with existing structures  

Understand existing frameworks

To understand existing frameworks and their objectives, structures, and how they influence the instrument you are developing, familiarise yourself with:

• the Digital and ICT Investment Oversight Framework (IOF)
• Data and Digital Government Strategy
• Australian Government Architecture (AGA).

Understand objectives

Determine how the solution objectives are aligned with the missions of your agency and whole-of-government digital priorities.

If there is any misalignment or gaps, consider any action that may need to be taken to ensure alignment.

The following questions may assist when working through this step:

• Which states of the IOF will the proposed solution interact with?
• What policies exist within those states of the IOF?
• Will the proposed solution conflict with existing policy?
• Can I re-use existing mechanisms to achieve the outcomes?
• Does resolving the problem help achieve the Australian Government’s Data and Digital Government Strategy missions?
• Do any aspects of the solution conflict with achieving the Australian Government’s Data and Digital Government Strategy missions?
• Will the solution have any unintended outcomes that may conflict with the Australian Government’s Data and Digital Government Strategy missions? If so how can I address them?
• Will the metrics used to measure success align with the Australian Government’s Data and Digital Government Strategy?
• Where would the solution sit on the AGA within the Domain Capability Model?
• Does the solution align with existing standards and policies on the AGA?

Engage with stakeholders

Collaborate with relevant teams and stakeholders managing stages of the IOF and AGA to identify integration points.

The beta phase of the process is where the solution begins to take shape, moving from concept to implementation. 

In this step, you build out the preferred prototype into a full solution for further testing. For example, you might take a prototype policy outline and develop it into full draft of a policy.

Actions to build out a beta solution  

Build out the prototype(s) into a beta solution  

Use insights and data from the alpha phase to build out and fine-tune the solution. For example, you may build out a draft policy. 

Ensure that you incorporate performance metrics.

Develop accompanying materials

If the solution is a policy or another instrument that requires guidance, create practical guidelines and tools for using it. 

Test these guidelines with stakeholders to make sure they are easy to understand and follow.

Pilot the solution

Where appropriate, roll out the beta solution in selected environments or with specific stakeholders to observe how it works in practice.

Collect and analyse feedback

Engage with stakeholders to gather feedback on the effectiveness, usability, and any areas of concern.

Refine the beta based on feedback

Make iterative adjustments to the beta solution based on the results from the pilot phase and feedback received from stakeholders.

Develop an implementation plan

Plan the implementation that will be carried out once the beta phase is complete. 

This may include seeking endorsement, publishing the solution, communications and marketing. 

Beta testing ensures the solution works effectively in the real-world before full implementation. 

Testing helps you identify gaps, issues and unforeseen impacts. This gives you an opportunity to refine the solution based on practical insights. 

The feedback and data gathered during this phase is crucial for ensuring the policy is fit for broader application.

During this step a beta solution, for example a policy, is tested to see how it works in practice. This allows you to adjust it based on real-world feedback before full-scale rollout. 

The beta solution can be piloted in selected environments to ensure that it is feasible, effective and aligned with stakeholder needs. This phase is crucial for refining the solution and making any necessary changes to optimise outcomes.

Conduct beta testing  

Pilot the solution

Where appropriate, roll out the beta solution in selected environments or with specific stakeholders to observe how it works in practice.

Collect and analyse feedback

Engage with stakeholders to gather feedback on the effectiveness, usability, and any areas of concern.

Refine the beta based on feedback

Make iterative adjustments to the beta solution based on the results from the pilot phase and feedback received from stakeholders.

Repeat as needed

You may need to repeat these actions several times until the solution is fit for implementation.

Resources

• Data and Digital Government Strategy (Digital Transformation Agency, 2023)
• Australian Government Architecture (Digital Transformation Agency, 2025)
• Policy template (Digital Transformation Agency, 2025)
• Policy implementation plan (Digital Transformation Agency, 2025)
• Usability testing (Queensland Government, 2023)