Criterion 8. Innovate with purpose

Criterion 8 – Innovate with purpose

Innovating with clear intent will give meaning and justification to harnessing new technologies and avoid new for the sake of new.

Your responsibilities

To successfully meet this criterion, agencies will need to:

follow guidance on critical and emerging technologies
maintain interoperability in the face of new technology
track adoption of new technology.

When to apply

Apply Criterion 8 during Discovery and Alpha to deliver modern, high-quality services.

Consider this criterion throughout the Service design and delivery process to keep the service at pace with changing user expectations.

Questions for consideration

How does a new technology benefit the service?
How will agencies validate that a new technology is interoperable with services?
What can be learnt from other agencies’ experiences?
What are the ongoing requirements of supporting a new technology?

How to apply criterion 8

- Stay current: Technology can advance at a staggering pace. If available, refer to government guidance on risks, opportunities and developments for up-to-date advice on critical or emerging technology that may impact the service.
- Regularly check the Australian Government Architecture: Follow published guidance in the Australian Government Architecture for the adoption of critical and emerging technologies.
- Consider interoperability: Consider if new technologies will impact the service’s interoperability. Plan for its introduction or implementation in partnership with other affected agencies to prevent further divergence or disconnection.
- Be digital ready: Undertake an assessment of the preparedness for new technologies. Consider the resources and training for a new technology that will be required by the agency and team.
- Track adoption: Prior to implementing a new technology, determine whether it aligns with the clear intent of the service and whether it risks leaving certain types of users behind. If implemented, monitor how users respond to the new technology and respond to any accessibility or usability concerns.

Guidance to innovate with purpose

Understand the latest guidance on critical and emerging technologies and track the adoption of new technology:
- Encourage staff to engage in ongoing training and professional development related to critical and emerging technologies. This includes conferences, webinars, or workshops about the latest advancements.
- Stay updated on guidelines and standards from reputable organisations that outline best practices for adopting and implementing new technologies.
- Collaborate with academic institutions, research organisations and industry leaders to access research findings and insights on emerging technologies. Partnerships facilitate pilot projects and experimentation.
Conduct environmental scanning to assess the current technology landscape and determine if adopting new or emerging technology would be beneficial. Consider how users of the service would respond to the adoption. Use methods or tools such as:
- Perform a cost-benefit analysis to evaluate the potential advantages and disadvantages of adopting new technologies. Consider factors such as efficiency gains, user experience, improvements and potential cost savings.
- Engage with stakeholders and users to get perspective and insights on the potential benefits of new technology adoption.
- Review case studies from agencies or organisations that have adopted similar technologies. This will help to understand best practices, challenges and measurable benefits.
- Use scenario planning to explore potential future states and assess how different technologies might impact service delivery and user experiences. This helps to strategically assess risks and benefits.
- Collaborate with user advocacy groups or representatives to gather perspectives on how new technologies can improve user experiences and accessibility.
- Involve users in pilot testing new technologies. Their experiences provide critical insights into usability and overall benefits, helping agencies to make informed decisions about adoption.
Document your findings and recommendations to apply criterion 8:
- Conduct cost-benefit analyses to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of new technologies, engaging stakeholders and users to gather insights on potential benefits.
- Use scenario planning to explore the impacts of new technologies on service delivery and user experiences.
- Make sure the data is collected and documented in a centralised knowledge repository.
Scenarios | Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (DPMC)

Digital Service Standard