The document outlines various tools and techniques utilized by the Policy Lab for collaborative policy development and design thinking, including workshops, user journey mapping, and prototyping. It highlights the role of the Policy Lab within government, details specific demonstration projects, and lists partnerships with design industry experts and advisory groups. The Policy Lab aims to create shared ownership, improve user experiences, and generate innovative policy ideas through collaborative efforts.

1. Policy Lab
Tools & techniques
Work in progress 16th Dec 2014

2. Tools we have
been using

4. Workshop
prototyping
Road
mapping
Collaborative
workshop
Co-designChallenge
setting
Systems
mapping
User journey
mapping
EthnographyPersonasHopes and
Fears
Visioning
workshop
Service
blueprinting

5. Visioning
workshops
help teams
build a
shared view
of the policy
area
Tools & Techniques
Discover: Setting scope

6. Hopes and
Fears help teams
develop a shared
vision
Tools & Techniques
Discover: Setting scope

7. ‘Personas’ are
used to represent
different end users
Tools & Techniques
Discover: User’s experience

8. ‘Design ethnography’
builds insight by shadowing
users or spending time with
them discussing their lived
experience in real contexts
Tools & Techniques
Discover: User’s experience

9. ‘Journey mapping’
looks at a service
from a user’s point
of view
Tools & Techniques
Discover: User’s experience

10. Systems mapping
and ‘Touch points’
mark the physical
interactions with a
service
Tools & Techniques
Discover: Areas for improvement

11. ‘Challenge cards’ are
used to build a shared
understanding of a
problem
Tools & Techniques
Define: Challenges

12. Co-design workshops
enable different people to
come together and share
ideas
Tools & Techniques
Discover: Opportunities

13. Rapid ideas generation is
a quick fire technique for
teams to co-create new
ideas
Tools & Techniques
Develop: Policy ideas

14. Collaborative
workshops help
teams generate
shared
ownership and
actions
Tools & Techniques
Develop: Priorities

15. ‘Table top prototyping’
helps visualise a service to
quickly test assumptions
Tools & Techniques
Develop: Prototypes

16. Service blueprints reveal the
intended service delivery
across different channels e.g.
digital, face to face, print.
Tools & Techniques
Deliver: Blueprints

17. Road mapping helps build a
shared plan of action using
visual assets and milestones
Tools & Techniques
Deliver: Roadmapping

18. The Policy Lab is funded by departments for departments, we are a small team
supported by departmental secondees and external experts. We are part of the
Government Innovation Group, working with the Cabinet Office’s Open Policy
Making Team and the Policy Profession Support Unit.
Demonstration projects: Home Office, Surrey and Sussex Police, Ministry of Justice
and HMRC & DWP. Lab Light projects: Deputy Prime Minister’s Office, Cabinet
Office Horizons Scanning team, GO Science, DWP and Departmental Policy Schools.
Design industry experts: Uscreates, Innovation Unit, Livework, Nonon, RedFront,
Sea Communications and Public i. Events: Civil Service Live, Institute for Government.
Advisors, friends and partners: MindLab, GDS, Design Council, Nesta, and RSA and
All Party Parliamentary Group on Design and Innovation.
Policy Lab team: Paul Maltby, Dr Andrea Siodmok, Beatrice Andrews, Cat Drew and
Lisa Graham. AHRC Research Fellow, Dr Lucy Kimbell.
With thanks to
Lab partners, friends
and industry experts
[16 December 2014]

19. Policy Lab UK
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