Peer reviews
Peer reviews provide informal assurance at the discovery phase and throughout the agile lifecycle.
Book a discovery peer review
A discovery peer review is a 2-hour informal review of your work during the discovery phase.
It provides assurance that moving to alpha is the right next step. All DfE discoveries must have a peer review.
Why have one
A discovery peer review gives reassurance that you:
- understand the problem and next priorities
- are ready to move into the alpha phase
You'll receive a report with recommendations and advice. It does not give a pass or fail and will not stop you from progressing.
But remember, if research shows that it's better to stop at the end of discovery, this is not a failure. The team will be saving time and money that could be better spent elsewhere.
What a team gets from a review
If assessors make recommendations, these will be set out in the report. You can decide how to act on them, for example, by arranging a follow-up call or workshop.
Use the report to your advantage. Share recommendations with stakeholders or use them to prepare for the next phase of delivery.
When to book
Book your peer review so that it happens near the end of phase.
Make the booking at least 5 weeks in advance, so the Service Assessment Plus team can arrange a panel.
What to prepare for a discovery peer review
Think about the best way to show the narrative of your discovery.
Include things like:
- how you've explored the problem space
- who are your users and their needs
- existing services that meet your users' needs
- any current user journeys
- any existing policy or solution constraints
- next steps to take
These points are taken from things you should consider in the discovery phase for standards 1 to 7. Show what you've done to explore these at your peer review.
You could share a mixture of Lucid boards, docs, and sketches. It could include slides, but it does not have to.
What to expect during a discovery peer review
After you request the peer review
You'll receive an email with next steps, including how to share links to artefacts such as Lucid boards, documents, or slide decks. These can be work in progress - they help the panel to understand your discovery.
One to 2 days before
Your team will have a short call with the panel to meet each other and agree how the session will run.
On the day
A discovery peer review lasts 2 hours. It's attended by the discovery team and a panel, usually including a user researcher, designer, and product or delivery manager. There may also be silent observers for learning and development.
You can agree the format with the panel. For example, you might have a 45 to 60 minute show and tell, followed by questions and discussion. You should aim to explore the problem space, the users and agree next steps.
After the discovery peer review
The panel will meet to discuss their observations.
You’ll receive the report, with recommendations and advice, within approximately 3 working days.
Your discovery peer review report
The report will include what team has done well, plus recommendations based on the first 7 points of the Service Standard.
The panel will support you with any recommendations.
Review recommendations as a team
If your report includes recommendations, you could:
- pause work or revisit the problem space
- escalate issues to your senior responsible officer or senior leadership team
- contact the lead assessor or relevant head of profession for support with next steps
- plan how to show progress at an alpha or beta assessment
Accept or challenge the report
The product or delivery manager has 10 working days to accept or challenge the report.
To accept the report
If the team agree with it, you can accept the report on your dashboard in the Service assessment service.
To challenge the report
Email the Service Assessment Plus team.
They'll arrange a meeting with the panel. Any changes will be agreed before you accept the report.
What happens next
Once accepted, the report will automatically be published in the reports section of the service.
You can then act on any recommendations. You may be asked to provide evidence of the actions you've taken.