WEEK 3: MODULE 2: DIGITAL DEVELOPMENT
At the end of this module, you are expected to:
1. Define the principles of Digital Development
2. Identify the core tenets of each principle
There are 9 Principles of Digital Development
1. First is, DESIGN WITH THE USER.
Effective computerized activities are established in a comprehension of client attributes, needs and difficulties. This is different from
designing for the user. Designing with the User can only be attained through conversation, observation, and co-creation with the
people, client, or target market who will be using the eventual digital product or tools.
The core tenets of this first principle design with the user are as follows:
It should incorporate multiple user types and stakeholders in each phase of the project
lifecycle to direct feature needs and revise the design.
It should have clear objectives and be open to a process of repetition
It should improve users’ current processes
In addition, aside from considering the needs of the underserved,
it should always be open to people opting out of the design process.
2. The second principle is, UNDERSTAND THE EXISTING ECOSYSTEM.
The ecosystem is the political, economic, social, technological, environmental, legal, and other factor within the group or geographical
location where the final design product will be used. A very important thing to note is that the ecosystem is ever changing, thereby
requiring that digital developers check and analyze their assumptions.
The core tenets of this principle design are the following:
Coordination, consultation, and constant engagement with civil society groups, the government, or all stakeholders from the start of the
project until project completion to avoid duplication and ensure smooth integration with the existing technical system, if any.
3. The Third Principle is DESIGN FOR SCALE.
The elusiveness of achieving scale is a goal that has been hard for digital developers because of pilotitis. The mHealth describes it as
the inability to move initiatives beyond the pilot stage. From the start it is a must to Design For Scale. Designing for scale means
planning and strategizing beyond the pilot stage. Aside from obvious concern about funding the initiative and continuously funding it
after the pilot stage, digital developers must take into consideration its usability and bottom line affordability in order to achieve scale in
the future.
The core tenets:
Design and Plan for Scale from the start. Keep the design simple but flexible and adaptable. Devise a funding model that incorporates
the partners who can help fund and sustain the initiative. And remember to demonstrate the impact after gathering enough evidence
that validates the initiative before any attempt to scale.
4. Principle number 4 is TO BUILD FOR SUSTAINABILITY.
Building sustainable programs, platforms and digital tools is essential to maintain user and stakeholder support, as well as to maximize
long-term impact. Sustainability ensures that user and stakeholders contributions are not minimized due to interruptions, such as loss of
funding. A program built for sustainability is more likely to be embedded into policies, daily practices and user workflow.
Very closely related to designing for scale is building for sustainability because this fourth principle is about ensuring user and
stakeholder support be maximized and uninterrupted. Working hand in-hand with NGOs, Corporations, or the Government ensures that
the initiative achieves institutionalization in the policies, processes, and under workflow.
The 4th principle’s core tenets are:
Plan, build and implement a sustainable model from the start. Collaborate and engage
with all stakeholders, particularly partners, for funding. And design a program that is
adaptive to changes in user context.
5. The 5th principle of digital development is TO BE DATA-DRIVEN.
No amount of data will lead to accelerated impact if it is not used to inform decision making. When an initiative is data driven, quality of
information is available to the right people when they need it, and they are using those data to take action. The data produced by a
digital initiative should be used for more than just outputs, such as published work or donor reporting.
Informed decisions by the decision-makers can only be achieved if the initiative is data-driven. Data produced and collected from such
as those surveillance, research, operations, project management, and even secondary sources enable the right people to make the right
course of action.
The core tenets are:
Always design with a focus on the outcome, which is measurable and incremental. Like starting the initiative where developers engage
all stakeholders, data sourcing, collection, and analysis must also be holistic. It must also bridge the gaps of knowledge within the
development community and adhere to international standards of interoperability.
6. The 6th of the 9 principles is TO USE OPEN STANDARDS, OPEN DATA, OPEN SOURCE, AND OPEN INNOVATION.
Too often, scarce public and international development resources are spent investing in new software code, tools, data collection,
content and innovations for sector-specific solutions that are locked away behind licensing fees, with data only used by and available to
specific initiatives. An open way to deal with computerized improvement can build coordinated effort in the advanced improvement
group and abstain from copying work that has just been finished.
More often than not, digital content and innovations are locked away behind licensing fees only to be used and available to specific
sectors. To help increase collaboration in the digital development world, an open approach through open source technologies, open
innovation, open data, and open standards that still takes into account the practical, technical, security, and privacy constraints should
be the way to go.
The Core tenets of the 6th principle are:
Develop new digital codes or technologies that are freely viewed, copied, modified,
shared, and distributed in open or public platforms. In the same manner, adopt and
expand on open data, standards, or innovation done by other digital developers in the
community. This enables a wide collaboration and co-creation of software, systems,
and tools.
7. The 7th Principle is REUSE AND IMPROVE.
Instead of starting from scratch, programs that “reuse and improve” look for ways to adapt and enhance existing products, resources
and approaches. Reuse means assessing what resources are currently available and using them as they are to meet program goals.
Improve means modifying existing tools, products and resources to improve their overall quality, applicability and impact.
This is very much related to the 6th principle. Reusing and improving an existing or currently available resource, tools, or products
greatly makes you more efficient because of reduced development and testing. Your improvement of the existing technology will help
the
development community once you have shared it openly.
The 7th principle’s core tenets are:
Identify and evaluate existing tools or software used by your target market or users and see how you will be able to improve them.
Ensure that what you reuse, develop, and improve on will also be easily adopted and further improved by others.
8. The 8th and penultimate principle is to ADDRESS PRIVACY AND SECURITY.
Addressing privacy and security in digital development involves careful consideration of which data are collected and how data are
acquired, used, stored, and shared. Organizations must take measures to minimized collection and to protect confidential information
and identities of individuals represented in data sets from unauthorized access and manipulation by third parties.
This involves careful consideration of which data are collected and how they are store and shared. Organizations or entities collecting
data should be responsible enough to be transparent in how they collect and use personal data. Security measures and policies that
protect and uphold an individual’s dignity and privacy should be in place and made known to the individual.
The Core tenets are:
Consider and understand the risks by performing a risk-benefit analysis not only to countries but more so to individuals and
communities who would be impacted positively or negatively if the data collected leaks out. Always keep the best interest of the
individuals or end-users, particularly their privacy and security, before collecting any data. It is imperative to define who will own the
data, who will have access, and how collected data will be used before any data can be collected or captured. Always implement an
informed consent so that participants understand why data is being collected and that they have an option to refuse participation.
9. The 9th and Last principle is to BE COLLABORATIVE.
Being Collaborative means sharing information, insights, strategies and resources across projects, organizations and sectors, leading to
increased efficiency and impact. This principle brings all the others together in practice. People working in digital development have a
shared vision to create a better world, and collaboration is essential to making this vision a reality.
This principle not only brings all other principles together but is actually part and parcel of each and every principle of digital
development. Simply put, collaboration is the sharing of strategies, insights, and information across individuals, sectors, projects, and
organizations leading to increase impact and efficiency of the initiative.
The core tenets are:
Engage with local and international partners, leaders, experts, and organizations across disciplines, industries, and countries in all
phases of the project life cycle. Document and share findings and advancements in a Creative Commons License as well as participate
in conferences of the digital community.
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