Don’t reinvent the wheel
Button Inc.
We help government and industry build reliable, meaningful digital services.
Or, “The art of looking around to see who has solved this problem before”
It happens a lot in responsive, ever-changing organizations: there is a new digital problem, and you have the lurking feeling that somebody, somewhere within or outside your organization, must have solved it before. ?
Consider the myriad of common challenges: from grant program software to project management tools, these are spaces where others have paved the way. Yet, the risk persists that separate teams might independently invest in similar solutions. How do we avoid redundancy? How can we tap into the collective wisdom of those who have faced and conquered similar obstacles?
So how do you stop yourself from reinventing the wheel? How do you harness the power of teams who have solved similar problems before? And what questions should you ask as you decide whether you can leverage digital work that’s already out there? ?
Many public sector organizations are large and sprawling, with different ministries taking independent approaches to digital implementation and development.
So what should you do and ask to make sure you’re not reinventing the wheel??
Here's the critical path forward (click here for the full story ):
1. Conduct a thorough market scan within your organization
2. Leverage your ecosystem
3. Network and learn
Client News!
Helping B.C. households access high-speed internet
At Button, we love working on projects that help clients track data and reporting—from small data sets, to large complex challenges. A common theme in much of our client work is helping clients have data at their fingertips, and doing the rigorous evidence-based technical work behind the scenes to make sure data is secure, validated, and has appropriate audit logs.?
One of our favourite projects recently was helping the Connectivity Division in the BC Ministry of Citizens’ Services upgrade their portal to integrate data from their older funding programs with the Connecting Communities BC program. The new features allow users to access data, filter by key criteria, download as spreadsheets and create dashboards.
We’re proud to be supporting the provincial mandate of providing access to high-speed internet to all households in B.C. by 2027.
Does your organization need a user-focused roadmap for your long-term goals??Contact us to chat about how Button can help your team evaluate your current data sources and architecture to increase your data’s value and integrity, and build a roadmap for your long-term goals.
Meet the Buttons
???Meet Button’s Elliott Lee
Elliott is a user researcher and service designer with Button who specializes in analyzing complex problems, then distills them into elegant design work.
His passion for behavioural science and design stems from years in psychological research and teaching. He has conducted and published multiple studies on the connection between personal and planetary well-being and how to foster motivation, self-control and mental health.
领英推荐
Elliott brings data analysis, curiosity, and a positive energy to his work with Button. He’s done recent work with the BC Climate Action Secretariat, the BC Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch, and the Ministry of Citizens’ Services.
He is also “certified awesome”—by his wife and kids—but he imagines the certificate would be ineligible, since his kids are only 6 and 8.
Community Engagement
Join Button in Toronto this summer!
TechTO IRL Events
July 22 & August 12
Join the Button team, along with Toronto-area founders, CEOs, and entrepreneurs of all walks of life, and share in their expertise and experience during live and interactive sit-downs with the Canadian tech community. Sign up and learn more here .
Worth Your Attention
What We’re Reading: Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman
In Thinking, Fast and Slow, Daniel Kahneman unveils the dual systems that drive human decision-making: System One, quick and intuitive, and System Two, deliberate and logical. Kahneman explores their interplay, revealing the strengths and pitfalls of each. He challenges the notion of a purely rational mind, offering practical strategies to harness the power of both systems.
This groundbreaking work, which spawned behavioural economics, sheds light on how our minds shape choices in business and personal spheres. It's essential reading for tech- and optimization-minded leaders navigating complex decisions, providing insights to optimize cognitive processes and mitigate common mental biases.
Further Reading
Stay on top of vital digital services news and tips by checking out insights from our previous newsletters!
CHANGE MANAGEMENT: How to get your team to adopt new digital tools and processes.
HOW TO EMPOWER YOUR TEAM TO EMBRACE CHANGE: ?Button’s four key considerations when tackling the human side of digital projects within your organization.
SPRING-CLEAN YOUR PUBLIC SECTORY DIGITAL STRATEGY: Shake off the holiday cobwebs and hit your goals for the new year by following these four resolutions to make 2024 your best year yet.
AI IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR:? We break down AI’s potential to revolutionize public services—as well as the serious pitfalls to acknowledge when handling public information and public trust.
???THE NEWEST HOT BUTTON REPORT: Learn how to rebuild trust with your stakeholders. Download the full, free report now.
?? Did you enjoy this edition of the Button Insight? Then subscribe now to get it in your inbox twice monthly!