Performance and Resources Board meeting, 21 January 2016
Agenda item:
10
Report title:
Update on development of the GMC Standards app
Report by:
Faye Cranfield, Project manager – Standards
team, fcranfield@gmc-uk.org, 0161 2506953
Considered by:
Performance and Resources Board
Action:
To note
Executive summary
Work is on track to develop and deliver the GMC Standards app at the end of March 2016,
for £54,000 (excluding VAT) which is within the original budget of £75,000.
This paper provides details of the progress made to date, our planned next steps and
information about possible future work.
Recommendation
The Performance and Resources Board is asked to note the progress of the project to date.
Performance and Resources Board meeting, 21 January 2016
Agenda item 10 – Update on development of the GMC Standards app
Background
1
At its meeting on 18 June 2015, the Performance and Resources Board considered a
business case for developing a GMC standards app. The Board supported the principle
of developing an app but asked for further information to be provided on the business
case, including on the level of any additional funding that would be required above
the £75,000 budget. Following the meeting, a proposal was developed to deliver the
project for £54,000 (excluding VAT), which was within the original budget. This
proposal was sent to the Chief Operating Officer (COO) on 31 July 2015 and the COO
gave permission for the work to proceed, without the need for further consideration
by the Board.
2
The Chief Operating Officer agreed that the app would allow users to access all our
guidance on- and offline, search our guidance by a search function or through an A-Z
of our guidance, and provide links to Good Medical Practice in Action.
3
The Chief Operating Officer also agreed that by December 2015 we would:

establish a project team spanning Information Systems (IS), Standards and
Strategy and Communications

hold a design workshop to map out the requirements of the app

issue a tender for an external partner to design and build the app

begin building the app for £54,000 (excluding VAT).
Progress to date
4
On 9 September 2015 the project team attended a design workshop. The workshop
was facilitated by CDS Digital (who currently work with us on the web content
management, and are experienced in the design and building of apps). Outputs from
the day were collated into a design specification document and this was used as a
basis for the Project Initiation Document (PID) and the app’s wireframes.
5
The PID and Business Requirement Specification documents were signed off by the
Project sponsor in early November 2015. The Project team meets weekly and the first
project board meeting took place on Friday 13 November 2015.
6
Although we originally expected to issue a tender for the development of the app,
this work will now be undertaken in-house as IS were able to bring forward the
recruitment of an in-house developer (they started in post on Monday 14 December
2015).
7
We contracted CDS Digital to assist us with finalising the app design and wireframes
to check the app fully complies with Equality and Diversity and Information Access
requirements.
2
Performance and Resources Board meeting, 21 January 2016
Agenda item 10 – Update on development of the GMC Standards app
8
A user group made up of ten doctors at various stages of their careers, from various
specialities and with varying knowledge of and familiarity with the GMC, were asked
to test and feedback on the wireframes and proposed designs for the homepage (see
Annex A for visuals). They were also asked to respond to a number of questions on
the features of the app.
9
The results from the user group mean we now have an agreed layout and design for
the homepage, confirmation that offering alternative approaches for searching the
guidance is well liked, and positive feedback for the other features on the app.
10 The testing flagged the importance of ensuring the app is compatible with a range of
old and new operating systems. We will make sure the app is available to as many
users as possible, which is something we learnt from feedback and ratings of the
Continuing Professional Development (CPD) app.
Planned next steps
11 We are aiming to have an initial test version available in the week commencing
18 January 2016. Initial testing and remediation should be completed by the end of
January.
12 We will hold another project board on 20 January 2016 and we’ll work with
Communications to agree a plan for go live activities and promotion. We are on track
for a soft launch in mid-February, with a full launch at the end of March.
Future work
13 Feedback from the user testing has highlighted some additional features and
potential ideas for a second phase for the app. These include: allowing users to share
content, either for personal archiving or dissemination and comment; tailoring
content to the user; and linking the GMC standards app to the CPD tracker app.
14 IS have allocated funds for future development. We plan to monitor feedback and
usage of the app in Quarter 2 and we will consider any future updates in the context
of:

The GMC’s digital media strategy, including the interface with a new Content
Management System.

What further potential savings could be made as a result of further development?

How it might be possible, and what we might charge, for these additional features
through in-app purchases and/or subscriptions.
15 We will provide a further update to the Board at its meeting on 23 June 2016.
3
Performance and Resources Board meeting, 21 January 2016
10 – Update on development of the GMC Standards app
10 – Annex A
Standards app – initial basic designs
1
This annex shows some of the initial basic designs of the Standards app:
a Example 1 – shows the app’s homepage.
b Examples 2, 3 and 4 show how the 0-18 guidance will be presented at a top level,
and then drilled down to show the paragraphs and sub sections.
Performance and Resources Board meeting, 21 January 2016 Agenda item 10 – Update on development of the GMC Standards app
EXAMPLE 1 – The app’s homepage
A2
Performance and Resources Board meeting, 21 January 2016 Agenda item 10 – Update on development of the GMC Standards app
EXAMPLE 2 - The main page of the 0-18 guidance
A3
Performance and Resources Board meeting, 21 January 2016 Agenda item 10 – Update on development of the GMC Standards app
EXAMPLE 3 – The paragraphs in the 0-18 guidance
A4
Performance and Resources Board meeting, 21 January 2016 Agenda item 10 – Update on development of the GMC Standards app
EXAMPLE 4 – The subsections of the 0-18 guidance
A5