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What a discovery peer review is

A discovery peer review is a 2 hour informal review of a team’s work in the discovery phase (opens in new tab).

It’s a way to get feedback and recommendations at the end of this phase. All discoveries in DfE are required to have one.

It's not an assessment. There are no assessments at discovery.

Book and manage a discovery peer review

Why have one

A peer review will give reassurance to confirm whether you:

• have understood what the problem is and priorities for the team
• should move into the alpha phase

After the review, the team will get a report with a RAG (red, amber, green) status, practical recommendations and advice. It will not result in a pass or fail. It will not stop a team 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 out of having a review

If the assessors have recommendations for the team these will be detailed in the report. The team can then decide on how they want to act on the recommendations, this could mean having a follow-up call, or a workshop.

Use the report to the team's advantage. Communicate recommendations with stakeholders or use it to prepare for the next phase of delivery.

When to book

When you start your discovery you should plan to book your peer review so that it happens near the end of discovery.

However, you should request this at least 5 weeks in advance so the service assessment team has time to arrange a panel.

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Updated: February 2023

Part of Service assurance: step by step

1. 1 Check what assurance you need

   All digital delivery work in DfE will need some kind of assurance.

   1. Types of assurance
   2. Check what assurance you need for your service
   3. Why you need to assure your work

2. 2 Prepare for a discovery peer review

   1. What a discovery peer review is

   If you're a team having a peer review.

   1. Who should attend a peer review
   2. What to prepare for a peer review

   If you're an assessor.

   1. Your role as an assessor

3. 3 Book and manage a discovery peer review

   You need to give at least 5 weeks notice when booking a peer review.

   1. Book your peer review online
   2. Manage your peer review online

4. 4 After a discovery peer review

   If you're a team having a peer review.

   1. Receive feedback and recommendations in a report
   2. How to take action on any recommendations

   If you're an assessor.

   1. Complete the report

   Everyone involved in the peer review.

   1. Give feedback on the discovery peer review process

5. 5 Prepare for a service assessment

   Service assessments are done in the alpha, public and private beta, and live phases.

   1. What a service assessment is
   2. DfE panel assessments
   3. Cross-government panel assessments previously GDS/CDDO assessments

6. 6 Book a service assessment

   You need to give at least 6 weeks notice when booking a service assessment.

   1. Book your service assessment online

7. 7 After a service assessment

   If you're a team having a service assessment.

   1. Receiving the assessment report
   2. How to take action on any recommendations
   3. If you need a reassessment

   If you're an assessor.

   1. Completing the assessment report
   2. Reassessing the service