Sharing Recommendations

Framing the problem

As the service is designed, it requires users to be signed into the service to access the content generated in response to the topic-based question and answer process, the following looks at the various options for sharing content.

Hypothesis

The following hypotheses were created from insights derived from user research.

As a user: I need to be able to share the recommendations in the relevant format

So that: I can get leverage and buy in from other stakeholders within my school

Solving the problem

We reviewed how other services with the Gov domain share blocks of content that vary in size. There are a variety of patterns that include formatting shareable documents as follows:

• PDF
• ZIP
• CSV
• XML
• JSOM
• HTML standalone webpages
• DOC
• Printing the page
• Link sharing

Of the above formats, priority was given to those that aligned directly with the structure of the output from the recommendation This resulted in going forward with evaluating the following formats:

• PDF
• HTML standalone webpages
• DOC
• Printing the page
• Link sharing

PDF/DOC generation

Placed within the recommendation, this would be a document generated in PDF format and available for download.

HTML Standalone web page/ Printing the page

Placed as link within the page, to a second page that contains the full recommendation in a format optimised for sharing/printing/copy and pasting.

Link Sharing

Placed as a copyable link component within the page this would enable user access to recommendation without being signed into the service.

Sharing to email

This would consist of a block of copyable content block that is optimised for delivery via email.

Selecting a test candidate

All the concepts above were evaluated from a technical complexity of implementation perspective, with one candidate being targeted for further development. Of the above choices considered the “HTML Standalone web page” was chosen as the solution that would be the least complex build that would enable the service to offer the most flexibility and accessibility for the user. For example, from that page you can:

• Print
• Save as web page
• Copy and paste the content
• Save as a document such as PDF/DOC etc.

The other options would require significant development effort and in the case of the PDF being generated within the Plan tech application the issue of the questionable accessibility of PDF document types would have to be addressed.

Version for user research

The following design was created for evaluation during user research, showing the user journey from the latest recommendation page design that links to a single page view that enable users a selection of options for how they may use the content of the page.

Above: Image showing link from recommendation page (left) to share popup (right)

User research outcomes

Above: extract from User Research board for the sharing functionality.

Summary of the user insights around the sharing functionality:

1. The majority found that the functionality was unexpected and a useful welcome surprise and “definitely something they would use”
2. Some users, while finding the workflow element of the page interesting, found it would be more useful if it were fully integrated into the service specifically at the page/individual action level, saving responses as they were entered
3. Some users identified they would “Prefer to save rather than print” the document