The Midlands Decision Support Network has created these design principles to help guide local decision-making when forming a local intelligence function (IF). It should assist system leaders in answering questions such as:
- How might we define the scope or remit of the IF?
- What types of tasks should we ask the IF to perform?
- What outputs might we expect from the IF?
- What should be the size, structure and grade levels of the analysts in the data analytics function?
- What skills should we expect of an IF workforce and how might we meet their development needs?
- What infrastructure might a IF require?
These principles should not be seen as a blueprint for a IF, but rather a set of considerations that can be tailored to local contexts. They can also be used as a communications tool to demonstrate the unique operations that a IF will undertake in contrast with existing structures.
It is expected that these principles will evolve alongside local IFs.