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Guides and Resources

🌲 Essential ‘how-to’ guidance for product managers in government.

All Resources by Topic

21st Century IDEA

More on 21st Century IDEA

Accessibility

More on Accessibility

Agile

  • Foundations of Agile, Part I

    18F’s Alan Atlas and Alan Brouilette cover the fundamentals of Agile.

  • Foundations of Agile, Part II

    18F’s Alan Atlas and Alan Brouilette cover the fundamentals of Agile.

  • 18F De-risking Guides

    The Federal Field Guide to De-risk Government Technology offers guidance to federal agencies on how to structure software development teams, write contracts, and oversee agile software activities to reduce risks and improve outcomes for end-users.

  • 18F Guide to Product Management

    Best practices on doing product management well

  • 18F Methods

    A collection of tools that describe how teams can put human-centered design into practice.

More on Agile

Analytics

More on Analytics

Audio/Video

More on Audio/Video

Challenges and Prizes

  • Guidance on the Use of Challenges and Prizes to Promote Open Government

    This guidance calls for the increased use of challenges and prizes to develop new tools and approaches to improve open government, and highlights for agencies policy and legal issues related to the use of prizes and challenges as tools for promoting open government, innovation, and other national priorities.

More on Challenges and Prizes

Code

  • U.S. Web Design System

    A design system for the federal government that makes it easier to build accessible, mobile-friendly government websites for the American public.

  • An introduction to GitHub

    Steps for managing website content in GitHub.

  • An Introduction to USWDS 3.0

    A design system for the federal government that makes it easier to build accessible, mobile-friendly government websites for the American public.

  • USWDS Maturity Model

    How to adopt the design system incrementally and design and build better digital experiences.

More on Code

Contact Centers

  • Tips for Starting Your Customer Experience Journey

    Low-cost, low-lift actions that any federal employee can take to improve customer experience.

  • Contact Center Operation and Management

    Many things can impact the service quality, economics, and sustainability of your government contact center. This section provides insight on various aspects of operating and managing a contact center to help you improve its performance.

  • Contact Center Technologies

    A contact center is supported by many technologies designed to enhance the customer experience, improve the operating and management efficiency, or lower the overall costs of running a contact center.

  • Getting Started with your Contact Center

    This guide provides you with the information to get a governement contact center started

  • Contact Center Guidelines

    The Contact Center is no longer viewed as only a center to receive complaints, but as a valued operation in an agency’s strategy to deliver a quality customer experience.

More on Contact Centers

Content

More on Content

Content Strategy

More on Content Strategy

Crowdsourcing

  • Crowdsourcing Toolkit for Federal Agencies

    What is a Challenge? In a challenge, a “seeker” challenges “solvers” to identify a solution to a particular problem, or rewards contestants for accomplishing a goal.

More on Crowdsourcing

Customer Experience

More on Customer Experience

Data

  • How to Build an Analytics Strategy

    A case study using Digital.gov as an example of how to assess, report, and take action using web analytics as part of an analytics strategy.

  • Privacy-Preserving Collaboration Using Cryptography

    In conjunction with her May 2020 presentation, Dr. Emily Shen outlines her work on Secure multi-party computation (MPC), a type of cryptography that allows parties to jointly analyze their data without disclosing it.

  • Inventory.data.gov Guide

    Introduction Features Using inventory.data.gov Creating a User Account Using inventory.data.gov to manage datasets Adding a Dataset Exporting Data.json Automating data.json downloads by agencies Dataset Hosting Webinar on inventory.data.gov Introduction Inventory.data.gov is a data management tool established in 2013 by the Data.gov Program Management Office (PMO) in what is now the Technology Transformation Service of the

  • How to Get Your Open Data on Data.gov

    Find out below how federal, federal geospatial, and non-federal data is funneled to Data.gov and how you can get your data federated on Data.gov for greater discoverability and and impact.

More on Data

Design

More on Design

Digital Service Delivery

More on Digital Service Delivery

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

More on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Domain Management

  • Moving to .gov

    If you’re moving to .gov from another top-level domain, like .com, .org, or .us, here are some best practices to help you plan that transition.

  • M-23-10: The Registration and Use of .gov Domains in the Federal Government

    Provides guidance to all federal agencies on the acceptable use and registration of Internet domain names as required by the DOTGOV Online Trust in Government Act of 2020.

  • DOTGOV Online Trust in Government Act of 2020

    Title IX of Public Law No. 116-260, §§ 901-907 (DOTGOV Act of 2020), which outlines responsibilities, authorities, duties, strategies, and requirements related to the process of creating top-level .gov domains, authorizes the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) to manage the domain registration process for federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial governments.

More on Domain Management

Governance

More on Governance

Metrics

  • Web Analytics Playbook

    Use these plays to help strategize how your team can most effectively use web analytics for your website and target audience.

  • How to Build an Analytics Strategy

    A case study using Digital.gov as an example of how to assess, report, and take action using web analytics as part of an analytics strategy.

More on Metrics

Mobile

  • U.S. Web Design System

    A design system for the federal government that makes it easier to build accessible, mobile-friendly government websites for the American public.

  • An Introduction to USWDS 3.0

    A design system for the federal government that makes it easier to build accessible, mobile-friendly government websites for the American public.

  • Eight Principles of Mobile-Friendliness

    Following these principles will help you make your site more usable and user-friendly.

  • Introduction to QR codes

    What is a QR code and how can you create one? What are some alternatives to using QR codes? This introductory resource will help you explore your options.

  • How to track performance

    A step-by-step guide to picking metrics and tools for tracking performance on your site.

  • Mobile Development Strategies

    The following is a list of the most common mobile development strategies.

  • A Guide to Creating Mobile-Friendly Websites

    Based on a recent six-month study, this guide outlines the top five practices needed to improve the mobile-friendliness of federal websites: the optimization of JavaScript, CSS, and images, caching, and pop-ups.

  • Connected Government Act

    Resources to help your agency comply with the Connected Government Act.

  • Mobile User Experience Guidelines

    These mobile user experience guidelines were distilled from community feedback about mobile UX practices.

  • Mobile SOW and Developer Qualifications

    Structuring a Statement of Work (SOW) for the development or modification of mobile products should be similar to any SOW your government organization issues for IT products and services.

More on Mobile

Multilingual

More on Multilingual

Open Data

  • Inventory.data.gov Guide

    Introduction Features Using inventory.data.gov Creating a User Account Using inventory.data.gov to manage datasets Adding a Dataset Exporting Data.json Automating data.json downloads by agencies Dataset Hosting Webinar on inventory.data.gov Introduction Inventory.data.gov is a data management tool established in 2013 by the Data.gov Program Management Office (PMO) in what is now the Technology Transformation Service of the

  • How to Get Your Open Data on Data.gov

    Find out below how federal, federal geospatial, and non-federal data is funneled to Data.gov and how you can get your data federated on Data.gov for greater discoverability and and impact.

More on Open Data

Paperwork Reduction Act

More on Paperwork Reduction Act

Performance

  • How to Build an Analytics Strategy

    A case study using Digital.gov as an example of how to assess, report, and take action using web analytics as part of an analytics strategy.

  • How to track performance

    A step-by-step guide to picking metrics and tools for tracking performance on your site.

More on Performance

Plain Language

More on Plain Language

Policies and Regulations

More on Policies and Regulations

Presentations

More on Presentations

Privacy

  • Privacy-Preserving Collaboration Using Cryptography

    In conjunction with her May 2020 presentation, Dr. Emily Shen outlines her work on Secure multi-party computation (MPC), a type of cryptography that allows parties to jointly analyze their data without disclosing it.

  • Guidance for Implementing the Privacy Provisions of the E–Government Act of 2002 (M-03–22)

    This guidance provides information to agencies on implementing the privacy provisions of the E-Government Act of 2002. It addresses privacy protections when Americans interact with their government. The guidance directs agencies to conduct reviews of how information about individuals is handled within their agency when they use information technology (IT) to collect new information, or when

More on Privacy

Product Management

More on Product Management

Professional Development

  • How to Present Like a Pro

    Wendy Wagner-Smith of the Small Business Administration (SBA) shares her tips and tricks for presenting virtually.

More on Professional Development

Project Management

  • Moving to .gov

    If you’re moving to .gov from another top-level domain, like .com, .org, or .us, here are some best practices to help you plan that transition.

  • How to Build an Analytics Strategy

    A case study using Digital.gov as an example of how to assess, report, and take action using web analytics as part of an analytics strategy.

  • Foundations of Agile, Part I

    18F’s Alan Atlas and Alan Brouilette cover the fundamentals of Agile.

  • Foundations of Agile, Part II

    18F’s Alan Atlas and Alan Brouilette cover the fundamentals of Agile.

  • 18F De-risking Guides

    The Federal Field Guide to De-risk Government Technology offers guidance to federal agencies on how to structure software development teams, write contracts, and oversee agile software activities to reduce risks and improve outcomes for end-users.

  • 18F Guide to Product Management

    Best practices on doing product management well

More on Project Management

Research

More on Research

Search

More on Search

Security

More on Security

Social Media

  • How to start and sustain a federal podcast

    Discover how to create and maintain a successful podcast at your federal agency.

  • Introduction to QR codes

    What is a QR code and how can you create one? What are some alternatives to using QR codes? This introductory resource will help you explore your options.

  • Guidelines for Secure Use of Social Media

    Guidelines and recommendations for using social media technologies in a manner that minimizes risks are analyzed and presented in this document.

  • NARA guidance on Managing Social Media Records

    National Archives Bulletin 2014-02 provides high-level record keeping requirements and best practices for capturing records created when federal agencies use social media.

  • Social Media, Web-Based Interactive Technologies, and the Paperwork Reduction Act

    This memo clarifies when and how the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (the PRA) applies to federal agency use of social media and web-based interactive technologies.

  • Social Media Cyber-Vandalism Toolkit

    Cyber-vandalism presents a serious challenge to online-based communication tools. This document provides guidance and security practices to federal, state, and local government employees. Suggestions and resources prepare users to respond to cyber-hijacking.

  • Improving the Accessibility of Social Media in Government

    Government agencies are increasingly using social media to engage with citizens, share information and deliver services more quickly and effectively than ever before. But as social content, data and platforms become more diverse, agencies have a responsibility to ensure these digital services are accessible to all citizens, including people with disabilities.

  • Federal Social Media Accessibility Toolkit Hackpad

    The following contains the shared document for the development of the Social Media Policy Toolkit, a shared service of the Federal Social Media Community of Practice lead by teams including The Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy.

  • Guidance for Social Media Providers

    GSA welcomes interest from providers that want to offer, for the federal government’s consideration, social media products that are free of charge. If you are such a provider, please email GSA and include the following information: Explanation of the

More on Social Media

Software Engineering

More on Software Engineering

Strategy

  • Tips for Starting Your Customer Experience Journey

    Low-cost, low-lift actions that any federal employee can take to improve customer experience.

  • Moving to .gov

    If you’re moving to .gov from another top-level domain, like .com, .org, or .us, here are some best practices to help you plan that transition.

  • Embedding Equity in Civic Design to Transform Customer Experience

    This case study describes how two civic designers at different agencies embed equity in civic design to transform federal customer experience.

  • 18F De-risking Guides

    The Federal Field Guide to De-risk Government Technology offers guidance to federal agencies on how to structure software development teams, write contracts, and oversee agile software activities to reduce risks and improve outcomes for end-users.

  • 18F Guide to Product Management

    Best practices on doing product management well

  • Mobile Development Strategies

    The following is a list of the most common mobile development strategies.

  • A Guide to Creating Mobile-Friendly Websites

    Based on a recent six-month study, this guide outlines the top five practices needed to improve the mobile-friendliness of federal websites: the optimization of JavaScript, CSS, and images, caching, and pop-ups.

  • Open Data Policy (M-13-13)

    This Memorandum establishes a framework to help institutionalize the principles of effective information management at each stage of the information’s life cycle to promote interoperability and openness.

More on Strategy

Training

More on Training

U.S. Web Design System

  • U.S. Web Design System

    A design system for the federal government that makes it easier to build accessible, mobile-friendly government websites for the American public.

  • An Introduction to USWDS 3.0

    A design system for the federal government that makes it easier to build accessible, mobile-friendly government websites for the American public.

  • USWDS Maturity Model

    How to adopt the design system incrementally and design and build better digital experiences.

  • An introduction to design systems

    If your organization needs to ensure compliance with a design standard or align to a brand, a design system can help you achieve those goals more easily than building a site from scratch. Learn how a design system can help you and what you need to know to get started.

  • Deceptive Design: How to Identify and Combat Consequence Design

    Consequence design is part of everyday life. Deceptive techniques like “dark patterns” and “hostile design” trick people into taking unintended actions — learn how to prevent them from sneaking into our design work.

  • Best Practices for Writing for the Accessible Web

    Tips for making online information accessible for those with auditory and visual needs.

  • The website standards

    As defined in 21st Century IDEA, the Design System incorporates federal standards to improve federal websites and digital services.

  • How to track performance

    A step-by-step guide to picking metrics and tools for tracking performance on your site.

More on U.S. Web Design System

Usability

  • Department of Homeland Security: Usability Testing Kit

    A resource with four approaches to help federal employees perform usability testing.

  • Usability Testing with Steve Krug

    Get started making usability fixes to your website or product.

  • 18F Methods

    A collection of tools that describe how teams can put human-centered design into practice.

  • Usability Starter Kit

    Here are some tools and templates to help you create better user experiences.

  • Fueleconomy.gov – Extended Case Study

    Like any valid business decision, User Experience work should produce results and demonstrable impact. To see a list of screenshots from websites we’ve improved, visit the rest of our Usability Case Studies. Or see a more complete case study below. Case Study: Fueleconomy.gov Mobile Site In December of 2012

  • Government Usability Case Studies

    This list of government usability case studies shows how government sites, mobile apps and other products become more effective, more coherent and more usable by focusing on the User Experience of their customers. Want to be featured here? Just email us. National Cancer Institute Persona

More on Usability

User Experience

More on User Experience

User Research

More on User Research

Video

More on Video

Writing

More on Writing

See all topics

Resources by Topic

21st Century IDEA→

A/B Testing→

Accessibility→

Agile→

Analytics→

API→

Audio/Video→

Challenges and Prizes→

Code→

Contact Centers→

Content→

Content Strategy→

Crowdsourcing→

Customer Experience→

Data→

Design→

DevOps→

Digital Service Delivery→

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion→

Domain Management→

Emerging Tech→

Governance→

Metrics→

Mobile→

Multilingual→

Open Data→

Open Source→

Performance→

Plain Language→

Policies and Regulations→

Paperwork Reduction Act→

Presentations→

Privacy→

Product Management→

Professional Development→

Project Management→

Research→

Search→

Security→

Social Media→

Software Engineering→

Strategy→

Training→

Usability→

User Experience→

User Research→

U.S. Web Design System→

Video→

Writing→

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