[DRAFT] Common definitions
- Last reviewed
- 4 August 2026
- Owner
- Head of Architecture
Definitions used across DfE to describe services, products, capabilities and other digital, data and technology concepts.
How we talk about services
Our goal is to create a common set of definitions to help us talk about services and understand what is meant by them in DfE.
This set of definitions is aimed mainly at people working in digital, data and technology service delivery teams in DfE. We also hope colleagues across the wider department will find these definitions useful to better understand digital, data and technology services.
Different levels of work
The work we do might involve:
- creating a new service
- improving part of an existing service
- influencing a larger programme of work
- supporting procurement or contracts that affect a service
A high-level view of some of our common definitions, with examples of the levels of work:
