Learning from the pilot process itself
We hoped that the pilots would be competed by the summer of 2019; and the Abacus itself made available to all, from the autumn. But that's just what we hoped. There was no guarantee of success. (But that's the point of a pilot.)
Firstly, HERE you will find a short indication of the aims of the pilot - the main questions we hoped to answer. In fact, in conversations over that time we were be able to get far more information on what works; but this was the minimum expectation. If we could achieve this, that's a success; if we could more, so much the better.
Secondly we had an indication HERE of the timescale of the pilot phase, and the minimal time commitment for participants. The time commitment was intentionally minimal; but we hoped participants would find it sufficiently rewarding and energising tin itself that they would actually want to stay in and do more. Yet the timescale set for the pilot was entirely driven by our own wish for comprehensiveness and reasonable speed. In the event, there was some slippage; and from this we learned that the PIE Abacus - like the Pizazz on paper - is probably at its best when it fits in the natural timescales of service development of the agency that is using it.
Thirdly, there is a Landing page on the main Abacus site, with a video that gives a succinct (4 minute) introduction to the most significant features of the iAbacus. This video was created by Dan O'Brien, CEO of the software developers, Opeus, to illustrate the features of the Abacus. There is a section on that Landing page where volunteer agencies could sign up to take part in the pilot. This seems to operate quite smoothly, and will be the pattern for sign ups after the Pilot phase is over.
But we also realise that sometimes something you can actually print out and hold can seem more accessible. So finally, we have an introduction, in illustrated document form - still in draft form, as there is learning from the pilots that we have yet to incorporate - which shows how the PIE Abacus works, and also the range of screens that we can develop, in future, and continue to customise the PIE Abacus to the needs and ambitions of any service, organisation or locality.
Note that, for those using the PIE Abacus, which is in effect the Pizazz on screen, it does seem useful (probably necessary) to also refer to the 'Useful questions', the Handbook for the Pizazz as a whole, which is HERE. One of the survey questions is asking pilots services what use they did make of this.
The simplest, most effective way to evaluate and improve your PIE from Daniel O'Brien on Vimeo.
Piloting the PIE Abacus
Aims of the pilot HERE
Timescales and time commitment HERE
'The virtual garage'; the story so far of the earliest pilots HERE
The Pizazz approach
For the overall introduction to the Pizazz, see: Introducing : The Pizazz
For a note on current and future costs of using the Pizazz, see: Pizazz costs
The pen-and-paper version
The basic Pizazz assessment summary sheets are HERE
The Pizazz Handbook, 'Useful questions', is HERE
Pizazz assessment levels guidance is HERE
Advice for Pizazz assessment facilitators is HERE
Creative Commons licence terms are HERE
The Pizazz Handbook, 'Useful questions', is <a href="http://pielink.net/download/useful-questions-the-pizazz-process-handbook/"><em>HERE</em></a>
Pizazz assessment levels guidance is <em><a href="http://pielink.net/download/pizazz-assessment-levels/">HERE</a></em>
Advice for Pizazz assessment facilitators is <a href="http://pielink.net/download/advice-for-pizazz-assessment-facilitators/"><em>HERE</em></a>
Creative Commons licence terms are <a href="http://pielink.net/download/pizazz-creative-commons-licence-terms/"><em>HERE</em></a>