Pilot — proposed Cohort 0
A 24-week measured pilot, deliberately varied.
A working configuration, not an approved programme: 6–10 Scottish SMEs (target 8), roughly four sectors, one primary measurable workflow intervention each, two technical delivery waves.
Shape of the cohort.
6–10
Scottish SMEs, target 8
~4
sectors, ×2 for comparison
1
primary intervention per SME
2
technical delivery waves
24-week structure.
Weeks 1–2
Onboarding + baseline
Participation documentation, workflow shortlist, initial operational and workforce baseline.
Weeks 3–4
Workflow validation
Detailed process map, intervention candidate, feasibility/governance gate, research hypothesis.
Weeks 5–8
Design + build
Technical design, controls, implementation and pre-deployment testing.
Weeks 9–10
Deployment + stabilisation
Go-live, user training, issue log and initial adoption check.
Weeks 11–14
Early measurement
Weekly operational and adoption monitoring plus workforce pulse.
Weeks 15–18
Mid-period measurement
30/60-day comparison, technical and economic metrics, corrective actions documented.
Weeks 19–22
90-day measurement
Core outcome window and qualitative interviews.
Weeks 23–24
Analysis + close-out
SME report, research dataset lock, lessons learned and next-stage recommendation.
Extended follow-up.
Optional follow-up windows at approximately 6 and 12 months keep the longitudinal dimension open. Nothing in the pilot design is a funded commitment: cohort size, duration and sector mix are a versioned working design subject to academic host, funder and recruitment discussions.
No pilot figure on this page is a funded commitment. If an organisation is ever selected, every next step — selection, onboarding, any implementation — involves human review and written participation agreements.