[@OKau] A Missing Link

Fri May 8 02:56:53 UTC 2015

'Data first' is something I use to spark a rethink too :)

http://www.linkdigital.com.au/news/2015/04/data-first-a-practical-guide

On Friday, May 8, 2015, Ben Searle <bensearle54 at gmail.com> wrote:

> Thanks Steven,
>
> Yes, Intelligent Data Management is a concept that has the potential to
> provide a win/win, but only if it is understood my senior managers.
>
> I am a strong supporter of open data and have only been raising the issues
> I have mentioned since I see some blockages that could/should be overcome
> for open data to become common and business as usual activity within
> government, and also the private sector.
>
> I view Intelligent Data Management as the intersection between people
> (organisational culture) and IT capability.  it is a simple change in mind
> set where there is an appreciation of a little extra work upfront providing
> significant downstream benefits.  Document data effectively when it is
> created and many existing data issues relating to discovery and re-use will
> disappear.
>
> I am giving a presentation to the Open Data Institute Queensland on this
> next month…
>
> Cheers
>
> Ben Searle
>
>
>
> Email:    bensearle54 at gmail.com
> <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','bensearle54 at gmail.com');>
> Mobile:  +61 (0) 400 453 601
>
> On 8 May 2015, at 12:42 pm, Steven De Costa <
> steven.decosta at linkdigital.com.au
> <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','steven.decosta at linkdigital.com.au');>>
> wrote:
>
> Intelligent data management sounds good :)
>
> The primary users of open data are machines so it is a step further to
> then communicate value to communities.
>
> It is true that data management and ongoing stewardship can be poor too.
>
> However the horizon for open data is in the future we are creating in the
> years ahead. Valuing it based on the practices of today is less relevant
> than adopting a valuation based on the best practices of tomorrow. Hence
> the consideration of standards, schemas, ontologies and the release of more
> raw data for its own sake.
>
> I'd return to the hostage negotiation as an analogy. Our current
> constraints are only a limitation if we allow the negotiation to be framed
> in those terms. Let's just talk as mush as possible about releasing the
> hostage... Intelligently or otherwise.
>
> Hoots!
>
> On Friday, May 8, 2015, Ben Searle <bensearle54 at gmail.com
> <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','bensearle54 at gmail.com');>> wrote:
>
>> Me again….
>>
>> I think you are all correct even though the discussions appear to be in
>> conflict.  Economic value is most certainly derived from open data, but as
>> Craig correctly points out most government data could not be used in a
>> commercial situation in its existing form.
>>
>> Another pontoon not always mention in this debate is that the public
>> themselves generally are not interested in open data.  they are interested
>> in information, or products and services that may be based on open
>> government data.
>>
>> Steven points out some very valid concepts and policies from the Public
>> Service Commission and these are good points as is the WoG directions.
>> But, having worked in government the ability to collaborate with other
>> agencies is often restricted by senior management.  They want to make their
>> Secretary look good and so are not happy about helping another agency that
>> might result in that agency’s Secretary receiving the glory…unfortunately
>> its human nature.
>>
>> However, the looking at the point Craig makes about the lack of useful
>> government data, I feel that the ’secret’ to this issue is as simple as
>> ensuring that data with an agency is well described and able to be re-used
>> within that agency.  If this occurs, then the data becomes closer to
>> meeting the needs of the pubic in general and commercial users in
>> particular.
>>
>> Data management in the public domain is poor, but so to is it in the
>> commercial sector (I appreciate this is a huge generalisation…)  Research
>> shows that knowledge workers cannot find the data they need to do their
>> job, make decisions on incomplete data sets, re-create data that already
>> exists in their organisation.  This costs significant resources to an
>> organisation.  Large savings can be made by ensuring data is effectively
>> managed internally, and this in turn makes the data more usable and more
>> reliable for external consumption.
>>
>> A small cultural change in many organisation sis required to reap these
>> benefits, but it takes support from the highest levels who often do not
>> even know there is a problem.  I have called this concept Intelligent Data
>> Management and would suggest most organisations do not manage their data
>> intelligently...
>>
>>
>>
>> Ben Searle
>>
>> <PastedGraphic-15.tiff>
>>
>> Email:    bensearle54 at gmail.com
>> Mobile:  +61 (0) 400 453 601
>>
>> On 8 May 2015, at 11:28 am, Steven De Costa <
>> steven.decosta at linkdigital.com.au> wrote:
>>
>> +1 Craig :)
>>
>> However, it would be nice if the data the Government spends tax dollars
>> on to collect was available for all. Then they'd we'd all be able to derive
>> value. In some cases the government can spend millions to sustain a dataset
>> which is 70% correct. Releasing it, even with that deficiency, allows the
>> community to fix the data itself and ultimately shifts the cost away from
>> the Government and into the community. The Government can then be a
>> subscriber and contributor rather than the owner.
>>
>> Hoots!
>>
>> *STEVEN DE COSTA *|
>> *EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR*www.linkdigital.com.au
>>
>>
>>
>> On 8 May 2015 at 11:07, Craig Thomler <craig.thomler at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>> Ironically the Federal agency I am currently working in blocks the link
>>> to the Sunlight Foundation report due to Scribd being 'untrusted'.
>>>
>>> I've recently dealt with four other Australian Government agencies that
>>> are unable to reach the OKFN, OGP, OpenAustralia & Sunlight
>>> Foundation websites and other key resources on open data as they are
>>> classified by the agency web filtering services as "political" or "high
>>> risk".
>>>
>>> This was explained to me at one agency as due to a tightening of
>>> classifications in 2014 to prevent public servants from accessing
>>> 'unnecessary content'.
>>>
>>> It's hard to convince public servants of the benefits when they can't
>>> directly access the necessary information for decision-making.
>>>
>>> Cheers,
>>>
>>> Craig
>>>
>>> _________________________________________________
>>>
>>> Craig Thomler
>>>
>>> http://egovau.blogspot.com
>>> http://twitter.com/CraigThomler
>>> http://au.linkedin.com/in/craigthomler
>>> http://www.slideshare.net/CraigThomler
>>> <http://www.slideshare.net/CraigThomler%20>
>>>
>>> *Mobile:* 0411 780 194 (*International:* +61 411 780 194)
>>> *Phone:* 02 6161 4508 (*International: *+61 2 6161 4508)
>>> *Skype:* craig.thomler
>>>
>>> On 8 May 2015 at 10:05, Alex (Maxious) Sadleir <maxious at gmail.com>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>> The Sunlight Foundation has collected 100 case studies to "illustrate
>>>> the social impact of open data and digital transparency initiatives in
>>>> different countries, cities and communities".
>>>>
>>>> http://sunlightfoundation.com/blog/2015/05/05/a-new-approach-to-measuring-the-impact-of-open-data/
>>>>
>>>> On Fri, May 8, 2015 at 9:47 AM, Steven De Costa <
>>>> steven.decosta at linkdigital.com.au> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> No!
>>>>>
>>>>> Don't get drawn into a hostage negotiation ;)
>>>>>
>>>>> That argument is one where the data holder will say, "Show me proof
>>>>> I'll get value, then I'll release the data".
>>>>>
>>>>> Instead, we need to keep the conversation on the data itself.
>>>>>
>>>>> However, if you must preemptively demonstrate value I think there are
>>>>> two sensible and non distracting ways to do it.
>>>>>
>>>>> 1. The macro economic argument. Talk about the economy, information
>>>>> goods, theory of the firm and transaction costs - all in broad terms. When
>>>>> you do this you can then find evidence of other changes in the
>>>>> (information) economy to cite as examples.
>>>>>
>>>>> 2. The micro economic argument. Talk about the shift in
>>>>> government-citizen dynamics brought about by modern communication mediums
>>>>> and the learned behaviors of digital natives. You can then cite examples of
>>>>> large changes in consumer behaviour born from peer to peer networks, social
>>>>> networks and consolidated consumer markets (amazon, app stores, etc).
>>>>>
>>>>> If a government agency is serious about working out the best areas
>>>>> where the release of data will improve the economy within their
>>>>> jurisdiction, or enable more effective G2C and C2G interactions then they
>>>>> should consider employing economists and statisticians to develop
>>>>> econometric models which demonstrate the likely value of releasing data.
>>>>> They should also consider what stimulation they'd need to provide to ensure
>>>>> that a supply-demand relationship emerges to maintain the long term value
>>>>> they expect to create.
>>>>>
>>>>> Cheers,
>>>>> Steven
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> *STEVEN DE COSTA *|
>>>>> *EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR*www.linkdigital.com.au
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> On 8 May 2015 at 09:10, Ben Searle <bensearle54 at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> Hi,
>>>>>>
>>>>>> An open data related thought based on a number of years working in
>>>>>> the data management space across different levels of government.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Most government organisations and individuals in those organisations
>>>>>> understand the benefits of making their data available to the public.  That
>>>>>> debate has generally been won.  But, most organisations are suffering
>>>>>> reduced budgets and appreciate that they must expend some resources to
>>>>>> comply with the open data philosophy.  This costs their organisation.  But
>>>>>> what benefit do they get back from releasing their data?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Generally not much direct benefit, other than complying with broad
>>>>>> government objectives.  So, what is their answer to the question of “whats
>>>>>> in it for me?”….generally not much.  Until we can effectively answer that
>>>>>> question the supply side of open data will continue to be limited and we
>>>>>> will continue to have data released purely to increase data set numbers and
>>>>>> meet KPI’s but will that data be useful?  Based on current activities, much
>>>>>> of the existing open data would not be consumed by organisations wishing to
>>>>>> generate digital products.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> What is missing?
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Ben Searle
>>>>>>
>>>>>> <PastedGraphic-15.tiff>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Email:    bensearle54 at gmail.com
>>>>>> Mobile:  +61 (0) 400 453 601
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
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>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>
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>>>>
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>
> --
> *STEVEN DE COSTA *|
> *EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR*www.linkdigital.com.au
>
>
>
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-- 
*STEVEN DE COSTA *|
*EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR*www.linkdigital.com.au
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