[@OKau] A Missing Link

Fri May 8 03:52:29 UTC 2015

Hi Craig,

Yes, Intelligent Data Management is a buzz phrase, but it is something that is no practice in most organisations I have worked in.  It refers to the cultural and people side of data management.  Think about the implementation of document management systems.  Successful ones are where the organisation spends as much money on the training and cultural changes as it does on the technology.  

In data management we spend huge amounts on the technology, a little on training, and nothing on the cultural changes required to make the data useful.  Intelligent Data Management provides the cultural focus at an agency wide level.

Ben Searle

Email:    bensearle54 at gmail.com
Mobile:  +61 (0) 400 453 601

> On 8 May 2015, at 1:48 pm, Craig Thomler <craig.thomler at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> 'Intelligent Data Management' sound like one of those buzz phrases to me, like 'Government 2.0' or 'evidence-based policy'.
>  
> If it's not intelligent, it's not data management. It's simply data collection and storage - activities rather than strategies.
>  
> However given that 'Intelligent Data Management' is a three-word slogan, it may attract some interest politically.
>  
> Cheers,
> 
> Craig
>  
> 
> _________________________________________________
> 
> Craig Thomler
> 
> http://egovau.blogspot.com <http://egovau.blogspot.com/>
> http://twitter.com/CraigThomler <http://twitter.com/CraigThomler>
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> 
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> 
> On 8 May 2015 at 12:51, Ben Searle <bensearle54 at gmail.com <mailto: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
> 
> <PastedGraphic-15.tiff>
> 
> Email:    bensearle54 at gmail.com <mailto:bensearle54 at gmail.com>
> Mobile:  +61 (0) 400 453 601 <tel:%2B61%20%280%29%20400%20453%20601>
> 
>> On 8 May 2015, at 12:42 pm, Steven De Costa <steven.decosta at linkdigital.com.au <mailto: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 <mailto: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 <tel:%2B61%20%280%29%20400%20453%20601>
>> 
>>> 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 <http://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://egovau.blogspot.com/>
>>> http://twitter.com/CraigThomler <http://twitter.com/CraigThomler>
>>> http://au.linkedin.com/in/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 <tel:%2B61%20411%20780%20194>)
>>> Phone: 02 6161 4508 (International: +61 2 6161 4508 <tel:%2B61%202%206161%204508>)
>>> 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/ <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 <http://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 <tel:%2B61%20%280%29%20400%20453%20601>
>>> 
>>> 
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>> 
>> 
>> 
>> -- 
>> STEVEN DE COSTA | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
>> www.linkdigital.com.au <http://www.linkdigital.com.au/>
>> 
>>    
>> 
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