[okfn-za] Open Data Evaluation of Government Departments

Fri Sep 12 09:59:18 UTC 2014

Hi Adi
Would be a very useful exercise. 
But I would be careful not to rely too heavily on checklists in order to take the temperature of a department -- you may lose the social dimension of open data readiness, provision and accessibility, as well as the institutional factors at play that value conformity, control and a closed culture. 
For example, as you know, the policies can be in place, bold statements can be made on gov websites, and parts of datasets may even be publicly available BUT who you know will often be the main determinant of ready and reliable access to government data.  
Still, the temperature-taking exercise could be a valuable first step.
Francois

ps Thanks for breathing some life into this list!

-----Original Message-----
From: okfn-za [mailto:okfn-za-bounces at lists.okfn.org] On Behalf Of Adi Eyal
Sent: 12 September 2014 11:34 AM
To: Rufus Pollock
Cc: okfn-za at lists.okfn.org; odadi at googlegroups.com
Subject: Re: [okfn-za] Open Data Evaluation of Government Departments

So - the idea here is not to look at open data readiness at the country level but rather taking the temperature of each government department to see whether they are in a position to publish and maintain at least one dataset. I think that it would be a useful exercise to take a relatively pragmatic view on data in government. It would be quite beneficial to show how the public can use these datasets - if only to find interesting stories and tell them visually.

I wouldn't want to spend more than a couple of hours per department, otherwise it would be impossible to achieve this as an unfunded pet project.

Regards
Adi

On 12 September 2014 11:24, Rufus Pollock <rufus.pollock at okfn.org> wrote:
> I note that the world bank and others already have ODRAs (Open Data 
> Readiness Assessment) which could fit the bill.
>
> I would also encourage folks to check whether the Open Data Census for 
> South Africa is up to date: http://national.census.okfn.org/place/za
>
> Those core datasets could be a focus for initial opening up (if not 
> already).
>
> Rufus
>
> On 11 September 2014 21:27, Adi Eyal <adi at code4sa.org> wrote:
>>
>> Totally agree. I'm trying to come up with a scorecard to gauge open 
>> data readiness. Government seems an easy first step but if we could 
>> come up with 20 or 30 prominent CSOs that have data, I would be happy 
>> to include them.
>>
>> Regards
>> Adi
>>
>> On 11 September 2014 18:47, Raymond Joseph <rayjoe at iafrica.com> wrote:
>> > Why only government? There's loads of data residing within 
>> > NGOs/civil society that's been paid for by donors but hard to get 
>> > hold of. Ray
>> >
>> > -----Original Message-----
>> > From: odadi at googlegroups.com [mailto:odadi at googlegroups.com] On 
>> > Behalf Of Adi Eyal
>> > Sent: 11 September 2014 06:43 PM
>> > To: Rufus Pollock
>> > Cc: okfn-za at lists.okfn.org; odadi at googlegroups.com
>> > Subject: Re: [okfn-za] Open Data Evaluation of Government 
>> > Departments
>> >
>> > Thanks for the responses so far.
>> >
>> > Let me tweak the question a little bit. I think that I would get a 
>> > no to the majority of the questions if I ask any of our departments 
>> > (am I being too cynical?) If we take a step back and we're looking 
>> > for a precursor to open data in government what would that precursor be?
>> >
>> > Rufus' questions fit the bill. Jason's questions are too optimistic 
>> > for me :). Any other suggestions?
>> >
>> > Regards
>> > Adi
>> >
>> > On 11 September 2014 17:20, Rufus Pollock <rufus.pollock at okfn.org>
>> > wrote:
>> >> My 2c - much of this derives from the Open Data Handbook esp "How 
>> >> to Open Up Data"
>> >>
>> >> 1. Do they have a need they want to address that open data will 
>> >> help with (this may be policy, it may be using data better, it may 
>> >> be just looking
>> >> good)
>> >> 1. Do they have any idea of what data they hold (even if just key 
>> >> datasets not the full inventory) 2. Do they know what open data is?
>> >> 3. Are they "open" to the community and willing to talk and engage 
>> >> with them?
>> >>
>> >> Aside: may be worth asking on open-government list as well.
>> >>
>> >> Rufus
>> >>
>> >> On 11 September 2014 15:20, Adi Eyal <adi at code4sa.org> wrote:
>> >>>
>> >>> What are the top 4 questions that you would like answered when 
>> >>> evaluating whether a government department is Open Data ready?
>> >>>
>> >>> Thoughts anyone?
>> >>>
>> >>> Adi
>> >>>
>> >>> --
>> >>> Adi Eyal
>> >>> Director
>> >>> Code for South Africa
>> >>> Promoting informed decision-making
>> >>>
>> >>> phone: +27 78 014 2469
>> >>> skype: adieyalcas
>> >>> linkedin: http://za.linkedin.com/pub/dir/Adi/Eyal
>> >>> web: http://www.code4sa.org
>> >>> twitter: @soapsudtycoon
>> >>>
>> >>> For more information on how to participate in the open data 
>> >>> community in South Africa, go to: 
>> >>> http://www.code4sa.org/#community 
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>> >>
>> >>
>> >> --
>> >>
>> >> Rufus Pollock
>> >>
>> >> Founder and President | skype: rufuspollock | @rufuspollock
>> >>
>> >> Open Knowledge - see how data can change the world
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>> >
>> >
>> > --
>> > Adi Eyal
>> > Director
>> > Code for South Africa
>> > Promoting informed decision-making
>> >
>> > phone: +27 78 014 2469
>> > skype: adieyalcas
>> > linkedin: http://za.linkedin.com/pub/dir/Adi/Eyal
>> > web: http://www.code4sa.org
>> > twitter: @soapsudtycoon
>> >
>> > For more information on how to participate in the open data 
>> > community in South Africa, go to: http://www.code4sa.org/#community
>> >
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>>
>> --
>> Adi Eyal
>> Director
>> Code for South Africa
>> Promoting informed decision-making
>>
>> phone: +27 78 014 2469
>> skype: adieyalcas
>> linkedin: http://za.linkedin.com/pub/dir/Adi/Eyal
>> web: http://www.code4sa.org
>> twitter: @soapsudtycoon
>>
>> For more information on how to participate in the open data community 
>> in South Africa, go to: http://www.code4sa.org/#community
>
>
>
>
> --
>
> Rufus Pollock
>
> Founder and President | skype: rufuspollock | @rufuspollock
>
> Open Knowledge - see how data can change the world
>
> http://okfn.org/ | @okfn | Open Knowledge on Facebook |  Blog
>
> The Open Knowledge Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation.  It is 
> incorporated in England & Wales as a company limited by guarantee, 
> with company number 05133759.  VAT Registration № GB 984404989. 
> Registered office
> address: Open Knowledge Foundation, St John’s Innovation Centre, 
> Cowley Road, Cambridge, CB4 0WS, UK.
>
>
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--
Adi Eyal
Director
Code for South Africa
Promoting informed decision-making

phone: +27 78 014 2469
skype: adieyalcas
linkedin: http://za.linkedin.com/pub/dir/Adi/Eyal
web: http://www.code4sa.org
twitter: @soapsudtycoon

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