Data Release Case Studies
From Open NZ Wiki
A number of case studies about open government data already exist, including the following.
- Case studies of different applications for geospatial information from a wide variety of industries, both in New Zealand and internationally.
At the Open Government Data BarCamp, a project was started to generate more case studies.
Contents |
Project to Generate new Data Release Case Studies
Data Release Case Studies aims to help public sector employees decide which government dataset to open next, and why, by collecting stories from peers who have opened government datasets.
Public sector employees who look after datasets have a wide range of valid reasons to not open their data. They don't know what the data will be used for once it's available. The data may have quality issues, the agencies may have privacy or copyright concerns and there may be pressure to sell the data. Publishing data takes time and resources that are frequently in short supply, and thus there may be little motivation to spend resources in a manner that doesn't necessarily address internal priorities.
It is easy to find reasons to open government data in terms of the principles of transparent government, and the economic productivity benefits that can be achieved within government and in the greater economy. These reasons are especially compelling when they are consistent with Government policy on open data.
General principles, however do not help to decide which dataset to open first, or to make an internal case for opening that data. The particular contexts are likely to be diverse. It in many cases, it will be difficult to make sense of the issues involved with opening data, or to find someone to talk them through with.
This project aims to help public sector employees in these situations by publishing the stories of peers who have already opened datasets.
These stories will be collected by interviewing public sector employees who have opened data, and will be presented in a narrative style that authentically conveys the texture of each individual experience. Each story will describe the process of the opening of one dataset, from the point of view of the person or people who opened it. Stories will describe how the decision was made, how the data was opened, what happened next and how that worked out for the people involved. Although the stories will have to be approved by the relevant agencies, they should maintain an anecdotal tone, reflecting real stories of real people. Although we will select case studies that show the benefits of opening data, the stories should be told warts and all.
If this is successful, people who are thinking about opening data will see themselves in the stories and be inspired to think in new ways about their own challenges. It will facilitate connections among people who open government data, and contribute towards the development of community around that.
The stories will be published as a series of blog posts, in the open.org.nz domain, with comments encouraged. Although the publication will be scheduled, the stories can be drafted and edited here in this wiki. That way, they can begin to have their effect, even before they are finished.
The creation of each story will be managed by an owner, who will organise the interviews, editing, video production and whatever else is required for their story, with the help of contributors.
Ultimately, it would be good to publish the story behind every dataset in the open data catalogue. For now, we will begin with stories for the datasets below, and link to the stories from the catalogue.
Interview Questions
This list of questions might be useful when you are interviewing the person who had most to do with opening the dataset. Let's revise these questions as we go.
- Why (and when) was the decision made to open the data?
- How was the decision made?
- What was involved in opening the data?
- What kind of resources did you have to commit to get it done? (people, money, time)
- How long did the project take from decision to release?
- What were the biggest challenges?
- How did you overcome them?
- What reception did you get when the data was released?
- What benefits have you and your organisation seen since then?
- What were the main things you learned during the process?
- What advice would you give to others who are considering opening government data to the public?
Case Study Writing Guide
If you are a story owner, here are some tips on nailing the story...
- Find the best person or people to talk to about the project.
- Check that they are happy to be interviewed and quoted. They need to know that the case study is going to be published online (on the open.org.nz blog), and that we are going to encourage people considering opening data to contact them for advice.
- Drop a line to narrative@groups.open.org.nz to let the rest of the case study team know who you're going to interview and when.
- Try to interview your subject in person - it's more personal and you often pick up more details that way. Take notes but record the conversation too so you can check details later on when you're writing the case study. You'll also be able to pull out a couple of direct quotes to add flavour to the case study. (There are cheap digital recorders to be had at Dick Smith type stores and here's a list of Skype recording apps that might help - can anyone make a recommendation?)
- It would be great to have a picture of the person/people and/or a brief video of them outlining the project and their five main takeaways from it (or three pieces of advice to others). Worth asking them if they're willing. No worries if they're not.
- Some of the team members, eg Keith and Julie, have done a lot of interviewing in their time so you might be able to persuade them to come with you to the interview or give you some tips.
- Write up the case study in 400-500 words. If you'd like some help with structuring or editing the story, get hold of one of the narrative team or post a draft on narrative@groups.open.org.nz and ask for feedback.
- When you're happy with the draft, run it by your interviewee to check names, dates and details, then post the final version on narrative@groups.open.org.nz with the word FINAL at the top and a note that it's good to go.
- The case studies will be serialised on the open.org.nz blog.
If you need help at any stage, talk to one of the project team listed below or ask a question on narrative@groups.open.org.nz.
Team
Dan Randow — chief wrangler
Keitha Booth — adviser, provider of contacts
Rowan Smith — adviser
Keith Ng — Journalist, interviewer
Julie Starr — journalist
Daniel Spector — writer, editor, marketer, loudmouth, jackass
Potential Case Studies
The following table was produced at the BarCamp on 29 August 2009.
| Organisation | Case Study Title | Owner | Contributors | Story |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GNS/EQC | GeoNet | Chris McDowall | Very rich/deep data release, been around for a long time. Contact: Paul Grimwood. | |
| Ministry for the Environment | Land Cover Database 3 | Gavin Treadgold | praise mail, use of CC license, Contact: Karl Majorhazi | |
| Archives NZ | WWII embarkation rolls. | Stuart Yeates | Community curation of data | |
| Ministry of Economic Development | Broadband Map | Brian Calhoun | ||
| National Library of New Zealand | DigitalNZ | Jo Eaton | John Russell-Hodge, Courtney Johnston | |
| Land Information New Zealand | Gavin T | Isabella Cawthorn, Rainer Spittel | ||
| Ministry of Education | Adult Literacy Assessment Data (with demographics & social stats) | Ed Strafford | ||
| Education Review Office | ERO Reports | Colin Jackson | ||
| Whangarei District Council & Northland Regional Council | Release of spatial data to Koords | Rob Coup | Matt Lane | |
| Department of Conservation | Release of tracks, reserves | Rumi Shivaz | Contact: Anne Harper | |
| New Zealand Transport Agency | Traffic Data & State Highway Spatial Data Layers | Rumi Shivaz | Contact: Deryk Whyte, Deidre Hills, Phil Blagdon |
