Data is the new capital of the global economy.
The idea of using data to decide in government is not new; it’s just getting increased attention now, in the age of “big data.”
Big data refers to the vast collections of information, which can capture both structured and unstructured data.
Big data is growing. New technology and techniques such as the IoT and artificial intelligence are expanding our ability to collect, share, and analyse data.
Governments can use big data analytics to trigger development in source optimisation, tax collection and understand growing trends and predict where assets need to used.
Organisational changes will probably also needed to create a strong data ecosystem that spans government agencies.
Results-orientated governments are increasingly making use of hard data and statistical analysis to enlighten decisions.
Data is driving fundamental changes in our daily lives and in the economy. The ability to make easy data-driven decisions is becoming important to the way that we live and work.
The use of data plays an increasing role in designing, delivering and transforming public services to improve results and drive efficiencies within current financial constraints.
Data is a critical for enabling more efficient, effective government and public services that respond to users’ needs.
Government holds datasets with different characteristics. More data than ever is available to tell digital tools and services and get greater insights into user needs and local places.
In the current environment, with data increasingly plentiful, the time, skill, and tools to make sense of data is lacking in many government agencies.
The gap between the volume of data available and the capacity of government employees to analyse it has grown exponentially as the tools for managing and making sense of big data have increased.
Public data used wisely and widely, yet often simply not by the civil service itself. Sometimes, it’s an academic or journalist who finds public data and exploits it’s value.
When government makes effective use of data, they make better policy and deliver better, more tailored services for users. For example, data used in real-time by front-line staff to ensure the person they are serving gets the best possible support to meet their needs.
Using insights collected from data to let know decisions and guide policy. It will unleashed the real power when analytics-based approaches become deeply set in government culture shaping the government’s core strategies.
Increasingly, government will be able to use predictive analytics to expect demand for services or policy changes. This prepare them to meet citizens’ and businesses’ changing needs on what services to offer and how they should work.
Governments can draw significant benefits from big data analytics. Assets used more efficiently, citizens served more effectively, and more accurate vision developed for the future.
To succeed, governments must cultivate a robust plan, recognise the nature of data, make sure they have built the right capacities, and develop organisations that are fit-for-purpose within a healthy data ecosystem.
Reference:
@gov, Inspiring Innovative Government, Data Driven Government, kpmg.com/atgov
Big data in the public sector, The University of New South Wales
Better use of data, Local Government Association, UK
Creation of a data-driven culture in the public sector, OECD Digital Government
Data-Driven Government: The Role of Chief Data Officers, IBM Centre for the Business of Government
