Managing Open Data Projects

Co-creating an open resource

Trainer: Mel Norman
@melmediasauce

Learning outcomes
By the end of this workshop you will be able to:

Define open data

Summarise the challenges & opportunities
involved in managing open data projects

About Mellissa
Working with companies to integrate technology innovations
to grow their business.

Trainer & programme leader in Business + Open Data for the

ODI
Digital Business Strategist for tech, open data & digital
companies
23 years as an Entrepreneur
1000+ people trained
Previous clients include: BBC, Drive Productions, Locatable,
Royal Shakespeare Company, NixonMcinnes, Innovate UK
Ex Film Producer

About You

Name, Role, Company

Have you managed a
project/open data project
previously?

Open Data
Basics

About You

What is open data?

Open data is data that anyone can

access, use and share.- Odi definition

How can you make good open

data?

Good open data

Can be linked to
Available in a standard, structured
format
Has guaranteed availability and
consistency over time, so that others
can rely on it
Is traceable
Has a licence shows that it is open data

Managing open
data projects

Managing open data projects

USE
PUBLISH

Managing open data projects

What are the possible internal
challenges a company might
face when opening up their
data?

Managing open data projects

Lack of knowledge
Little understanding of benefits or process
Lack of skills
Lack of understanding about risk
Company/Org doesnt have an open culture
Projects usually have beginning middle and end.
Fear
Company is very siloed
Lack of resources/books

Managing open data projects

ExerciseAllocate the challenges to a category, then
write down how you could overcome
each
of them.
Categories
Staff & teams
Internal/external
comms
Policy
Budget

Structure
Culture
Marketing
Sales
Sustainability

Managing open data projects

SWAP!
And second group write any
additional challenges that might
have missed.

Managing open data projects

The raw results from this
session created by the
participants.

Structure & Culture

Challenge

How to overcome

Big Company Siloed Create a group from different departments

Need data champs and data teams with dedicated focus
Collaboration
Sharing the benefits, matching benefits, teams
that can work across departments, engage teams outside
organization.
Resistance
Big stick approach, declare policy, training and
impact
demonstrating Reward rather than punish.
Co-ordination accountability High level advocate, who is going to
enforce? Make it
normal.
Lack of business sponsor
Identify a champ and definitely one at
board level. Run an organizational event around open data and make
it open, unconference.

Marketing, Sales and Sustainability

Challenge
How to overcome
Data Format
How data is to be presented, stories,
visualization etc
Data Storage
Time bound process, flags, check that it needs
updating. Feedback mechanism, internal and external.
License
For trust building with customers.
Know the why
The reason for opening data and that everyone
understands it.
Revenue
Generate a business model
Data as a tool(means to an end) not as a product (end in its
self) (use of freeium)
Can bring in business sales, Enhance reputation , this is a powerful
driver allocate from marketing budget.)

Marketing, Sales and Sustainability

Challenge
How to overcome
Tooling choice
Pick toolset which enables maintaince
Lack of use
Map customer demand and act on it.
Data Quality issues
Roadmap to fix in future releases

Policy and Budget

Challenge
How to overcome
What to publish and which datasets and how
Standards,
Prioritization, Analytics
How much will it cost
Benchmarking
Legal Status of Data, privacy, copyright, competition Involve legal
experts early, templates,
checklists, flowchart,
reviewing
Limited budget
Prove value early, deliver fast and unlock
value.
What to spend on tech v what to spend on human resources
Awareness of available solutions (open source or Licenses)
Fear
Clear polices around open data, what
is open, shared and closed
Company organisation policy not aligned with gov policies Align
polices, knowledge of gov, make clear it is not personal data.

Staff and teams

Challenge
How to overcome
Lack of resources skills Network effect, share with the market
Lack of clear direction Get involved in public debate and advocacy
Being Protective of own data Training for staff around open data so there is
a better
understanding of what it is and what it means to the
org.
Internal competition
Training staff around open data, so there is a better
understanding of what it is and what it means to the org.
New area of knowledge
Demonstrating positive impact of open
datasets to the comp
Mindset attitude
Checklists and Standardization.
Time involved

Internal and External Comms

Challenge
How to overcome
No clear business case Create Publish and communicate why we are
doing this.
Open innovation and crowdsourcing.
Fear
Clear simple to understand communication materials
Engage Data Clients
Return of investment?
Create procedures and standards, tap into existing communities,
Education, co-design, involving staff in the process and decision
making, open feedback and workshops.

Managing open data projects

Where can we share this as an
open resource so people can
view and contribute?

Managing open data projects

General comments
Draw on other areas of expertise, i.e change management,
general project management.
Do workshops and case studies for illustration and involvement.
Big consultancy companies are already doing this, but are they
sharing?
Where this resource could be held?
Link on ODI site, Open access publication, Wikipedia? Git? Should
we share on google docs for first stage, then figure what is
needed.

Conclusion
After today:
What two things that you have
learnt today from your peers could
be useful in your work?

Thank you!
@melmediasauce