2016 and 2017 Recommendations

2016 Recommendations

1. Agencies should make their technical ecosystems more accommodating to Open Data by:

   1. Using automations, rather than manual uploads, to update datasets currently on the Open Data Portal.

   2. Writing Open Data requirements into procurements of new data systems and analytics technologies.

   3. Allocating more resources to Open Data personnel, especially Open Data Coordinators.

2. The Open Data team should empower Open Data Coordinators by:

3. Surveying Open Data Coordinators to better understand their roles, priorities, and communication preferences.

4. Producing documents clarifying the roles and responsibilities of Open Data Coordinators, including guidelines on complying with legal mandates.

5. The Open Data team should empower Open Data Coordinators by:

   1. Consulting with the Department of Investigation on potential improvements.

   2. Creating clear guidelines and definitions of “data” and “dataset."

   3. Creating clear guidelines on determining whether a dataset is “public” or “private.”

2017 Recommendations

1. The Open Data Team should help Open Data Coordinators craft Open Data strategies unique to their agencies and provide additional documentation on open data organizational structures, return on investment, and compliance best practices.

2. The Mayor’s Office should regularly communicate the Administration’s ongoing commitment to ensuring the success of Open Data – not just as a transparency goal, but also as a data governance policy with well-documented return on investment.

3. MODA should develop internal awareness campaigns to assist Open Data Coordinators in making more agency staff aware of the benefits of Open Data.

4. Agencies should assess demand for public information across multiple public-facing touch points – including dataset requests, public records requests, and 311 service requests – and work with MODA to identify ways in which they can proactively engage public stakeholders through Open Data.

5. MODA should continue to demonstrate the value of open data for data governance and analytics use cases through its Open Source Analytics Project Library and additional channels.

6. MODA​ ​should provide proactive guidance to Agency commissioners on ODC selection.

7. Agencies​ should have internal, cross-functional data governance teams that regularly convene and have Open Data on the agenda.

8. MODA​ ​and DoITT​ ​should align Open Data reporting with other reporting requirements, including performance reporting and public records requests, to build on existing resource allocations for process efficiencies.

9. When an ODC leaves their position, MODA and DOITT should provide proactive support to assist in handoff to ensure smooth transition and knowledge transfer.

10. MODA and DOITT should investigate tools for metadata documentation and management.