Looking for datasets to open: An exploration of government officials' information behaviors in open data policy implementation

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to analyze the factors influencing the behaviors of government officials during the implementation of open government data (OGD). By identifying and understanding the key factors that determine government officials' adoption of OGD in China, this study can create a valuable reference for other countries and their decision-making regarding government implementation of OGD.Design/methodology/approachThis research collected data by in-depth interviews with government officials in Chinese OGD departments. Through these interviews, the authors consulted 15 administrators from departments that are responsible for the information tasks in Beijing and other cities on their opinions about OGD. The authors also interviewed senior executives from information technology (IT) companies, as well as open data policy scholars from big data alliance and research institutions.FindingsThis paper provides insights about how to promote government officials in OGD implementation, including (1) strengthen social supervision for the environment, through developing and publishing OGD technology roadmaps, then attracting the public to actively participate in the implementing of OGD; (2) establish an OGD assessment mechanism for government officials, with bonus motivations, position promotion incentives, as well as spiritual incentives via regional or sector rankings; (3) alleviate the risks of officials' OGD decisions in actual practice, using the institution construction of OGD to guide its direction and strengthen security protection.Originality/valueThis paper fulfils an identified need to study how government officials' behavior can be motivated on OGD implementation.

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Data ideologies of an interested public: A study of grassroots open government data intermediaries

Big Data & Society ◽

10.1177/2053951717690750 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 4 (1) ◽

pp. 205395171769075 ◽

Cited By ~ 21

Author(s):

Andrew Schrock ◽

Gwen Shaffer

Keyword(s):

Open Data ◽

Government Officials ◽

Software Developers ◽

The Public ◽

Political Landscape ◽

Socially Constructed ◽

Open Government Data ◽

Government Data ◽

A Site ◽

Institutional Actors

Government officials claim open data can improve internal and external communication and collaboration. These promises hinge on “data intermediaries”: extra-institutional actors that obtain, use, and translate data for the public. However, we know little about why these individuals might regard open data as a site of civic participation. In response, we draw on Ilana Gershon to conceptualize culturally situated and socially constructed perspectives on data, or “data ideologies.” This study employs mixed methodologies to examine why members of the public hold particular data ideologies and how they vary. In late 2015 the authors engaged the public through a commission in a diverse city of approximately 500,000. Qualitative data was collected from three public focus groups with residents. Simultaneously, we obtained quantitative data from surveys. Participants’ data ideologies varied based on how they perceived data to be useful for collaboration, tasks, and translations. Bucking the “geek” stereotype, only a minority of those surveyed (20%) were professional software developers or engineers. Although only a nascent movement, we argue open data intermediaries have important roles to play in a new political landscape.

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Analysis of the Intensity of Communication and Coordination of Government Officials on Twitter Social Media during the Covid-19 Handling in Indonesia

Academic Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies ◽

10.36941/ajis-2021-0087 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (3) ◽

pp. 319

Author(s):

Muslimin Machmud ◽

Bambang Irawan ◽

Kisman Karinda ◽

Joko Susilo ◽

. Salahudin

Keyword(s):

Social Media ◽

Policy Implementation ◽

Local Governments ◽

Qualitative Content Analysis ◽

Analysis Approach ◽

Online Media ◽

Government Officials ◽

Social Media Data ◽

Communication And Coordination ◽

Media Data

The aim of this study is to explain government officials’ communication and coordination intensity on twitter social media while handling the Covid-19 pandemic in Indonesia. This research uses a qualitative content analysis approach towards the official Indonesian government official’s account. The result showed a developed communication and intensive coordination between President Jokowi and the team, in attempt to properly accelerate the handling process. Furthermore, this activity was also achieved with a number of governors. The presidency aimed to build the commitment of central and local government officials, and jointly support the policy implementation to properly manage Covid-19. These communication and coordination activities positively impacted on the high attention of local governments to accelerate the handling in a number of regions. However, the study limitations include the use of Twitter social media data, characterized by the inability to reveal performance of government officials. Therefore, subsequent research is expected to adopt a triangulation analysis approach to data on twitter social media, online media, official government reports, and information from trends in Indonesian cases. Received: 7 August 2020 / Accepted: 11 February 2021 / Published: 10 May 2021

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Implementing healthy food environment policies in New Zealand: nine years of inaction

Health Research Policy and Systems ◽

10.1186/s12961-021-00809-8 ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 20 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Sally Mackay ◽

Sarah Gerritsen ◽

Fiona Sing ◽

Stefanie Vandevijvere ◽

Boyd Swinburn

Keyword(s):

New Zealand ◽

Policy Implementation ◽

Food Environment ◽

Best Practice ◽

Good Practice ◽

Healthy Food ◽

Government Officials ◽

Stimulate Action ◽

National Governments ◽

Implementation Gaps

Abstract Background The INFORMAS [International Network for Food and Obesity/Non-communicable Diseases (NCDs) Research, Monitoring and Action Support] Healthy Food Environment Policy Index (Food-EPI) was developed to evaluate the degree of implementation of widely recommended food environment policies by national governments against international best practice, and has been applied in New Zealand in 2014, 2017 and 2020. This paper outlines the 2020 Food-EPI process and compares policy implementation and recommendations with the 2014 and 2017 Food-EPI. Methods In March–April 2020, a national panel of over 50 public health experts participated in Food-EPI. Experts rated the extent of implementation of 47 “good practice” policy and infrastructure support indicators compared to international best practice, using an extensive evidence document verified by government officials. Experts then proposed and prioritized concrete actions needed to address the critical implementation gaps identified. Progress on policy implementation and recommendations made over the three Food-EPIs was compared. Results In 2020, 60% of the indicators were rated as having “low” or “very little, if any” implementation compared to international benchmarks: less progress than 2017 (47%) and similar to 2014 (61%). Of the nine priority actions proposed in 2014, there was only noticeable action on one (Health Star Ratings). The majority of actions were therefore proposed again in 2017 and 2020. In 2020 the proposed actions were broader, reflecting the need for multisectoral action to improve the food environment, and the need for a mandatory approach in all policy areas. Conclusions There has been little to no progress in the past three terms of government (9 years) on the implementation of policies and infrastructure support for healthy food environments, with implementation overall regressing between 2017 and 2020. The proposed actions in 2020 have reflected a growing movement to locate nutrition within the wider context of planetary health and with recognition of the social determinants of health and nutrition, resulting in recommendations that will require the involvement of many government entities to overcome the existing policy inertia. The increase in food insecurity due to COVID-19 lockdowns may provide the impetus to stimulate action on food polices.

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Development and release of phenological data products—A case study in compliance with federal open data policy

Open-File Report ◽

10.3133/ofr20181007 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Alyssa H. Rosemartin ◽

Madison L. Langseth ◽

Theresa M. Crimmins ◽

Jake F. Weltzin

Keyword(s):

Open Data ◽

Phenological Data ◽

Data Products ◽

Data Policy

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Early mapping of industrial tomato in Central and Southern Italy with Sentinel 2, aerial and RapidEye additional data

The Journal of Agricultural Science ◽

10.1017/s0021859618000400 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 156 (3) ◽

pp. 396-407 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Gaia Vaglio Laurin ◽

Claudio Belli ◽

Roberto Bianconi ◽

Pietro Laranci ◽

Dario Papale

Keyword(s):

Open Data ◽

Development Stage ◽

Control Area ◽

Current Case ◽

Crop Development ◽

Data Policy ◽

Main Production ◽

Growth Changes ◽

Production Areas ◽

Sentinel 2

AbstractTimely crop information, i.e. well before harvesting time and at first stages of crop development, can benefit farmers and producer organizations. The current case study documents the procedure to deliver early data on planted tomato to users, showing the potential of Sentinel 2 (S2) to map tomato at the very beginning of the crop season, which is a challenging task. Using satellite data, integrated with ground and aerial data, an initial estimate of area planted with tomato and early tomato maps were generated in seven main production areas in Italy. Estimates of the amount of area planted with tomato provided similar results either when derived from field surveys or from remote-sensing-based classification. Tomato early maps showed a producer accuracy >80% in seven cases out of nine, and a user accuracy >80% in five cases out of nine, with differences attributed to the varying agricultural characteristics and environmental heterogeneity of the study areas. The additional use of aerial data improved producer accuracy moderately. The ability to identify abrupt growth changes, such as those caused by natural hazards, was also analysed: S2 detected significant changes in tomato growth between a hailstorm-affected area and a control area. The study suggests that S2, with enhanced spectral capabilities and open data policy, represents very valuable data, allowing crop monitoring at an early development stage.

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Societal and Economical Impact on Citizens through Innovations Using Open Government Data

Handbook of Research on Cultural and Economic Impacts of the Information Society - Advances in Human and Social Aspects of Technology ◽

10.4018/978-1-4666-8598-7.ch007 ◽

2015 ◽

pp. 147-178 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

D. P. Misra ◽

Alka Mishra

Keyword(s):

Good Governance ◽

Open Data ◽

Indian Society ◽

Government Accountability ◽

Open Government Data ◽

Data Platform ◽

Data Policy ◽

Government Data ◽

The Government ◽

The Impact

This chapter analyzes the impact that an open data policy can have on the citizens of India. Especially in a scenario where government accountability and transparency has become the buzzword for good governance and further look at whether the availability of open data can become an agent for socio-economic change in India. What kind of change it can bring to India which has its own complexities when it comes to socio economic issues and whether the steps taken by the government are up to the mark to address these complexities through data sharing. In order to understand the changes which may occur for the good or the bad, the chapter looks at specific examples where the open data platform have been utilized in India and what impact they have had on the Indian society and how the citizens have responded to it.

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