All in DATA Act

Data Standards and Data Dictionaries Need Data Governance

Data Standards and Data Dictionaries Need Data Governance

Dennis D. McDonald
DATA Act, Data, Data Access, Data Web, Governance, Internet of Things, Project Management, Standards, Data Governance, Data Program Management, Big Data, BDPM, Updates, Secrecy
Given the likely impact of the coming U.S. DATA Act on access to federal spending data, and continued development of federal “open data” programs, I wanted to “pick the brain” of someone for whom data and metadata standardization is a “meat and potatoes” business.
Managing Data-Intensive Programs and Projects: Selected Articles

Managing Data-Intensive Programs and Projects: Selected Articles

Dennis D. McDonald
Accountability, Analytics, Assessment, Cloud Computing, DATA Act, Data.gov, Governance, Industry Analysis, Information Technology, Innovation, Management, Metrics, NOAA, Open Data, PMO, Performance, Project Management, Strategy, eGovernment, Data Program Management, Digital Transformation

I’ve created this special compendium of posts that are relevant to planning and managing data related programs and projects. There are four groups:

How Should DATA Act Implementation Impact Federal Project Management Practices?

Dennis D. McDonald
DATA Act, Data Access, Data Conversion, Project Management, Transparency
While a central program management operation can define detailed technical requirements, technical approaches, and management tools, implementation work needs to be occurring locally – while the “train is still running.” How this overall governance process is managed will determine how long DATA Act implementation takes, how much it costs, and whether or not it is successful.
Data Standardization Scores and Changing the DATA Act

Data Standardization Scores and Changing the DATA Act

Dennis D. McDonald
DATA Act, Data Access, Open Data, Series S, Standards, Transparency
The basic ideas behind the DATA Act’s focus on financial data standardization makes such eminently good sense that efforts to weaken such standardization should be carefully and openly assessed. Fundamentally, data standardization if managed well can reduce costs, improve data manageability, reduce errors, and improve communication. Implementing data standards can also improve how date transparency efforts are supported as long as the people who operate the underlying systems want to be more transparent.
Recommendations for Collaborative Management of Government Data Standardization Projects

Recommendations for Collaborative Management of Government Data Standardization Projects

Dennis D. McDonald
Collaboration, DATA Act, Data, Data Access, Data Conversion, ETL, Project Management, Series S, Standards, Data Program Management
Standardizing how the U.S. government collects, manages, and publishes budget and expenditure data, as required by the DATA Act currently before the U.S. Congress, is an example of a long-term and complex project. It will be require careful planning, management, and sufficient resources to be successful.
How Important Is ‘Total Cost of Standardization’ to the DATA Act?

How Important Is ‘Total Cost of Standardization’ to the DATA Act?

Dennis D. McDonald
DATA Act, Data, Data Access, Data Conversion, ETL, Open Data, Policy, Project Management, Series S, Standards, Strategy, eGovernment, Data Governance
Last week I attended a meeting in DC sponsored by the Data Transparency Coalition, PwC, and Intel. Representatives of the Federal agencies likely to manage implementation of the evolving DATA Act presented their thoughts on implementing the Act’s requirements for standardizing and reporting on Federal financial data.