All in Data Access

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.
The Changing Culture of Big Data Management

The Changing Culture of Big Data Management

Dennis D. McDonald
BDPM, Big Data, Collaboration, Data Access, Knowledge Management, Metrics, Statistics, Data Program Management
In some ways managing “big data” tools and processes is no different than figuring out how to manage any other type of technological innovation. The technology is introduced, experts emerge and help control and shape evolving practical applications, and management eventually figures out what is worth keeping and what can be discarded.
A Project Manager's Perspective on the GAO’s Federal Data Transparency Report

A Project Manager's Perspective on the GAO’s Federal Data Transparency Report

Dennis D. McDonald
Collaboration, Data Access, Governance, Project Management, Standards, Transparency
While improving data transparency for both financial and non-financial data is an important goal, any effort requiring an enterprise level shift in data formats or associated business processes can also require a substantial early peak in required resources. If in fact we need to delay implementing data transparency programs, perhaps we can use our time wisely by doing a more detailed job of research and planning.
Understanding How Open Data Reaches the Public

Understanding How Open Data Reaches the Public

Dennis D. McDonald
Big Data, Collaboration, Data Access, Governance, Local, Open Data, , Transparency
In the long run, traditional top-down efforts at management control may be insufficient to ensure that both agency goals and the potential benefits of open data access — including unanticipated cponsequences — are realized in an efficient and cost effective manner. While leadership by the Federal government’s IT infrastructure will be necessary, it will also be necessary to ensure that ongoing efforts to advance open data access are managed efficiently both across agencies and in accordance with individual agency and program priorities; IT staff cannot do this on their own and will have to work closely with agency management.
When Does a Public Data Good Become a Private Data Resource?

When Does a Public Data Good Become a Private Data Resource?

Dennis D. McDonald
Accessibility, Big Data, Business Models, Copyright, Costs, Data, Data Access, , Governance, Policy, Transparency, eGovernment
It may be that the greatest challenge facing private entrepreneurs in developing new and valuable information products and services based at least partially on public data will be public resistance to paying for information, no matter how new, innovative, or unique these producrts or services are.
The State of Government Data Transparency, 2013

The State of Government Data Transparency, 2013

Dennis D. McDonald
Big Data, Data Access, Open Data, Sequestration, Standards, Transparency
What I found most interesting and useful about the Data Transparency 2013 conference held September 10 in Washington DC was the diversity. The ability of Hudson Hollister’s Data Transparency Coalition to bring together such a high-quality group of speakers and attendees representing so many different perspectives was quite an accomplishment.
Perspectives on the NSA and PRISM: What Dyson Missed

Perspectives on the NSA and PRISM: What Dyson Missed

Dennis D. McDonald
Accountability, Analytics, Data, Data Access, Democracy, Media, Memory, NSA, PRISM, Privacy, Semantic Web, Snowden, Transparency, Cold War
In NSA: The Decision Problem George Dyson lays out a credible historical view on why he thinks what Snowden revealed about the NSA and PRISM was inevitable. While it’s certainly a pleasure to read a discussion of these issues that is so thoughtful, I think he misses one major theme that helps us understand our current predicament over what to do about Snowden.
Load More