{"id":4996,"date":"2024-05-08T09:21:51","date_gmt":"2024-05-08T09:21:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.gov.scot\/digital\/?p=4996"},"modified":"2024-05-08T09:27:09","modified_gmt":"2024-05-08T09:27:09","slug":"moving-open-data-forward-the-benefits-challenges-and-opportunities-of-open-data-for-producers-users-and-leaders","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.gov.scot\/digital\/2024\/05\/08\/moving-open-data-forward-the-benefits-challenges-and-opportunities-of-open-data-for-producers-users-and-leaders\/","title":{"rendered":"Moving open data forward \u2013 the Benefits, Challenges and Opportunities of Open Data for Producers, Users and Leaders"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n

This blog has been written by Martin Macfie, Head of Open Data in the Digital Directorate\u2019s Data Division, in which he discusses recent work to better understand the benefits, challenges and opportunities of Open Data.<\/strong><\/p>\r\n

What we\u2019ve been doing <\/strong><\/p>\r\n

We need to be more strategic in the way we approach the publishing, messaging and culture around open data<\/a>.\u00a0 We want to maximise the impact and value of open data to better meet user needs, in line with the Public Service Reform Agenda, to improve outcomes for the people of Scotland.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n

In the last year, we commissioned desk-based research, public workshops and interviews to understand the benefits, challenges and opportunities for open data in Scotland. \u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\r\n

This has informed an independent report on the current international and domestic position on open data which provides recommendations for what we should do next. \u00a0We\u2019d like to thank Jack Lord and the team in Open Data Services for their work in leading the desk-based research and report, and Fractals Coop for their work in leading and running the workshops and interviews for the Scottish Government.<\/p>\r\n

What does open data to mean to you<\/strong><\/p>\r\n

We ran four public workshops and held a number of interviews over summer 2023.\u00a0 We had representation from government, local government and other public sector, academia, private sector and civil society at these events.\u00a0 We asked participants what open data means to them; and what\u2019s working well and not so well for them.<\/p>\r\n

Outputs from workshops, grouped into themes<\/strong><\/p>\r\n

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The 4 \u201cwaves\u201d of open data<\/strong><\/p>\r\n

The workshops were used to supplement the desk-based research. Combined, these have uncovered many findings which have been incorporated in a draft report. For example the four waves of open data have been introduced:<\/p>\r\n

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The report indicates that whilst Scotland has \u201can open data by default\u201d policy as prescribed in its Open Data Strategy <\/a>, the complex nature and landscape means that in reality there is a purpose-driven approach to open data publishing.\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\r\n

The report highlighted the key purposes where open data can be used to maximise value and impact. These include:\u00a0<\/p>\r\n