Open Data Readiness Assessment Part A: Users Guide

OPEN GOVERNMENT DATA

WORKING GROUP

PART A: OPEN DATA READINESS ASSESSMENT
USERS’ GUIDE

This document contains version 3.0 of the "Open Data Readiness Assessment” (ODRA) methodology prepared by the World Bank's Open Government Data Working Group. This version incorporates feedback received and practical experience gained in applying earlier versions up to the end of December 2013, as well as additional User’s Guide for the ODRA Methodology.This is Part A of the methodology and includes the Users’ Guide.

The purpose of this methodological tool is to assist in planning what actions a government authority could consider in order to establish an Open Data program, at either the national level or in a sub-national government, or individual public agency, based on a rapid diagnostic of eight dimensions considered essential for the success of an Open Data program.

The ODRA tool is part of the "Open Data Toolkit" published at data.worldbank.org/ogd and made freely available for others to adapt and use. Users can access the ODRA tool and its unofficial translations in French and Russian online at the following link A recorded training session on the methodology can be accessed at the same link.

The World Bank will continue to define and refine this Open Data Readiness Assessment tool, and it invites comments on this version by email to .

Assessments conducted using this version should explicit state that they are using “Version 3.0”.

Contents

PART A: USER’S GUIDE FOR THE ODRA METHODOLOGY

Introduction

Caveat

Purpose and Approach of this tool

Timetable

Scoping

Engagement Confirmation

Expert and Client Counterpart Team

Team briefing

Fieldwork Preparation

Interviewees

Fieldwork Confirmation

Using the Assessment Framework

Fieldwork

Assessment Report and Action Plan

Report Delivery and Follow-up

ANNEXES

Annex A: Example Preliminary Information Request

Annex B: Example list of meetings/interviews to be conducted

Annex C: Example Introductory Letter to Interviewees

Glossary

PART A: USER’S GUIDE FOR THE ODRA METHODOLOGY

Introduction

1. This tool has been developed by the World Bank to help prioritize actions in an Open Data Program.It is one of a number of resources in the World Bank Open Data Toolkit available at data.worldbank.org/ogd and made freely available for others to adapt and use.
2. This is the third version of the Readiness Assessment Framework.The World Bank is grateful for the comments and suggestions made on previous versions and for the feedback from users of the previous versions, most of which have been reflected in this version.

Caveat

This is a diagnostic and planning tool, it is not a measurement tool.This toolis intended to providediagnostics and recommendations for action based on existing good practice elsewhere, but it is not a prescription for Open Data, nor is it a formal evaluation exercise.The output of any diagnostic, even following the guidance in thistool, needs to be carefully and critically considered in the context of the particular circumstances in which it has been made.

Using the tool will not guarantee a successful and sustainable Open Data program on its own; implementation is crucial to ensure success.The purpose of the tool is to provide a plan for action for an Open Data program, as well as initiating a robust and consultative dialogue among relevant stakeholders.In that sense, use of this tool is the beginning of a process and not the end or result of a process.This tool is a ‘living’ document and will be subject to continuous updating and revision based on experience from actual practice.In addition, other means of assessing readiness for Open Data are available, and this toolis not necessarily the only, or always the most appropriate, in all particular circumstances.

Purpose and Approach of this tool

1. The Framework for this tool has been designed in the first instance to assist the World Bank and its clients to identify and prioritize actions in an Open Data Program and to identify where intervention can be most effectively applied.It has been specifically designed to allow a rapid assessment meeting these requirements.It is hoped, however, that it will serve as a useful tool for others to use, or to inspire the development of more targeted assessments or processes that closely link to local needs.Other users may also wish to invest greater time to conduct a fuller assessment, and it is hoped that the tool will be a useful framework on which to build.
2. The Readiness Assessment Framework has been designed to support an economical and action-orientated assessment of the readiness of a national, regional or municipal government - or even an individual agency or an individual sector - to evaluate, design and implement an Open Data Program.For brevity, the language and the guidance is sometimes in terms of national governments and institutional arrangements, but an Assessment Team should be able to adapt it easily to other organizational circumstances as necessary.
3. For the World Bank, an Open Data Program is not simply the design and launch of an Open Data Portal.Instead, a Program should aim to drive the development of a dynamic Open Data Ecosystem rich in both the supply and reuse of Open Data that fuels innovations by many types of stakeholders.Experience among leading governments has demonstrated that Open Data Programs are more sustainable and high-impact when Open Data efforts use an “ecosystem” approach – meaning governments invest not only in supplying data but also address the policy/legal framework, institutional readiness, capacity building (for government and infomediaries), citizen engagement, innovation financing and technology infrastructure.Governments need to play a multi-dimensional role in an Open Data Ecosystem and create new types of partnerships with a wide range of stakeholders.
4. Therefore the Assessment is designed to address both the supply and demand side of Open Data.However, it may be advisable for a government to use this tool alongside other tools that focus more deeply on specific areas of interest (e.g., civil society demand for Open Data or technical capacity of the public sector).
5. While the questions listed in this tool could be used in other contexts (for instance, as part of an assessment of relative performance in Open Data or adapted for use in an Open Government assessment) they are focused on the eight most important dimensionswhich have been found to need consideration and action at the earliest stages of a typical Open Data program: (1) senior leadership, (2) policy/legal framework, (3) institutional structures, responsibilities and capabilities within government, (4) government data management policies and procedures, (5) demand for Open Data, (6) civic engagement and capabilities for Open Data, (7) funding an Open Data program, and (8) national technology and skills infrastructure.
6. The ordering of the different dimensions is not significant; it does not indicate their relative importance. Both the importance and the amount of attention to be given to each dimension will need to be determined according to the objectives of a specific Assessment.In addition, the eight dimensions are not designed to cover all the possible elements for a successful open data program. Other issues could be important in particular local circumstances or at later stages in an Open Data program.
7. It is helpful for users of this tool to understand that Open Data and Open Government are related, but not the same thing. Open Data and its ecosystem can be a key component of a larger Open Government Program.By enabling the public release and free reuse of government data in machine-readable formats, Open Data can help make participation, collaboration and transparency—which are all key aspects of Open Government—more effective.For this reason, certain questions in this toolask about the broader area of Open Government.However Open Data and its ecosystem can also have other objectives including economic growth and business innovation.
8. In addition, nothing in this tool should be interpreted to contradict, substitute or take precedence over the need to protect private, personal data.In general, data must be anonymized before it can be released as Open Data.However many governments make exceptions in the public interest (e.g., salaries of individual public officials, criminal convictions).The Government must take appropriate steps—which may include a combination of laws, policies, processes and other safeguards—to ensure that personal data identifying individuals is not released as part of its Open Data Program.
9. Similarly, nothing in this tool takes away from the value of and need for an effective freedom of information regime for citizens to use. On the contrary, Open Data is entirely consistent and contributes to free access to public information, but it does not exhaust it.

Timetable

1. For the World Bank and its clients, the Readiness Assessment is intended to be performed rapidly and economically, normally within three to four weeks of actual work, depending on the country, following the timeline below.

1. The above timetable is net time of actual work-weeks. It does not include time for agreement to initiate the work, find the financial and human resources, and provide information all the information necessary to make the assessment. Nor does it include time employed by the authorities in revising drafts. These time periods are highly variable and depend on country circumstances and commitment. A sample timetable in calendar weeks would be approximately as follows.

1. Clients may adjust the timetable to align with their specific needs and objectives. However, in all cases, it is recommended that the assessment is conducted on a clearly defined schedule:experience shows that this helps focus attention on key strategic issues and to working with key stakeholders.Where additional, prolonged, study of specific issues is required then this may more conveniently be turned into a specific, scoped, follow-up action recommended by the Assessment - this would also allow additional or other expertise to be involved.

Scoping

1. The Open Data Readiness Assessment tool can be used in a variety of situations.For instance it may be used in the earliest stages of building capability; to help develop a more comprehensive Open Data Program once initial moves have already been made; or to take stock of development to date against best practices and identify actions for the future.Similarly, it can be used at the level of a national government, a regional or municipal government, a single institution or a single sector - although some of the questions would need to be adapted to the particular circumstances, and the scope for action may be constrained by sector-specific legal and other provisions.
2. More generally, the Open Data Readiness Assessment tool is designed to lead to action. In order for an Assessment to be worthwhile there must be a reasonable prospect of being able to take forward recommended actions.
3. Therefore it is essential that clear and practical objectives for the Assessment are agreed in advance with its government sponsor or sponsors - and that a specific senior sponsor is identified.The objectives should include the specific goalsfor which the sponsor needs the Assessment.The sponsor should be clear about how the Assessment relates to its interest in a specific, defined, outcome.The assessment project manager, and in due course the assessment team, should be equally clear on the focus of the assessment and should develop a plan for adjusting and applying the Open Data Readiness Assessment tool in the way which is relevant to that particular outcome target.
4. In turn these objectives should help identify potential key issues which could be identified during the Assessment, and to ensure that the necessary skills and experience are represented in the Assessment team.
5. The scoping phase should also identify and clearly state the audience for the Assessment report and its recommendations.It is very important to know before the Assessment is commissioned who the report will go to and for what purpose.The analysis and recommendations can then be directed towards the specific audience with the specific readiness to take specific actions towards the specific objectives.
6. It will also be important in this phase to identify all the major relevant stakeholders and how they should be involved in the Assessment.
7. For World Bank-managed Assessments, the Task Team Leader should brief the relevant Country Director during this period, not only on the intended project but also on relevant wider Open Data issues and the World Bank’s Open Data programs.

Engagement Confirmation

1. It is best practice if the expected outputs of the scoping phase - both in terms of objectives and in terms of modalities - are recorded in a formal memorandum agreed between the sponsorand the project manager conducting the ODRA. In the case of World Bank-managed Assessments, it is highly desirable that World Bank Country Manager or Country Director approve this memorandum. This allows the client government and the World Bank or other ODRA project manager to be absolutely clear about how the Assessment will be conducted and its expected outputs before work begins.This is critical in order to set and manage expectations, and keep everyone focused on what the Assessment seeks to achieve.
   
2. The memorandum should include:

*clear identification of the Sponsor and confirmation of their agreement to the Assessment