The document discusses the MacArthur Foundation Research Network on Opening Governance, focusing on how technology can enhance the effectiveness and legitimacy of democratic governance. It outlines seven premises for improving governance through data-driven and collaborative innovations, emphasizing the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration and the responsible use of open data. Key challenges identified include readiness and capacity issues, accountability in policy performance, and the need for long-term resource allocation strategies.

1. STUDYING DATA-DRIVEN AND
COLLABORATIVE INNOVATIONS
IN GOVERNANCE
TIC TEC, BARCELONA
APRIL 28, 2016
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2. ADOPTING AN INTERDISCIPLINARY APPROACH….
BETH SIMONE NOVECK STEFAAN VERHULST ANDREW YOUNG
KARIM LAKHANISHEENA S. IYENGARERIK JOHNSTONDEBORAH ESTRINSIR TIM BERNERS-LEE
ANITA MCGAHAN COSMA SHALIZI THOMAS PREHN DEB ROY GEOFF MULGAN LEE RAINIE
HENRY FARRELL
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3. TO BUILD AN EMPIRICAL
FOUNDATION AND
FUNDAMENTAL
UNDERSTANDING OF
HOW THE REDESIGN OF
DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS
USING TECHNOLOGY
IMPACTS EFFECTIVENESS AND
LEGITIMACY OF GOVERNANCE
TO THE END OF IMPROVING
PEOPLE’S LIVES
THE GOAL OF THE MACARTHUR FOUNDATION RESEARCH
NETWORK ON OPENING GOVERNANCE IS:
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4. TWO CENTRAL FOCUS AREAS AND HYPOTHESES:
LEVERAGE DATA TO INFORM DECISION-MAKING THEY ARE
MORE LEGITIMATE AND EFFECTIVE, AND OPEN DATA TO
THE PUBLIC, NEW PUBLIC VALUE IS CREATED.
DATA-DRIVEN GOVERNANCE
OPEN THEMSELVES TO DIVERSE PARTICIPATION AND
BETTER TARGET COLLABORATION EFFORTS, GOVERNING
DECISIONS ARE MORE EFFECTIVE AND LEGITIMATE.
COLLABORATIVE GOVERNANCE
WHEN GOVERNING INSTITUTIONS
LEVERAGE TECHNOLOGY TO:
WHEN GOVERNING INSTITUTIONS:

5. TO TEST THESE HYPOTHESES AND THE MANY RESEARCH QUESTIONS THAT EXIST
UNDER THEM, THE NETWORK AND ITS MEMBERS ARE ACTIVE IN FIVE KEY AREAS:
PROMOTING INTERDISCIPLINARY COLLABORATION;
DOCUMENTING THE PARADIGM SHIFT(S);
INCREASING UNDERSTANDING OF IMPACT – AND ITS VARIABLES;
TEACHING AND TRAINING;
PROMOTING THE UPTAKE OF FINDINGS;
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6. BASED ON TWO YEARS OF ACTIVITY
ALONG THESE TWO LINES, THE NETWORK
DEVELOPED SEVEN PREMISES THAT
GUIDES FURTHER RESEARCH ON
OPENING GOVERNANCE.
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7. PREMISE #1
INCREASED ACCESS TO AND SHARING OF GOVERNMENT DATA ENABLES PROBLEM
SOLVING, CREATING OPPORTUNITY, EMPOWERING CITIZENS AND IMPROVING GOVERNANCE.

8. PREMISE #2
CROWDSOURCING IMPACTS BOTH LEGITIMACY AND EFFECTIVENESS -
IMPROVING PUBLIC’S OPINION AND GENERATING USEFUL INPUT OTHERWISE NOT
AVAILABLE TO DECISION-MAKERS.
Center for Policy Informatics

9. PREMISE #3
“CROWDSOURCING WISELY” - LEVERAGING TECHNOLOGY TO BETTER IDENTIFY EXPERTISE, MOBILIZE
COLLECTIVE INTELLIGENCE AND TARGET OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTICIPATE IN GOVERNANCE CAN
CREATE GREATER IMPACTS THAN “CROWDSOURCING WIDELY”
www.thegovlab.org/smarter-state.html

10. PREMISE #4
THE SHARING OF DATA BETWEEN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS - IN A TRUSTED MANNER -
CREATES A 21ST CENTURY RESOURCE IMPACTING EVIDENCE BASED POLICY MAKING AND PROBLEM
SOLVING.

11. PREMISE #5
THE POTENTIAL AND IMPACT OF OPENING GOVERNANCE IS DEPENDENT ON CURRENT REGULATORY
AND ADMINISTRATIVE ENVIRONMENT.

12. PREMISE #6
OPENING GOVERNANCE IS IMPACTING AND AFFECTED BY THE CURRENT TRUST GAP.

13. PREMISE #7
THE IMPACT AND POTENTIAL OF OPENING GOVERNANCE IS DEPENDENT UPON THE “READINESS” OF
INSTITUTIONS - REQUIRING NEW CAPACITIES, METHODS, PERFORMANCE METRICS AND JOB POSITIONS.
TRAINING THE NEXT GENERATION
OF PUBLIC PROBLEM-SOLVERS
Academy
govlabacademy.org

14. SOLVING PUBLIC PROBLEMS CREATING
OPPORTUNITY
IMPROVING GOVERNMENT EMPOWERING CITIZENS
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16. ENABLING CONDITIONS
PARTNERSHIPS
POLICIES AND
PERFORMANCE METRICS
PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE
PROBLEM DEFINITION
Premise 1: Intermediaries and Data Collaboratives allow for
enhanced matching of supply and demand of data.
Premise 2: Developing Open Data as a public infrastructure
enables a broader impact across issues and sectors.
Premise 3: Policies, and regular assessments of their
performance provide the necessary accountability to respond
to open data demands.
Premise 3: Open data initiatives that have a clear target or
problem definition have more impact.
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17. CORE CHALLENGES
READINESS
RISKS
RESPONSIVENESS
RESOURCE ALLOCATION
Premise 5: The lack of “readiness” or capacity at both the supply
and demand side of open data hampers its impact.
Premise 6: Open data could be significantly more impactful if the
release of open data would be complemented with a responsiveness
to needs and commitment to act upon insights generated.
Premise 7: Releasing open data comprises a set of important
risks and vulnerabilities – such as privacy and security risks –
that are not always fully understood or addressed.
Premise 8: For open data to be impactful and sustainable, an
adequate and long term resource allocation strategy is required.
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THEGOVERNANCELAB
THANK YOU
opening-governance.org
odimpact.org
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