Data Stewards: The missing profession in the Digital Economy? (Datatank)

Arguments

Data stewardship can play a crucial role in solving access to data issues

Supporting facts:

• Many progresses have been made, but we still see that there are issues when it comes to access to data

• Firstly, because in many cases data is not available

• Secondly, because the quality of the data is not what is needed for the data to be reused for a specific purpose

Topics: Data Stewardship, Data Access, Public Interest

Data steward acts as an ambassador

Supporting facts:

• Data steward is essential for creating a common understanding of what does it mean, making data available for reuse

• The data steward is not the data privacy officer, it’s not the chief data officer, it’s not the technical IT person

Topics: Data Stewardship, Data Access, Public Services

The implementation of Data Steward Network in Slovenia

Supporting facts:

• Slovenia launched a network of Data Stewards

• Collaborated with OECD to define job responsibilities for Data Stewards

• Minister in Slovenia acknowledged the need and backed it up politically

• Chief Data Officer was pivotal in learning and realizing this concept

Topics: Data Steward, Open Data Agenda, Slovenia

Access and reuse of data should not only be limited to the public sector

Supporting facts:

• Barbara Ubaldi suggests the importance of having different stakeholders around the table when making data available for reuse, especially in scenarios requiring integrated data sets from various sources.

Topics: Data access, Data usage, Private sector involvement

Private sector companies should mirror government efforts in establishing data stewards

Supporting facts:

• Ubaldi believes that business models of private sector companies may vary in terms of data maturity, but the concept of having data stewards can still be adopted, making the whole ecosystem more mature and capable for data governance.

Topics: Data stewards, Private Sector, Government

Standards are essential and a necessity for data sharing and access

Supporting facts:

• Obstacles to data access and sharing often stem from the lack of consistent standards

• Lack of standards affects data quality

• Standards are needed for consistency across administration

Topics: Data Standards, Data Sharing, Data Access

Report

Data stewardship plays a crucial role in addressing issues related to data access. While progress has been made, access to data remains an ongoing challenge. Two main reasons contribute to these issues: the unavailability of data in many cases and the insufficient quality of available data for specific purposes.

The role of data stewards is paramount in resolving data access challenges. They ensure that data is made available for reuse, thereby creating a common understanding of its meaning and importance. It is crucial to note that data stewards are different from data privacy officers, chief data officers, or technical IT personnel.

They serve as ambassadors, facilitating effective data stewardship. The responsibilities of data stewards are context-sensitive and vary based on the specific needs and maturity level of the administration in question. The profile of a data steward may differ across countries due to varying necessities and levels of data maturity.

Recognising this allows for tailored solutions that address specific challenges unique to each administration. Slovenia stands as an example of successful implementation of a Data Steward Network. The country launched this network with the collaboration of the OECD, defining the job responsibilities for data stewards.

The political backing of the Minister in Slovenia played a pivotal role in acknowledging the need for data stewardship. The Chief Data Officer of the country was instrumental in understanding and implementing this concept. The creation of the Data Steward position requires political leadership, cultural change within the administration, and a leader who can bridge the gap between political leadership and practitioners.

Slovenia’s Minister recognised the importance of data stewardship, leading to its realisation. Cultural change, fostered by investments in the open data agenda, contributed to the successful establishment of data stewards. The Chief Data Officer played a central role in transforming the idea into a practical reality.

Collaboration between stakeholders from both the public and private sectors is essential for ensuring the access and reuse of data. Having different stakeholders around the table when making data available for reuse, especially in scenarios requiring integrated data sets from various sources, is emphasised.

Private sector companies should mirror government efforts in appointing data stewards, increasing overall data governance capabilities and maturity within the ecosystem. Standards are necessary for consistency in data sharing and access. The lack of consistent standards often hinders data access and sharing, impacting data quality.

Consistent standards are required to ensure shared understanding and consistency across different administrations. Agreement on using the same standards for specific datasets across borders can significantly enhance data sharing and reuse. This cross-border collaboration using uniform standards is ideal and facilitates data exchange and collaboration on a global scale.

Finally, the shared public interest should outweigh private business goals when it comes to data access and usage. Prioritising the public interest fosters a shared agenda that benefits society as a whole. In conclusion, data stewardship is vital in solving data access issues.

The context-sensitive role of data stewards, successful implementations in countries like Slovenia, collaboration between public and private sectors, consistent data standards, and prioritising the public interest all contribute to overcoming challenges and maximising the value of data for societal benefit.

Arguments

Data stewards play a crucial role in facilitating data sharing and the creation of public good in the era of big data

Supporting facts:

• Traditional data collection methods are being replaced by new technologies

• Few data stewards currently exist in the private sector

• Legal regulations often grant access to data for public purposes

• Data stewards in the private sector can help overcome challenges in data sharing

Topics: Data stewards, Data sharing, Big data, Public Good

Regulations are not enough for establishing data collaborations between public and private sector.

Supporting facts:

• Changes proposed to the basic act for the official statistics of Europe, the Data Act, and the Data Governance Act in the EU.

• Guarantee for the public sector to access private data in case of emergencies.

• Despite regulations, successful cooperation only happened when the private companies established units dealing with data stewardship.

Topics: Data stewardship, Official Statistics, Public-private collaborations, Data Governance Act, Data Act, European Union

Data stewardship collaboration between public and private sectors brings opportunities.

Supporting facts:

• Collaboration established with a telecom company and a credit card company in Poland.

• Both collaborations started quickly once the companies established units dealing with data stewardship and brought opportunities on both sides.

Topics: Data stewardship, Collaborations, Opportunities

There is a need for required data standards for ingesting private sector data

Supporting facts:

• Official statistics spend a lot of time developing information standards

• Adopting these standards in Private sector facilities the production of statistics

• Use of standards make interfaces between data holders and users easier to establish

Topics: Data standards, Private sector data

Report

Data stewards play a crucial role in facilitating data sharing and the creation of public good in the era of big data. Traditional data collection methods are being replaced by new technologies, and few data stewards currently exist in the private sector.

Legal regulations often grant access to data for public purposes, highlighting the need for data stewards to navigate these regulations effectively. Additionally, statisticians can serve as important data stewards by helping others use data, promoting data education, and contributing to global efforts in data stewardship.

However, it is evident that regulations alone are not enough to establish effective data collaborations between the public and private sectors. Successful cooperation between these sectors in data stewardship requires dedicated units and structures focused on data stewardship. National Statistical Institutes (NSIs) should also play a key role in facilitating data sharing, ensuring effective data usage, and promoting data standards.

The adoption of data standards is crucial for the ingestion of private sector data and can facilitate data reuse, leading to improved interoperability and valuable insights.

Arguments

One of the biggest opportunities within a data economy and one of the biggest ways to generate value from data is by data reuse

Topics: Data Economy, Data Reuse

In order to accelerate data reuse, we need to provide access to data

Topics: Data Access, Data Reuse

Data stewardship involves building a human infrastructure aimed at systematic, sustainable and responsible data reuse

Topics: Data Stewardship, Data Reuse, Data Access

Stefaan Verhulst is interested in how learnings are shared among data stewards

Supporting facts:

• Sonia mentioned that the IDSP facilitates learning and knowledge sharing among its members and disseminates these learnings and best practices publicly.

• Stefaan asked if there is a need for a data stewards platform that data stewards can learn from each other and if there is an exchange between public and private sectors

Topics: Data Stewardship, Learning Sharing, Public Sector, Private Sector

Stefaan elaborated on the role of data stewards in data innovation

Supporting facts:

• Sonia mentioned that IDSP encourages innovation and experimentation with new data sources.

• Stefaan asked about the role of the data stewards as it relates to data innovation given that it’s a fast moving environment

Topics: Data Stewards, Data Innovation, Technology

Slovenia is a good example of translating data stewardship into practice within the public administration

Supporting facts:

• Slovenia launched the data steward network within their administration

• The role, function, tasks, responsibilities, and profile for a data steward were defined with civil servants in Slovenia

• New role was acknowledged and backed by the political leadership, and Slovenia had long been investing in open data agenda

Topics: Data Stewardship, Public Administration, Slovenia

Political leadership, already existing practices, and the country’s data agenda leader’s support were crucial for Slovenia’s success in implementing data stewardship

Supporting facts:

• Slovenia’s minister acknowledged the importance of new role

• Country had been investing on open data agenda, enabling the cultural change

• Chief data officer in Slovenia was keen on making data stewardship a reality

Topics: Data Stewardship, Political Leadership, Open Data Agenda

Report

In the discussions surrounding data stewardship and data reuse, several important points were raised. Firstly, it was highlighted that one of the biggest opportunities in a data economy is the generation of value through data reuse. Reusing data allows for its potential to be maximised, creating new insights and opportunities.

To accelerate the process of data reuse, it was emphasised that access to data is crucial. Providing access to data enables more efficient and effective data reuse, as it allows individuals and organisations to access the necessary information for their projects and initiatives.

Data stewardship, on the other hand, involves the creation of a human infrastructure focused on systematic, sustainable, and responsible data reuse. This involves establishing guidelines, frameworks, and practices to ensure that data is managed and used in a responsible manner.

It is important for organisations to prioritise data stewardship in order to promote data reuse that is both ethically and legally sound. However, it was noted that scaling and sustaining data collaboratives has proven to be difficult. Data collaboratives aim to bring together different entities to share and collaborate on data projects.

While they have the potential to generate valuable insights and outcomes, challenges exist in scaling and sustaining these collaborations effectively. Further research and efforts are needed to overcome these challenges and ensure the long-term success of data collaboratives. Additionally, the discussions shed light on the importance of learnings and knowledge sharing among data stewards.

By sharing their experiences and best practices, data stewards can learn from one another and improve their approaches to data stewardship. This can contribute to the development of a stronger and more effective data stewardship community. The role of data stewards in driving data innovation was also discussed.

It was recognised that data stewards play a crucial role in fostering innovation by encouraging experimentation with new data sources. As data innovation continues to advance at a rapid pace, data stewards are in a unique position to facilitate and support innovative practices.

Insights from the experiences of open government data were considered valuable in the context of data stewardship. By examining how open government data has been used and managed, valuable lessons can be learned to inform and enhance data stewardship practices.

Furthermore, the case of Slovenia was highlighted as an example of successful implementation of data stewardship within the public administration. Slovenia established a data steward network and defined the role, function, tasks, responsibilities, and profile of a data steward. This initiative was supported and acknowledged by the political leadership, and the country had already been investing in an open data agenda, which contributed to the successful implementation of data stewardship practices.

Lastly, it was emphasised that for effective data collaboratives, a counterpart in the private sector is crucial. Without the involvement of the private sector, it can be challenging to establish and sustain data collaboratives. By engaging with the private sector, data collaboratives can access additional expertise, resources, and data sources, leading to more comprehensive and impactful outcomes.

In conclusion, the discussions around data stewardship and data reuse highlighted various important aspects. Generating value through data reuse, providing access to data, and establishing data stewardship practices are essential in a data-driven economy. Challenges exist in scaling and sustaining data collaboratives, and knowledge sharing among data stewards and the role of data stewards in innovation are key considerations.

Insights from open government data, successful implementation of data stewardship in Slovenia, and the importance of private sector involvement in data collaboratives were also emphasised. These insights can inform and guide efforts to promote responsible and effective data reuse and stewardship.

Arguments

The role of data stewardship is crucial in achieving good data governance and effective open government data.

Supporting facts:

• Data stewardship ensures that data is secure, but also open enough for sharing.

• Data stewards can facilitate the flow of data within and outside government.

Topics: Open Government Data, Data Governance, Data Stewardship

Data stewards serve as ‘data diplomats’, building relationships and negotiating alliances.

Supporting facts:

• Data stewards are responsible for managing both the supply and demand sides.

• Stewards can build ecosystems and initiate partnerships that benefit data culture in public organizations.

Topics: Data Stewardship, Data Governance

Implementing effective data stewardship requires investment and capacity building.

Supporting facts:

• The role of a data steward is complex and involves managing various aspects, such as data accessibility, findability, and reusability.

• Data stewards need to be equipped with the right skills to lead changes in governance and processes.

Topics: Data Stewardship, Investment

Data stewards can identify valuable datasets and create valuable partnerships

Supporting facts:

• Data stewards need to identify priorities and make them happen

• It’s costly to manage thousands of datasets, so identification of valuable ones is crucial

• Engagement ‘as trust intermediaries’ can help information flow better

Topics: Data Stewardship, Open Data, Transparency, Policy

Report

Data stewardship plays a vital role in achieving good data governance and effective open government data. The role of data stewards is to ensure that data is not only secure but also open enough for sharing. This is crucial as it allows for the free flow of data within and outside the government, enabling effective decision-making and collaboration.

One of the key arguments in support of data stewardship is its ability to act as a “data diplomat,” building relationships and negotiating alliances. Data stewards have the responsibility of managing both the supply and demand sides of data. By doing so, they can build ecosystems and initiate partnerships that benefit data culture in public organisations.

This helps foster collaboration and knowledge sharing, resulting in improved data governance and more effective utilisation of open government data. Implementing effective data stewardship requires investment and capacity building. Data stewards need to be equipped with the right skills to lead changes in governance and processes.

They play a complex role that involves managing various aspects, such as data accessibility, findability, and reusability. Therefore, investing in their training and development is essential to ensure they can effectively perform their duties and drive meaningful change. Another significant advantage of data stewardship is its potential to drive innovation and effectiveness across various sectors.

Data stewards are expected to generate value, develop better public policies, fight misinformation, and promote science using data. By ensuring the availability of high-quality data and creating an environment that supports innovation, data stewardship opens new frontiers for improvement within public organisations.

Furthermore, data stewards play a critical role in identifying valuable datasets and creating valuable partnerships. Managing and curating vast amounts of data can be challenging and costly. Therefore, data stewards need to identify priorities and determine which datasets are most valuable.

They act as trust intermediaries, facilitating the flow of information and building partnerships that can further enhance data governance and utilisation. It is also worth noting that data stewards need to build a strong business case for their initiatives. Transparency is becoming increasingly important in governance, and people expect the government to be open and accountable.

However, continuous efforts in data stewardship can be costly. Nevertheless, due to societal expectations and the benefits derived from effective data governance, it is challenging not to justify the investment. In conclusion, data stewardship is a crucial aspect of achieving good data governance and effective open government data.

Data stewards play a vital role in ensuring data security while facilitating its flow within and outside the government. They act as “data diplomats” by building relationships and negotiating alliances, which enhances data culture in public organisations. By investing in their skills development, data stewardship can lead to effective changes in governance and processes.

Furthermore, data stewards have the potential to drive innovation and generate value across various sectors. They identify valuable datasets and create partnerships that further enhance data governance. While the cost of continuous efforts may be a challenge, data stewards need to build a strong business case to justify these investments due to societal expectations and the benefits derived from transparency and effective data governance.

Arguments

Industry Data for Society Partnership (IDSP) is a global initiative to facilitate the reuse of private sector data for public good

Supporting facts:

• The partnership includes various private companies interested in opening their data

• The IDSP identifies data projects that have outcomes that benefit society

Topics: Data Stewardship, Data Collaboration, Public Good

IDSP aims to foster trust among its members and stakeholders by promoting learning and sharing resources to facilitate data stewardship

Supporting facts:

• IDSP fosters trust by promoting open learning and resource sharing

• Data challenges are conducted open to the public to encourage innovation

Topics: Trust building, Data Stewardship

The private sector needs to adopt a more active role in data sharing and the adoption of the data steward role.

Supporting facts:

• Microsoft has supported a number of data collaborations

• Microsoft has released a framework for the adoption of the data steward role

Topics: Data sharing, Data Stewardship, Private Sector

Leadership is crucial in driving change and adoption of data steward role within an organization.

Supporting facts:

• Leadership commitment is required to hook an organization’s data to work

Topics: Leadership, Data Stewardship

Aligning data sharing activities with business goals is important.

Supporting facts:

• ESG is core to many companies’ business strategies

• Ensuring there’s a prioritization aligned with business goals in relation to data sharing ensures sustainability

Topics: Data sharing, Business Goals

The value of data lies in the outcomes it can drive, rather than its intrinsic value.

Supporting facts:

• The more businesses share and collaborate around data, the more opportunities there will be to solve both economic and societal issues

Topics: Data Value, Data Sharing

Report

The Industry Data for Society Partnership (IDSP) is a global initiative that aims to facilitate the reuse of private sector data for the public good. It consists of various private companies that are interested in opening up their data to benefit society.

The partnership is positive in sentiment and focuses on promoting data stewardship for the greater good of society. IDSP fosters trust among its members and stakeholders by promoting open learning and resource sharing. This creates an environment conducive to collaboration and innovation in data stewardship.

Additionally, the partnership conducts open data challenges to encourage public participation and drive innovation. The private sector plays a crucial role in data sharing and the adoption of the data steward role. For example, Microsoft has supported multiple data collaborations and released a framework for adopting the data steward role.

To optimize data sharing and utilization, the private sector needs to take a more active role in sharing data and embracing their responsibilities as data stewards. Leadership is identified as a key driver for change and the adoption of the data steward role within organizations.

Strong leadership commitment is required to harness an organization’s data and ensure its effective use. By embracing the data steward role and providing support, leaders can enable their organizations to make better use of data for societal benefit. Aligning data sharing activities with business goals is also emphasized.

Many companies prioritize Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) practices, which are integral to their business strategies. By aligning data sharing activities with these goals, companies can ensure sustainability, long-term success, and positive societal impact. Furthermore, the value of data lies in the outcomes it can drive rather than its intrinsic value.

Collaborating and sharing data leads to more opportunities for solving both economic and societal issues. By focusing on the potential outcomes and leveraging data to address pressing challenges, the true value of data can be realized. In conclusion, the IDSP is a global initiative that promotes the reuse of private sector data for the public good.

It fosters trust, encourages collaboration through open learning and resource sharing, and emphasizes the importance of leadership, alignment with business goals, and the value of data outcomes. The private sector’s active involvement in data sharing and adopting the data steward role contributes to positive societal impact.