Evaluating the Value of Open Data

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2013-08
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Abstract
Government data has been accumulated for centuries in protected repositories and registries as public record and a matter of civil order. Recently, the open data movement has emerged as a group that focuses on facilitating open access to government data. Open data is data that is produced in the course of an organization's ordinary business, which has been released under an unrestricted licence. Underpinning open data is the philosophy that data generated or collected by organisations in the public sector should belong to the taxpayers, wherever financially feasible and where releasing it won't violate any laws or rights to privacy (either for citizens or government staff). Proponents of open data argue that it can strengthen democracy and improve government through increased participation, collaboration, and transparency. Advocates are also motivated by its potential contribution to greater productivity and economic growth through increased government efficiency and the creation of new businesses and services. Studies have shown that open data initiatives are likely to create both economic and social value and that the direct financial benefits substantially outweigh the costs. However, since open data initiatives are relatively recent, key questions regarding the return on investment and impact of these initiatives remain unanswered. This report addresses the question of how the impact and value of open data can be evaluated.
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Ma, George. (2013). Evaluating the Value of Open Data ( Master's thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca.