The Central Digital and Data Office (CDDO) has emphasised the importance of essential shared data assets (ESDAs) in government with a new policy, guidance and data ownership model.
This follows it asking central government departments to identify their ESDAs – data assets critical to the delivery of cross-government operations – and report on their metadata.
It said this will provide a step change in the way government approaches data discoverability and re-use and support the delivery of the Data Marketplace as a central place for finding data.
The policy document sets out a definition of ESDAs, direct outcomes, data in scope, the organisational and administrative scope and an indication of further sharing through trusted research environments, secure and assured government platforms and data trusts. It says that many of the initiatives are in early stages of development and require data from across government to achieve their aims.
The guidance includes an indication that a central team under the leadership of an organisation’s chief data officer should take responsibility for developing ESDAs, setting a timetable, reviewing existing data catalogues, and collating a shortlist of potential ESDAs with the contact details of accountable owners.
Targeting and assessment
It outlines delivery considerations and strategic targeting, along with an assessment process, submission of returns and peer review.
Departments will be expected to provide an initial list of ESDAs by the end of this year followed by relevant metadata.
The data ownership model includes roles and responsibilities and the principles to be promoted.
In an accompanying blogpost, Sue Bateman, chief data officer at CDDO, said: “The policy and guidance about essential shared data assets will allow the government to have a clear understanding of what data is critical from a cross-government perspective, as well as a clear, standardised and agreed way of identifying and reporting such data assets.”
The moves are part of its effort to improve data management practices for higher productivity and better services, and to harness technologies such as AI.
