The Digital Directorate of the Scottish Government has published a draft vision document for public sector data with a call for input into the next stage of its development.
It conveys an underlying vision is for data to support innovation and public wellbeing, and while not including any detail for projects or police it outlines five general ambitions.
These are: data informed decision making; public trust; environmental and societal benefits; designing data informed services that are easy for everyone to navigate; and embracing change.
It also identifies five approaches to realising the vision: shaping strategy; support for common approaches; marshalling resources and people; information approaches and tools needed to support realisation; and improving outcomes for people.
Horizon scan
The document has been developed from discussions of a horizon scan group of around 30 people from the public, private and third sectors. They were asked to think 20 years into the future to consider complex issues likely to face Scotland the data that could potentially support integrated solutions.
Shona Nicol, head of technical data policy in the directorate’s data division, said: “In the Scottish Government’s data maturity programme and more widely, we regularly hear about the challenges data professionals encounter when trying to enact change.
“This community tell us that a long term vision for public sector data for Scotland could help them by providing the context for what they are trying to achieve locally.”
