The Data Transparency event, held by the Data Foundation, “explored the benefits of adopting standardized and open data formats to transform government, compliance, and the private sector – creating new transparency, enabling analytics, and reducing costs.”
What does transparent data look like?
- It’s cloud-based
- It’s standardized
- It’s accurate
- It’s accessible
It’s no secret that government leaders are looking to open data to help all Federal agencies make better decisions about how grant funds are spent. Open data is the intersection where innovation between government and private sector thrives. It reduces time, effort, and mistakes – all of which save money.
Below are our biggest takeaways from this informative event.
Standardizing data is one of the first steps towards better, transparent data. Federal agencies are using too many different terms to describe the same thing. We must adopt a common language so we are all on the same page. Once we have clearer communications, we can quickly begin to make better decisions and identify innovative solutions. This also enables government to quickly adapt to emerging technologies.
Better data leads to more informed decisions. That means you have to go beyond just collecting data. You need a baseline understanding of what you currently have. Next, you must define clear metrics for what you are trying to accomplish. These steps will help identify whether you have all the data you need. Finally, collect and analyze your data continuously. Measure against those established metrics and course correct as needed.
Grant Reporting Efficiency and Transparency Act
Virginia Foxx, House Committee on Education and the Workforce Chair, closed out the event with a keynote address. She believes that better data and transparency will change lives for the better, but we have a long way to go. We have an abundance of data but aren’t using it to give us real information. She announced that she will introduce legislation to support a government-wide open data structure for all Federal grant reporting. The Grant Reporting Efficiency and Assistance Transparency Act (GREAT) would reduce the administrative burden and enable programs and grant recipients to spend more time using and managing grants. Foxx said, “Too many people in the Federal government — all over for that matter — spend more time putting in the paperwork to show they’re complying, than actually complying.”
GrantSolutions is eager to see how efforts such as the DATA Act and potentially the GREAT Act will continue to push the envelope for Federal agencies in assessing, reporting, and improving their programs.
