Opening Digital Agenda
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OPENING GOVERNMENT DATA
Providing public information is a central charge of Government and so Open Government Data is a top issue. A number of institutions provide data so creating an ample demand pull. The categories of data involved comprise geographical data, micro-census, regulations, traffic data etc. On this basis successful applications are created in cooperation of agencies with private enterprises. Many commercial projects thrive with the release of Open Government Data. Thus Open Government Data heighten the quality of life by useful applications. Open Government Data create public value in several ways. Public value is linked to individual and societal interests. Initially, there is an intrinsic value in Government itself. Then value is created by improving openness, transparency and accountability as well as efficiency and effectiveness. According to a broad consensus good governance is enhanced; hence several marks of good governance are affected. Here one could list participation, consensus reaching, accountability and responsiveness. One has to be aware that transparency has several aspects such as documents, benchmarks, processes and meetings. Concerning information quality there is not much dispute, as most data created in administration are rather “hard” – just as to mention taxation figures or the wording of norms. 5
IMPROVING THE COMMUNICATION COMPETENCE
Open Government Data provides a way to improve the general administrative part of Government. The legal and administrative domain knowledge is widened enabling internal improvements. For the impact of Open Government Data on the general administrative realm one can find manifold examples: feedback from and an increased contact with the public, a better cross agency cooperation and more ways of good practice exchange. Also the benefits going to administrations are quite diverse; they comprise cost and time savings and a burden reduction in administrative work. An advantage not to forget is the improvement of self-reflection within administrations as intelligence organizations. Open Government Data create advantages for the greater public. A good number of the various commercially produced apps are fervently accepted. In addition, it is noteworthy to state, that on occasion contributions are generated by the clients themselves. In diverse ways citizens help other citizens so by giving hints how to deal with special administrative problems. Sometimes amateurs prove their skills in re-writing public information which may become better understandable as the official jargon used for. A particular kind of contribution concerns citizens conferring ratings of public service. This means valuable feedback and delivers an example how the control loop of governance works. 6
SUPPORTING CITIZEN PARTICIPATION
A major influence of Open Government Data concerns citizen participation. Supporting e-Participation is a hot topic as Government has the intention to support the formation of a democratic culture. For this aim participation develops and implements new forms of involvement in policy making. The range of communication is broad and involves many persons, citizens, public authorities, elected representatives and experts. The forms are diverse so filling a wide array, with informing and consulting as low range and involvement, collaboration and empowerment as high level.
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