Let's Start With Data

For any of you who know me, I’m a dreamer, glass half full and annoyingly positive type. The type of individual you need to ground regularly, but someone who can create a vision and drive direction by adding a pinch of passion and sprinkle of excitement to achievable outcomes.  

Why am I so excited about data, despite being on one of the biggest learning journeys of my career so far? Quite simply I love a great story! 

Yes, I am oversimplifying the complexity of data with the additions of analytics and intelligence, however what’s not to love: data and intelligence can be used to identify inefficiencies in internal operations and make data-driven decisions to optimise processes and reduce costs.   

With the current challenges across local government:      

• Resource
• Capability & Capacity
• Time
• Cost

Is data the solution to all our problems?   

Let me ground myself here; it’s certainly not a stand-alone solution and the answer to all our prayers, however by embedding data models and processes throughout organisations we can make informed and meaningful decisions to improve products and services for end users and in return drive business growth.   

What does a data mature council look like? 

As you can imagine, a digitally mature council will use data and insight effectively to increase understanding and drive efficiencies throughout services, however, as highlighted in the Audit Scotland report, “many councils are at an early stage of understanding how data can be better used to inform decisions, and understand user and community needs to achieve better outcomes". 

With this in mind, how do we support Local Government to realise ambitions collectively?

Continual engagement and discussions with all members of the Digital Partnership are reinforcing the need and value of supporting Data; data that allows organisations to visualise relationships between what is happening in different locations, departments and systems.  

Before we can improve current processes and make informed business decisions, we must understand where we are now by using real-time intelligence and problem solving. 

As referenced at the Digital Partnership Forum, we have refreshed our Data Delivery model. If you would like to be involved in any of the squads or partake in any of the data workstreams, please do connect with verity.hislop@digitaloffice.scot