A PSB's Business Case for Opening Data

1. A Public Sector Body’s Business
Case for Opening Data
Andrew Stott
UK Transparency Board
formerly Director, data.gov.uk
@dirdigeng
EPSIPlatform, Rotterdam andrew.stott@dirdigeng.com
16 March 2012

2. Framework Business Case for Opening Data
 Increases accountability to our
taxpayers/voters
 Helps businesses innovate, so the economy
grows and makes the country/city richer
 Engages citizens in improving public services
 Improves our own efficiency
 Costs little or nothing
 We’ll work better with other public agencies
2

3. It’s a no brainer
3

4. A Public Sector Body’s Business
Case for NOT Opening Data
Andrew Stott
UK Transparency Board
formerly Director, data.gov.uk
@dirdigeng
EPSIPlatform, Rotterdam andrew.stott@dirdigeng.com
16 March 2012

5. The less we say the
more people will
trust us
5

6. In public services, producers
know what’s best for
consumers
6

7. [Citizens should
shut up and be
grateful they get
anything]
7

8. It’s not our job to
help business and
civil society
innovate and grow
8

9. We have the
money, skills and
time to make all the
websites and mobile
apps citizens would
ever need
9

10. Indeed our website
has won prizes*!
10

11. Indeed our website
has won prizes*!
*in a competition with other government
websites
11

12. We won’t share our
data with other
public agencies
unless they beg us
for it privately
12

13. We won’t share our
data with other
public agencies
unless they beg us
for it privately
After all, we don’t
need their data 13

14. So we have to release
something?
And it benefits business?
So let’s charge for it
14

15. A Public Sector Body’s Business
Case for Charging for Data
Andrew Stott
UK Transparency Board
formerly Director, data.gov.uk
@dirdigeng
EPSIPlatform, Rotterdam andrew.stott@dirdigeng.com
16 March 2012

16. Making money is our agency’s
prime mission.
16

17. Making money is our agency’s
prime mission.
The good of the country/city
and its people comes second.
17

18. (That’s why we joined the
civil service rather than
becoming bankers)
18

19. Intellectual Property
Management is a higher
priority to us than curing
patients, teaching kids,
catching criminals, keeping
the streets clean
19

20. Much of the money we
collect will be lost in the
costs of collecting it
20

21. Much of the money we
collect will be lost in the
costs of collecting it
But at least we’ll be
providing jobs to lawyers
and accountants
21

22. If only a few people buy our
data, we might lose money
overall
22

23. If only a few people buy our
data, we might lose money
overall
But we can always sack
some front line staff to pay
for the lawyers
23

24. Eventually the Ministry of
Finance will spot our “extra
income”, and subtract it from
our central grant
24

25. Eventually the Ministry of
Finance will spot our “extra
income”, and subtract it from
our central grant
We’ll be no better off, but we
will have more lawyers
25

26. We’re happy to charge other
public agencies for our data.
26

27. We’re happy to charge other
public agencies for our data.
They would not dare to
charge us for their data
27

28. There’s no evidence that
Open Data leads to
economic growth
28

29. the fact that all the
economic studies are
against us just shows that
they are all wrong
29

30. and economists are all mad
anyway
30

31. and economists are all mad
anyway
especially Rufus Pollock
31

32. Anyway, the benefit would
go to our country/city
32

33. Anyway, the benefit would
go to our country/city
Our business is not about
helping them.
33

34. Anyway, the benefit would
go to our country/city
Our business is not about
helping them.
Our business is about
helping ourselves 34

35. Finally
35

36. These business cases are
fictional
36

37. These business cases are
fictional
No real public agency would
ever use them
37

38. 38