Data is an increasingly crucial component of every aspect of government, from its use in critical decision-making to daily operations and management. But to engrain data analytics into every agency decision, organizations cannot rely on data scientists alone. There is simply too much data and too few skilled professionals. Instead, it will be up to every public servant to collect, manage, interpret and use data to further government’s missions.
Admittedly, that universal call to action might seem impossible to achieve given workforce shortages, legacy technologies and a growing amount of disparate data.
As this guide explains, however, data analytics doesn’t require complex systems or skills to start turning data into insights. Analytics simply require an understanding of the data you have at your fingertips, and the skills or tools you need to start investigating it.
This guide will help provide that understanding. We’ll explain how to create a “data persona” – a profile of your job, its relationship to data, the goals you might achieve and the tools you need to make it happen with data. We’ll also offer four high-level examples of how common agency positions can be directly enhanced by data analytics, as well as case studies and advice from real government workers. Finally, we’ll provide a worksheet for you to get started outlining the role of data in your job.
No matter what your job description says, data analytics is a crucial part of your role. This guide will help you get started making better, data-driven decisions with analytics.
