What can the Open Data Goldbook offer you?
Publication Date/Time
2017-02-08T13:45:00+00:00
A practical guide on starting an Open Data initiative
To support organisations on their path to 'open by default', the Open
Data Goldbook for Data Managers was created. This Goldbook, serving as
a practical Open Data guide, is a summary of all you need to know to
successfully implement an Open Data initiative within your
organisation. You can expect this Goldbook to cover the basic
organisational, technical and day-to-day challenges related to Open
Data; from terminology to processes, from implementation to execution.
The Goldbook includes 12 different sections.

In the section 'Open Data in a Nutshell
[/en/providing-data/goldbook/]', it sets out the definition of Open
Data, why Open Data matters and what benefits can be expected. The
Goldbook also describes how to build an Open Data strategy
[/en/providing-data/goldbook/], by addressing the key ingredients for
a successful Open Data initiative.
[https://data.europa.eu/sites/default/files/img/media/goldbook-fig1.png]
FIGURE 1 HOW TO BUILD AN OPEN DATA STRATEGY

Publishing any type of data is a process that consists of various
sub-processes. In short, it involves collecting, preparing, publishing
and maintaining data. These processes are clearly described in
separate sections of the Goldbook. Applying these processes will
result in a structured Open Data system within your organisation.
[https://data.europa.eu/sites/default/files/img/media/goldbook-fig2.png]
FIGURE 2 OPEN DATA LIFECYCLE

Introducing an Open Data initiative also requires some technical
knowledge, with data that needs to be extracted, transformed and
published. Data management is crucial, and this process is presented
in the section on the Technical Preparation and Implementation
[/en/providing-data/goldbook/].

Having processes in place for the collection, preparation, publication
and maintenance of Open Data is not enough for a successful Open Data
initiative. The success of your implementation also needs to be
evaluated. To ensure and monitor the success of your Open Data
initiative, it is important to engage re-users and to monitor various
key aspects of your initiative. Your stakeholders will play a key role
in underlining the benefits and concerns of your Open Data activities.
A second step relates the monitoring of your Open Data initiative. To
monitor [/en/providing-data/goldbook/] the success of your Open Data
initiative, consider implementing metrics to your publications in
order to evaluate its success.

Curious to learn more about the various steps for implementing a
successful Open Data initiative? Visit the different sections of the
Goldbook [/en/providing-data/goldbook/] and find out. The Open Data
Goldbook has been drafted mainly for a public sector audience, because
civil servants are often directly working on increasing the release of
Open Data. Private sector organisations and NGOs however are welcome
to explore the Goldbook and see how the concepts developed could
equally be applied in publishing their data as Open Data.
