Skip to main content

Tools for
community-centered
open data

While open data policies and portals are invaluable components of improving local governments’ outcomes, the ultimate goal of all government work — including open data — is to improve the day-to-day lives of the people in a community.

We have developed a framework called Tactical Data Engagement, a process for cities to facilitate opportunities for community use of open data to improve residents’ lives. It can be divided into a Discovery phase and an Action phase.

Ready to dive right in?

The Discovery phase entails finding relevant issue areas to focus open data, and conducting user research.

The Action phase involves co-designing and collaborating with communities around an open data project.

Get recognized for doing this work

Tactical Data Engagement helps cities improve residents’ lives. That’s why it’s among the best practices outlined in What Works Cities Certification, the U.S. standard of excellence for well-managed, data-driven local government. See how the program, part of Bloomberg Philanthropies’ What Works Cities initiative, can help your city improve.