5 MindsetsBlocking

Open DataIn #Gov

© 2014 Dannielle Blumenthal@thinkbrandfirst

All opinions my own.Free to use, remix, share.

#1: Upside-Down Priorities

Old-Fashioned Forward Thinking

Fund Mission Operations Directly

Fund Discrete Mission Support Areas

Pay Perfunctory Attention To

Everything Else

Fund Through

Partnerships

Communicate to Engage Through

Data Release

Equip & Empower Staff

Cross-Functional Mission Support

#2: Either/Or Thinking

“Give ItTo Us Now.”

“Wait Till It’s Perfect.”

The Public Agency Experts

#3: Shame

“Give ItTo Us Now.”

“Wait Till It’s Perfect.”

“Imagine that on the cover of The Washington Post!”

#4: Faulty Public Affairs Strategy

NO: Corporate

• Corporate brands rely on an image of stability to reassure investors.

• Discussion of flaws is minimized.

• Government agencies tend to think they are corporate brands.

YES: Ingredient

• Actually, government agencies are ingredient brands.

• Government provides data, services & products that power other social institutions.

• Transparency is paramount to credibility – the ingredients must be safe.

#5: “Information Is Power” Thinking

The Way Ahead

Reject These Paradigms1. Upside-down priorities

2. Either/or thinking

3. Shame, fear, and dread of being “found out”

4. Faulty public affairs strategy – corporate branding

5. “Information is power” thinking

Embrace These Instead1. See open data as critical to

everything else the agency does.

2. Iterative release of data – give what you have, when you have it.

3. Talk first & continuously about problems – which are inevitable.

4. Pursue an ingredient brand strategy

5. Accomplish work in cross-functional groups – poor team players aren’t picked.