Tech Officials Urge States to Go Further Embracing Analytics
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State CIOs are discovering new analytics applications for putting citizens first and improving outcomes, according to a new government association report.
State technology leaders said data management and employing analytics were top priorities in a recent survey by the National Association of State Chief Information Officers. That’s why NASCIO makes the case in a new report released Wednesday that states should adopt quality data collection and analysis practices.
Data management and analytics are playing a central role in decision-making and service delivery for state governments, with CIOs often taking the lead. NASCIO said that it anticipates CIOs will put even more emphasis on “insight enabling analytics” across all agencies as states continue responding to the pandemic.
The main applications of analytics for states include areas like cybersecurity and predictive analysis. But as states evolve their technology capabilities, they are discovering new analytics applications, according to the report.
It says that analytics can provide government CIOs insights with:
- Reporting analysis: What is happening? Who is it impacting?
- Operational analysis: Where is the problem? Why is this happening?
- Predictive analysis: What will happen next?
Governments are poised for increased analysis capabilities, decision insights and optimization to reach desired outcomes because of increasingly broad types of data available including: big data; unstructured data; streaming data; artificial intelligence; and machine and deep learning.
Over time, state governments should move towards “a ubiquitous approach to analytics,” the NASCIO report states, adding: “We want to enhance everyone’s role with the necessary know-how, and motivation, to ask questions, interrogate reality, ask why? and why not? and pursue an attitude that is always exploring, always experimenting, always asking, and always learning.”
But with more analysis comes more questions, the report also notes. “Anticipate more requests from staff and citizens such as, ‘show me your data’; ‘show me your analysis of that data’; and ‘show me your conclusions.’ ”
Recommended Actions
In its report, NASCIO makes the following recommendations for employing more effective analysis:
- Determine your philosophical approach to analytics—a centralized or an enterprise-wide approach.
- Determine how analytics should be positioned to most effectively fulfill its intended function.
- Determine your capabilities, including with employees, cross-jurisdictional collaborative arrangements and industry partners.
- Focus on two important goals: the best answer wins and citizens first.
- Look at success stories across state government and industry and emulate what works regarding best practices and shared services.
- Focus on early quick wins showing the effectiveness and importance of analytics.
- Partner with your state chief data officer to establish appropriate analytics governance, operating discipline and training.
For more information from the report click here.
Jean Dimeo is managing editor of Route Fifty.
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