Data Capability Through Collaborative Data Action

Abstract

AbstractThis chapter explains how data capability for non-profit organisations involves having the right skills, technologies and data management practices that match different organisations’ size, mission and contexts. Data capability is a holistic concept, and capability of organisations will flex over time and with changes in organisational goals, work and wider context. The chapter also presents a collaborative data action methodology to help non-profits build towards the data capability that suits their work and context. The collaborative methodology emphasises ‘learning by doing’ involving multi-disciplinary teams and diverse perspectives and addressing actual challenges of non-profits—at least in part—through re-using internal data. The collaborative data action methodology was developed and refined over time based on the authors’ learning from multiple data projects. It features cycles of analysing, visualising and interacting with data. Since collaboration is recommended, the authors provide suggestions about where and how to find data collaborators. The last section explains the significance of responsible data governance, with two key concepts that underpin being able to re-use data optimally—data consent and ethics—particularly explored. While ethics and consent are relevant for all data projects, they are particularly salient when considering advanced projects, such as those involving data collaboratives.