Introducing the Government Data Maturity Model

What is it and why does it matter for you and your organisation?

Following the publication of the National Data Strategy in 2020, the Government Data Quality Hub (DQHub) have been busy working alongside colleagues in the Data Standards Authority (DSA) to build a single data maturity model for government. Next month (December 2021), a pilot programme will begin rolling out across volunteer government departments.

But what is data maturity? How can it help improve data usage across government? And why is it relevant to you?

All organisations produce, process and use data in some shape or form. But the presence of data does not necessarily mean that it is being used effectively. Measuring your data maturity is a way of identifying how set up your organisation is to make the best use of its data. Many different elements can contribute to data maturity and building capability in each of these areas can strengthen the overall capability of your organisation.

Data maturity is fluid and can vary substantially over time, for example as a result of changes in data availability, analytical capability or even leadership. Commitment to continuous improvement is crucial to maximising data value.

Data maturity can be viewed through many different lenses to help you better understand some of the many different themes that contribute to it, for example:

Uses - How do you get value out of data?

Leadership - How much is data regarded as a major organisational priority?

Culture - What are the attitudes to data in your organisation?

Skills - How data literate are your staff?

This multi-dimensional approach allows you to consider if you and your users are benefitting as much as possible from the data you have.