Data & Analytics

Predictive and prescriptive data analytic techniques that projects what is going to happen in the future, and what could be done to create better outcomes.

Descriptive and diagnostic data analytic techniques that tell what is happening now, what happened in the past to get to the current state, and why it happened.

The process of analyzing, interpreting, and communicating data to create useful information that drives decisions and actions.  Data analytics includes both business analytics and business intelligence.

A cycle that includes five stages: capture (gathering raw data), maintain (taking the raw data, cleaning it, and putting it into a form that can be used), process (examining the data and determining how it can be used for analysis), analyze (performing the analyses on the data), and communicate (creating easily readable forms - charts, graphs and reports).

Qualitative, quantitative and descriptive variables that are collected, created, and maintained by state agencies as part of carrying out state business.

State data that have been cleaned, corrected and transformed for more suitable processing, and analyzed and/or reported to create useful information about operational characteristics or ambient conditions.  State data assets provide the ability to communicate results, monitor issues or problems, control processes and manage performance, improve operational effectiveness and efficiency, and/or facilitate actionable insights.  Examples of data assets would include datasets, visualizations, measures, reports, forecasts, models, stories, dashboards, etc.

State agencies should publish data to:

• Improve the public’s understanding of the cost and purpose of government services.
• Improve governmental accountability and public participation.
• Leverage data held by different agencies by connecting datasets and finding new insights.
• Eliminate redundancies by allowing the access of data in one place.
• Improve decision making by better informing people with data.
• Create more efficient and proactive process for open records requests.
• Encourage innovative ideas (e.g., web applications) that enhance the lives of our citizens.
• Increase economic activity by generating new and rich content through new applications and services.
• Comply with the requirements of the Taxpayer Transparency Act and Accountable Government Act.

State data is considered high impact where it:

• Tracks strategic initiatives.
• Tells the agency's story.
• Is frequently requested Is in strong demand.
• Is of timely interest.
• Costs high dollars to collect.
• Provides an economic opportunity.
• Facilitates reporting.
• Encourages cross-agency collaboration.

Data is difficult to publish where:

• Data is unstructured contained only in documents or on paper.
• Data contains a lot of missing or incomplete values.
• Data is not precisely defined and can be easily misinterpreted.
• Data is inconsistent and recorded values can mean different things.
• Data contains contradicting values leaving uncertainty to which information is correct.
• Measured data lacks standard reference method or measurement protocol.
• Data contains confidential or sensitive information.
• Agencies lack procedures for exporting data, and assuring its quality.