04.04.17
Public sector missing out on ‘digital dashboards’ potential due to poor implementation
The proper implementation of digital ‘dashboards’ to help staff filter and use large amounts of data more easily could massively improve public services, a report by think tank Demos has revealed.
Data dashboards, of which 800 have been created so far for central government civil servants, summarise big data and provide staff with relevant information on-screen, but Demos has now stated that too often these dashboards are not implemented in the most efficient way possible.
In the report, named Governance By Dashboard, co-writers of the paper Jamie Bartlett and Nathaniel Tkacz make the case to improve the implementation of interfaces that visualise information and which are often difficult for people without technical training to get the most out of.
These visualisation services are “a remarkable opportunity to build more efficient and data-driven services”, according to the report – but are too often not used properly by government bodies.
To tackle this, the paper points out three principles which local government should take in mind to ensure that data dashboards are being properly used to assist staff using digital data systems.
These three principles include identifying the purpose and use of dashboards, understanding their limitations and then selecting the right staff with the right skills to use them.
“Data dashboards – interfaces which display complex data to a user, often displayed in real time, and typically drawn from multiple sources – are an increasingly important way in which government departments make decisions. Hundreds of them are used across government every day, from city planning to strategic spending decisions,” the report stated.
“Dashboards are not simply a tool to make the task of everyday government activity easier and rather that dashboards contain, in their very design, specific tendencies which actively rework and rub against government practice.”
The report also warned that ‘off the shelf’ dashboards varied massively in quality, and the right choice can often have strong implications for public service staff.
“Some providers offer comprehensive services and command large fees, while others offer lightweight versions of their software at no cost,” it explained.
“Selecting a commercial provider can place limitations on the appearance of the dashboard and which visual elements can be included.”
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