US Openthegovernment.org coalition - Gives most open government plans mediocre marks

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US Openthegovernment.org coalition - Gives most open government plans mediocre marks

Tracey P. Lauriault
Group gives most open government plans mediocre marks
Nextgov

 

http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20100503_2566.php?oref=topstory

It is really interesting to see which groups mobilize evaluate the open data initiatives in the US.  The final ranking scheme can be accessed here - http://sites.google.com/site/opengovtplans/home/about-this-project/final-rankings.  It is all based on standard government performance methodologies, in this case the measures were to assess compliance to the OMB open data directive itself and not necessarily on the principles of open data, however, it is impressive in a collaborative bureaucratic sorta way.

The assessment measured the extent that each plan met criteria stipulated in the directive. It was coordinated by the Openthegovernment.org coalition and conducted by representatives from nonprofit organizations and academia.

The organizations that evaluated the plans include the American Association of Law Libraries, American Library Association, Center for Democracy and Technology, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, OMB Watch, Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, Project on Government Oversight, Sunlight Foundation, Union of Concerned Scientists, and faculty and students at the University of Maryland College of Information Studies.

Scores were based on a scale of 1 to 58 or 60, depending on whether an agency has special classification powers. OMB was given 35 of a possible 58 points, while NASA earned a 77 of 60 by scoring bonus points for performing additional actions not required by the directive such as posting documents online that are frequently requested under the Freedom of Information Act.

Cheers
t
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Tracey P. Lauriault
613-234-2805
https://gcrc.carleton.ca/confluence/display/GCRCWEB/Lauriault