Thread by @JoshDAddario

it's been a long time coming but I'm excited to say we at @ODIHQ have updated our guidance for the #data ecosystem mapping methodology. A brisk 🧵 on what it is and why it is super cool theodi.org/article/mappin…

First off - I've been using this methodology with clients, partners and colleagues for four years now. But it was created before my time by some brilliant ex-colleagues including @ldodds, @IzyChampion and others. (sorry to those not named, hard to remember all the details!)

To the uninitiated, a #dataecosystem consists of all the people, communities, and organisations that are stewarding data, creating things from it, deciding what to do based on it, influencing any of those activities, or are affected by any of those activities.

Layer on top of that different types of #datainfrastructure from data assets to standards and technologies to policies and it can get quite difficult to wrap your head around. Mapping it out can help make sense of it better, and guide decisions and interventions

Data doesnt solve everything, but there is usually a data layer to most major challenges, whether thats the many aspects of the #ClimateCrisis, or issues around public health. These are complex and involve many different groups, mapping can help get everyone on the same page

Mapping data ecosystems can help you see how different orgs are connected: such as who is sharing data with who, how data might be powering services and used for policy insights, and how this data sharing and access is funded. it's about connecting data and value

We've used the methodology with loads of organisations across private, public and third sectors, including @Microsoft, @SmartDCC, @FriendsofOcean @CABI_News and many more. They've seen the value in it and continue to be big evangelisers of the process, and I can *show* you why

check out this simple example from a few years back, where we worked with our friends at @OpenClimateFix to articulate the data ecosystem for how their #NowCasting provides value throughout the #energy sector

Or this look at the #DigitalSandbox by @TheFCA, where different types of value (data, advice, tools) are leveraged to create and improve valuable services to customers by different #fintech providers

or this explanation of how the UK #SmartMeter data ecosystem works by @ldodds from his great blog: blog.ldodds.com/2021/03/23/the…

We now have updated advice on how to deliver mapping remotely - something we didn't think of pre-pandemic. We also have additional visuals and examples that we developed in the years since the launch, with more prompts and advice to help practitioners.

We have a physical tool and guide you can download yourself and use yourself - we finally got to do an in person one of these not long ago and it was both helpful and really fun (theodi.org/article/data-e…)

We also have a webinar that I'm told is actually quite useful but there's absolutely no way I can listen to it because I, like a normal person, hate the sound of my voice... (theodi.org/event/data-eco…)

And it's connected to a wider toolkit, the 'data landscape playbook', which I think is a great framework for thinking through how to leverage data access to tackle common challenges tackle challenges within sectors and across society (theodi.org/article/introd…)

My favourite change came from working with indigenous partners. Often we separate 'formal value' (ex: data/money) from 'soft value' (ex: insights), and when asked where 'traditional knowledge' fits, I realised that this distinction is actually sometimes not helpful, but harmful

We're still learning and trying to improve the methodology, I dont imagine it'll ever be perfect and you may find some flaws in it yourself (feel free to let us know!). But we're still very proud of it, have seen people take to it quickly, and get value out of it while having fun

I hope you enjoy the new and improved #data #ecosystem #mapping methodology. If you have any tips/feedback/cool maps yourself please let me know and you may see it featured in the next iteration. Happy mapping!