An assessment of open government data benchmark instruments

Abstract

Open Government Data (OGD) is heralded as a pillar for promoting openness and e- Government. Several OGD benchmark instruments have been proposed, and so many options could confuse open data users. We intend to help practitioners and researchers decide which benchmark instrument is most appropriate to evaluate a specific purpose. We aim to investigate the different dimensions that OGD benchmarks evaluate to find out what aspects of publishing and using open data they measure. To achieve this goal, we built upon previous research on how the Open Data Charter principles are measured in OGD assessments and enriched the analysis with additional dimensions. Findings reveal that what differentiates these benchmark instruments is their scope or focus, as their creators have varying interests and objectives. All benchmark instruments measure "data openness"; however, each emphasizes different aspects of "openness." Concepts measured are deeply connected with the six Charter principles. OGD impact, use, and usefulness are addressed by half of the benchmark instruments. Measurements can be compared. Their assessments can be used to help improve data quality and the conditions for sharing and reusing OGD.