Hub & Spoken.

What's in this podcast?

In this episode, Jason speaks to Carlos Rivero, an experienced data leader in the public sector.

Listen to this episode on Spotify, iTunes, and Stitcher. You can also catch up on the previous episodes of the Hub & Spoken podcast when you subscribe.

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For more on data, take a look at the webinars and events that we have lined up for you.

One Big Message

Government officials and key decision-makers want to make better choices for their citizens. Data provides these people with the necessary information to improve decision making and also increases the speed at which decisions can be made. 

[00:35] Carlos’ journey in data science and leadership

[02:00] How data is used in the public sector in the US across the 3 different levels of government

[10:10] How government organisations protect privacy by de-identifying individuals 

[15:40] What drives the demand for digital services

[17:20] Examining how data speeds up government decision-making 

[22:07] The ways in which government has been hiring and implementing data specialists 

[27:40] Looking at how the government uses data for campaigns

[31:11] The pitfalls of storytelling with data

Assisting decision makers 

The use of data in decision making is not a new phenomenon. However, the role of data has evolved significantly over the past few decades. Data is now a critical component of decision-making processes in the public sector and government.

Data can be used to inform decisions on matters such as the allocation of resources, distribution of benefits, and policy formulation. It can also be used to track performance and evaluate progress towards goals set out by governments.

Working across different levels of government 

Governments at all levels collect and use data in a variety of ways to make informed decisions. City planners use data to design efficient transportation systems, state governments track voting trends to determine how best to allocate resources, and the federal government relies on data to identify areas in need of assistance. No matter what level of government you’re looking at, data is a critical tool for making informed decisions.

The way in which data works at different levels of government is different depending on the situation. At a federal level, data is utilised to help those in charge make strategic decisions around budget, allocation of responsibility and costs. However at state and local levels, data is also used to monitor the progress of certain programs and make more frequent decisions about strategy and policies that directly affect people.

Solving the needs of the public

Without data, governments would be unable to make informed decisions, and individuals would be powerless to make change. Data is the lifeblood of our society, and its impact can be seen in every facet of our lives. Fortunately, data can also solve many of the public’s needs. The pandemic demonstrated how rapid gathering and analysis of data can make a huge difference in public safety.

Data is a business asset

Data is often seen as an afterthought in most organisations. Many places view data as something that needs to be organised and structured in order to be used efficiently. However, data should be considered one of the most important assets of a business. By understanding the needs of the organisation, data can be used to help facilitate these needs.

To summarise

Every day, people go about their lives with the expectation that they will have what they need when they need it. Whether it’s food, water, or shelter, people take for granted that these essential needs will be met without fail. This is where data comes in. By using data analytics and visualisation techniques, the government can better understand the needs of the public and meet them more effectively.