Comments on: Being a Context Provider in a Data Rich World http://ext337.org/in-process/being-a-context-provider-in-a-data-rich-world Technology, serendipity and social change. Wed, 04 Nov 2009 23:24:37 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: David Geilhufe http://ext337.org/in-process/being-a-context-provider-in-a-data-rich-world/comment-page-1#comment-179 David Geilhufe Wed, 04 Nov 2009 23:24:37 +0000 http://ext337.org/in-process/being-a-context-provider-in-a-data-rich-world#comment-179 Definitely agree about the nature of the data. The 990 is already a data standard, Guidestar already "owns" that world, and eventually that data will be available as a feed from the IRS. Not sure there is a lot of value in publishing that data directly from the charity? (Though we are experimenting with NetSuite grantees - I suspect there is some data in broadcasting from the charity rather than waiting for the data from the IRS) I think working up a data standard about the client would be the most compelling first step. You start at a aggregate number, but the more challenging question is breaking down the number into a slight sense of impact. 1M clients served might break down to 100K *really* served and 900K "impacted." Who would consume TechSoup client data? What consumption of that data would benefit clients? Or do you not even think in those terms because once you put the data out there it tends to get used in unpredictable ways. IRIS has some thinking on this already: http://iris-standards.org/framework/0020/0350 Definitely agree about the nature of the data. The 990 is already a data standard, Guidestar already “owns” that world, and eventually that data will be available as a feed from the IRS. Not sure there is a lot of value in publishing that data directly from the charity? (Though we are experimenting with NetSuite grantees – I suspect there is some data in broadcasting from the charity rather than waiting for the data from the IRS)

I think working up a data standard about the client would be the most compelling first step. You start at a aggregate number, but the more challenging question is breaking down the number into a slight sense of impact.

1M clients served might break down to 100K *really* served and 900K “impacted.” Who would consume TechSoup client data? What consumption of that data would benefit clients? Or do you not even think in those terms because once you put the data out there it tends to get used in unpredictable ways.

IRIS has some thinking on this already:
http://iris-standards.org/framework/0020/0350

]]> By: webb http://ext337.org/in-process/being-a-context-provider-in-a-data-rich-world/comment-page-1#comment-178 webb Wed, 04 Nov 2009 19:15:56 +0000 http://ext337.org/in-process/being-a-context-provider-in-a-data-rich-world#comment-178 Good question, David. But I'm not sure it's data about us, specifically, that's most interesting (a lot of that is already available via Guidestar and other sources). I think with us, like most NGOs, what's most interesting is the aggregate info on who we serve, what they need, etc. And, like most NGOs, we don't have it in shape for someone else to make meaning of it because the data is too connected to our own work flows and systems. So, with that, would you like to see us share? What would be useful? Not just to be transparent as an org but all to inform the sector? Good question, David. But I’m not sure it’s data about us, specifically, that’s most interesting (a lot of that is already available via Guidestar and other sources).

I think with us, like most NGOs, what’s most interesting is the aggregate info on who we serve, what they need, etc. And, like most NGOs, we don’t have it in shape for someone else to make meaning of it because the data is too connected to our own work flows and systems.

So, with that, would you like to see us share? What would be useful? Not just to be transparent as an org but all to inform the sector?

]]> By: David Geilhufe http://ext337.org/in-process/being-a-context-provider-in-a-data-rich-world/comment-page-1#comment-177 David Geilhufe Wed, 04 Nov 2009 18:09:20 +0000 http://ext337.org/in-process/being-a-context-provider-in-a-data-rich-world#comment-177 So what data is TechSoup Global going to publish about itself first? So what data is TechSoup Global going to publish about itself first?

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