2.2.1.1: Goals and Audiences
Consdier several groups in the Data.gov audience as we move forward Other Information:
GOALS AND TARGET AUDIENCES - While it is impossible to know precisely what users will find most interesting and helpful, there
are several groups in the Data.gov audience we are specifically considering as we move forward.
Stakeholder(s):
- General Public: The general public of American citizens and taxpayers are the fundamental core intended audience for our Data.gov contributions
and Open Government efforts as a whole. While soliciting input and requests directly from citizens, we also plan to proactively
release datasets on topics of major interest in the news and to the public. These are the types of datasets we would also
highlight on our Open Government Web site to make them even more readily available. Additionally, we have a range of information
publicly available on Web sites in a variety of formats which can be leveraged by Data.gov. For example, the United States
Army Corps of Engineers (http://www.iwr.usace.army.mil/) and the Military Health Program (http://www.health.mil/Education_And_Training.aspx)
both maintain public Web sites with significant amounts of information.
- Media: In terms of their ability to analyze and utilize complex data, the media audience often represents a middle point between
a casual citizen user and scientific or technical experts with specific and advanced interests. The media is often more interested
in detailed versions or analyses of the same high-profile data popular with the general public.
- Scientific, Academic and Business Communities: Given the vast Defense infrastructure and budgetary resources devoted to technical, scientific and medical research, it is
likely non-Department of Defense entities may have interest in and find new value in access to some of the data underlying
these efforts. For example, access to detailed (anonymized) medical study data could be of benefit to medical and pharmaceutical
researchers and clean energy work undertaken in the military could help stimulate new ideas in the commercial sector. These
potential users also are likely to have the capability to utilize large and complex datasets with more nuances than users
without the same level of subject expertise.
- Open Government Groups: In addition to their inherent interest in any data shedding light on the way government operates and makes decisions, this
community is often particularly interested in information related to agency business and spending practices. This could range
from both the “core” functions of the Department such as weapons acquisition budgets to funds used for staff travel and office
supplies. Their focus on improving efficiencies and rooting out waste may be greatly informed by access to better information
about the way money is spent at the Department of Defense, which may in turn help the Department in its efforts to be more
cost-effective and budgetconscious in an era of scarce resources.
- Other Department of Defense Users: With employees, service members and contractors in thousands of locations across the globe and in complex organizations, users
within the Department may find data of value to them from other parts of the agency which they were not aware of previously.
Any developments of that sort may lead to greater collaboration between the Department’s organizations and make the Department
more productive and efficient.
Indicator(s):
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