2.3: Culture of Openness

Foster a culture of openness

Other Information:

The Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO) directs the data management efforts at the Department to further core missions and provide the public with information needed to understand the Department’s activities. The OCIO Data Management Working Group (DMWG) analyzes DHS programs for additional high-value datasets to determine which may be appropriate for public release and included in Data.gov. The identification of datasets appropriate for public release is a collaborative effort between technologists, mission owners, privacy experts and others. To institutionalize a culture of transparency in identifying datasets for posting, the DMWG established a robust workflow process to institutionalize a process for submitting datasets to Data.gov. The Department identifies and prioritizes datasets for inclusion in Data.gov from internal and external sources. The Department routinely reviews public input from Data.gov as well as other Web sites such as the web application used to solicit input for this Open Government Plan. Within DHS, data owners, Web masters, business owners, and other stakeholders working directly with DHS datasets support the DMWG by identifying high-value datasets. In addition, intra-governmental tools for openness and information sharing provide DHS employees a channel to communicate their ideas to the DMWG. The OCIO reviews and coordinates all proposed datasets prior to release. DHS applies OMB guidance criteria to identify high-value datasets: * Information that can be used to increase agency accountability and responsiveness * Information that can improve public knowledge of the agency and its operations * Information that can further the core mission of the agency * Information that can create economic opportunity * Information that can respond to need and demand as identified through public consultation The business owner conducts an initial assessment of the value of the dataset and security implications for release. For the identified datasets, OCIO facilitates a collaborative review process including the following offices: * Chief Financial Officer: Information Quality Review * Office of the Chief Information Officer: Security Review * Privacy Office: Privacy Review * Office of General Counsel: Legal Review * Office of the Chief Information Officer: Technical Capability Review Following approval, the OCIO manages the process for release of the datasets to Data.gov and monitors the dataset performance. Monitoring how the data is used includes tracking public comments and suggestions, as well as working with the business owners to perform corrective actions for any data quality issues.

Stakeholder(s):

• Chief Financial Officer: Information Quality Review


• Office of the Chief Information Officer: Security and Technical Capability Reviews


• Privacy Office: Privacy Review


• Office of General Counsel: Legal Review

Indicator(s):

Indicator:1

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