Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this exploratory study is to provide modern local governments with potential use cases for their open data, in order to help inform related future policies and decision-making. The concrete context was that of the Växjö municipality located in southeastern Sweden.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology was two-fold: 1) a survey of potential end users (n=151) from a local university; and, 2) analysis of survey results using a theoretical model regarding local strategies for implementing open government data.

Findings

Most datasets predicted to be useful were on: sustainability and environment; preschool and school; municipality and politics. The use context given is primarily research and development, informing policies and decision making; but also education, informing personal choices, informing citizens and creating services based on open data. Not the least, the need for educating target user groups on data literacy emerged. A tentative pattern comprising a technical perspective on open data and a social perspective on open government was identified.

Research limitations

In line with available funding, the nature of the study was exploratory and implemented as an anonymous web-based survey of employees and students at the local university. Further research involving (qualitative) surveys with all stakeholders would allow for creating a more complete picture of the matter.

Practical implications

The study determines potential use cases and use contexts for open government data, in order to help inform related future policies and decision-making.

Originality/value

Modern local governments, and especially in Sweden, are faced with a challenge of how to make their data open, how to learn about which types of data will be most relevant for their end users and what will be different societal purposes. The paper contributes to knowledge that modern local governments can resort to when it comes to attitudes of local citizens to open government data in the context of an open government data perspective.

中文翻译：

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为什么要开放政府数据？瑞典自治市案

摘要

目的

这项探索性研究的目的是为现代地方政府提供其开放数据的潜在用例，以帮助为相关的未来政策和决策提供依据。具体情况是瑞典东南部的韦克舍市。

设计/方法/方法

该方法有两个方面：1）对本地大学潜在的最终用户（n = 151）进行的调查；2）使用关于地方政府实施公开政府数据策略的理论模型对调查结果进行分析。

发现

预计大多数有用的数据集涉及：可持续性和环境；学前班和学校；市政和政治。给出的使用环境主要是研究和开发，为政策和决策提供信息；还包括教育，告知个人选择，告知公民和基于开放数据创建服务。尤其重要的是，出现了对目标用户群体进行数据素养教育的需求。确定了一种试探性模式，其中包括对开放数据的技术观点和对开放政府的社会观点。

研究局限性

根据可用资金，该研究的性质是探索性的，并作为对本地大学员工和学生的基于网络的匿名调查来实施。与所有利益相关者进行（定性）调查有关的进一步研究将有助于对事件进行更全面的了解。

实际影响

该研究确定了开放政府数据的潜在用例和使用环境，以帮助告知相关的未来政策和决策。

创意/价值

现代地方政府，尤其是瑞典的地方政府，面临着如何开放其数据，如何了解哪种类型的数据与其最终用户最相关以及哪些社会目的将面临的挑战。本文有助于了解现代地方政府可以在开放政府数据视角的背景下诉诸当地公民对开放政府数据的态度。