Data is a hidden treasure, that if utilized well can be of great advantage to an organization. However, it also comes with its own challenges. While data can generate insights that inform decisions, utilizing the data is a challenge in itself which needs to be addressed at multiple levels.

The City is approaching the data challenge from three perspectives –  

People: Creating a community of practice across departments, enabling exchanging of ideas, identifying shared goals, and collaborating on City-wide initiatives. 

Processes: Learning how to identify the value in City data, embedding equity considerations, transforming data into ongoing information, and making data-informed recommendations. 

Tools: Developing core competency in data processing and handling tools.  

The City has growing needs to analyze data and identify improvement opportunities, hence there is a need to increase the City’s capacity for data analytics. The two programs currently underway at the City to support this effort are –  

Enterprise Data Analytics Strategy that lays the foundation for data analytics by defining the need for data warehousing, data cataloguing, data governance, and data analytics platform for a successful execution of enterprise-wide data analytics projects that help communicate data-driven insights to inform departmental strategies. 

Data Upskilling program for City staff to build a data science mindset and utilize toolkit, increasing the City’s data analysis capabilities to promote data driven decisions.