Smart data operations for better data-informed decision-making

Abstract

Smart data in the context of decision-making is a widely discussed and researched topic, as demonstrated by the more than 10,000 hits on Google Scholar, with over 2,000 results from 20221. This high level of interest has fostered many research and innovation projects in Flanders (Belgium) aiming to generate best practices based on local implementations and a variety of ecosystem-driven approaches. Drawing on learning from these various Flemish projects, this paper aims to demystify the ‘behind the scenes’ work that is needed to process and prepare data which can enable data-informed decision-making in the context of societal challenges.

This paper is intended for technical strategists, such as information architects and others, who work regularly with data and Information Technology (IT) to support better government and more effective responses to growing societal challenges – climate change, increased population density, public health concerns, safety and security, the use of scarce resources, etc. The paper aims to provide an overview of how data can be turned into meaningful information for decision-making support. It discusses the processes involved including the appropriate starting points and the importance of sketching out the opportunities and challenges that may arise.