Achieving and Sustaining Cities’ Data Capacity

What does it take to build a best in class evidence-based city? Obviously, it requires investing in technical skill sets, codifying policies, building infrastructure, and clear processes for continued action. While these technical components are indispensable, they are insufficient.

Within instances of success, we’ve observed a dogged commitment to accountability, continuous improvement, staff empowerment, and authentic trust building. We’ve observed the need for an appreciation of incrementalism balanced with disruptive thinking. We’ve observed the power of valuing stakeholder feedback, developing empathy, leveraging adaptive change approaches, and communicating a compelling, highly visible vision internally and externally.

Pulling from the lessons of success, and based on human-centered design, we’ve created targeted technical assistance to help city governments lay the groundwork for embedded and sustaining data practices. While this engagement supports individual growth, they are also designed to build the catalytic capabilities of the team as an accelerant for organizational change.