Understanding data analytics practices in Kansas City: The importance of multi-level stewardship, collaborative governance and an incremental strategy

Abstract

Local governments face complex challenges and are increasingly pressured to find innovative strategies to address them. Recently, they are leveraging data analytics and a number of policy modeling techniques to respond to those challenges. While a lot of attention is given to smart initiatives and data analytics endeavors in big cities, not enough studies have looked at experiences of smaller jurisdictions, who also have to solve difficult and often relatively unique problems. This paper examines how Kansas City, Missouri (KCMO) is currently using data analytics as a means of creating useful information for problem-solving around the city. As part of the What Work Cities network, the city embraced data-driven management as a new modus operandi and has been recognized nationally as a successful case. Among the main findings, it can be highlighted that: (1) data analytics can be kick started by committed public leadership, but is enabled organically by stewards who have traditionally and iteratively responded to information needs from a variety of local government agencies; and (2) stakeholders and organizations that are involved with data analytics have different capabilities, face different challenges, and frequently adopt incremental strategies that include data management and governance aspects.