Overview
Cross agency strategies must be supported by senior officials.
Why
Ultimately, laws, directives and policies are implemented by people, some of whom will be enthusiastic about sharing Public Sector Information. Others, however, will be reluctant to do so for a variety of well known 'reasons'. A cross agency strategy for sharing PSI needs support at the very highest level to be effective at overcoming those objections and, no less importantly, securing resources. National government strategies will typically need ministerial support, ideally including the Head of Government him/herself.
Intended outcome
Cross agency strategies must be supported by senior officials who are empowered to provide top down authority where required.
Possible Approach
Public sector bodies will have their own procedures for securing high level support, such as ministerial support. However, such support is often most readily made public by the inclusion of an introduction to the document by the senior official.
How to Test
The name of the senior official supporting the strategy should be readily discoverable.
Evidence
Evidence to support this best practice is recorded in the report on the Share-PSI workshop in Samos, June-July 2014.
Lifecycle Stage
Planning
Audience
Senior officials, policy and strategic decision makers.