Using Data to Guide Public Policy

Using Data to Guide Public Policy

A highlight of my year was participating with Columbus CEO’s as part of their inaugural Future 50 class. (Congratulations to the incoming class of 2021!) Columbus CEO recently published my “moonshot idea” as part of the Future 50 program. My passion for data and mission-driven organizations were the impetus behind the launch of both Measurement Resources and SureImpact, Inc. So it probably comes as no surprise that for my “Moonshot Idea,” I explored the possibilities of using data to guide public policy.

Community leaders are responsible for making important decisions regarding the use of public funding (taxes) that impact the lives of many residents. Their funding and policies will determine if community outcomes improve or decline. For example, here in Franklin County, Ohio, approximately 27% of households make less than the annual salary—$35,000—needed to obtain affordable housing; an estimated 101 million meals are missed each year; and the infant mortality rate for Black infants is twice that of white infants. To accelerate the generation of employment opportunities, education, nutrition, and countless other elements required to tackle these challenges effectively, we need ethical, transparent, data-driven decision-making. This is the key to replicable, achievable results that will spur radical transformation.

The Ethical Data Commitment for Public Good
If business leaders and government leaders were to unite to advance legislation and policies around the adoption of ethical, data-driven strategies, policies, and investments—with the goal of creating a more equitable and prosperous place for all—how might that drive innovation that would result in meaningful, lasting change? Such an ethical data commitment for public good would need to follow these best practices:

  • Be open by default;
  • Make data-driven decisions;
  • Budget for the work;
  • Require impact measurement in investments;
  • Integrate data for insights and innovation; and
  • Commit to indicators.

But (I’ve saved the best for last), the fact is, that the same exact technologies that already exist to help order products or schedule appointments online also have the potential to help solve societal challenges. If you’re interested in learning how Measurement Resources and its sister company, SureImpact, Inc., are already working toward making concepts like this a reality for the social sector, I’d love to hear from you (send an email to scjones@measurementresourcesco.com, or call 614-947-8899).

You can read the full Columbus CEO article here. I’d also like to recognize and thank the following fellow Future 50 honorees for their insights and contributions to this article: Falon Donohue, Alex Frommeyer, Rehgan Avon, Bill Balderaz and Jordan Davis.

MAILING ADDRESS
1480 Manning Parkway
Suite A
Powell, Ohio 43065

TELEPHONE
614-947-8899

EMAIL
info@measurementresourcesco.com

Email Updates

Quick Links

Visit our sister company’s site:

Scroll to Top