HOW CAN WE USE DATA VISUALIZATION AND OTHER ENGAGING COMMUNICATION STRATEGIES TO SHOW THE VALUE OF MUNICIPAL SERVICES?
Project Description:
Municipal Benchmarking Network of Canada (MBNCanada) is a collaborative of Canadian municipalities whose mission is to enhance municipal service delivery by leading the development and application of municipal performance measurement and benchmarking programs. MBNCanada collects data from across 36 municipal service areas that informs evidence-based decision making and ensures municipalities are providing effective and efficient public services that citizens want and need.
Problem Statement:
The performance report, while available online to the general public is not engaging to the reader and does not fully demonstrate the value of municipal services to the local user. In addition, the limited descriptive or contextual information that does exist could create confusion or result in misinterpretation.
Objective:
MBNCanada would like to create a performance report that uses data visualization and other communication strategies to translate MBNCanada data into a reader-friendly product for the general public which tells a story about municipal performance and service delivery. The goal is to create a product that illustrates service quality, value for money, and enhances public trust and confidence. MBNC would like to address the following challenges:
1. What are the barriers to the public in understanding the value of municipal services?
2. How can data be used to illustrate service quality, value for money, and enhance public trust and confidence in municipal services.
3. How can MBNCanada report on municipal service delivery in a way that is user-friendly and engaging to the general public?
City Staff:
Greg Witt - Municipal Lead, Municipal Benchmarking Network of Canada (MBNCanada) and Senior Policy and Program Specialist, Housing Services Division, Healthy and Safe Communities
Meighan Finlay - Executive Director, MBNCanada
Deliverables:
1. Primary Research – on how data analysis and visualization can be used to inform the public on municipal service delivery and its impact on the consumer.
2. Secondary Research – on communication strategies that promote consumer confidence and trust in municipal service delivery.
3. Design – data visualization tools, presentation styles and interactive communication strategies that will facilitate the development of a user-friendly performance report on municipal service delivery.
4. Marketing Campaign – to support the goal of MBNCanada to provide information on municipal service delivery from the perspective of the consumer (i.e., general public).
Project Start Date/ Availability: Fall Semester 2020 (September – December)
Location: City Wide
City wide City Strategy Priority: Community Engagement and Participation and Our People and Performance