Page 29 - Policy benchmarks for digital transformation of people-centred cities

Figure I�1: Methodology of Benchmark Implementation

The following steps are listed in the Handbook to support the structure and setup of a benchmarking
structure.

• Establish Benchmarks: Identify contextual benchmarks and indicators based on direct links
to sustainability, digitalization and people-centric cities. These benchmarks need to be related
to the city that is developing the policy in a realistic and future-proof way, taking into account
social and demographic changes, digitalization advances and technology innovation. It is key
to keep focus on the intention of the policy, and the benchmark should not be used to reflect
larger aspirations of digital society.
• Establish a data collections system: Identify existing and required data sources and build a
data collection system that includes structured, as well as unstructured and dynamic data. This
data collection needs to observe data protection, as well as digital rights. Use surveys, different
existing data sources from ITU, UN, national statistics office, urban offices, open data and other
organizations that are relevant to the city. Map quantitative data with qualitative data in utilizing
public and private sector sources, as well as crowdsourced people information and participation
as well as dynamic data.

• Attribute Indicators to benchmark: Identify indicators and KPIs that indicate progress or failure
in policy to support people-centric sustainable outcomes. Use more than one indicator. Try to
be objective as policy could have a political dimension or a public opinion.
• Aggregate and analyse data: Develop a hierarchy of results depending on the statistical
methods, classification techniques or qualitative assessment. Also benchmark the data relevance
to the policy, to create a full circle of verification.

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