The Square
BANNER GRAPHIC
Quick definition with a link to the About page.
| <html> |
<html> |
<html> |
|---|---|---|
GitHub Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, hinc quidam eu mei, odio latine inciderint at sed. Ex sea simul periculis, dicunt audiam qui id, vis an regione bonorum. Mei ut veniam impedit. No hinc dicant vis, mea ex eius putent. Nam eu amet mazim quaestio. | ||
| <html> |
<html> |
<html> |
Serious games, which include case competitions, simulations, board games like Policy Horizon’s new game “Impact” and many other examples, are a great way to get people to learn and collaborate. The ‘serious’ in the title signals that these games aren’t just for fun, but provide users and organizations with a chance to practice skills and build relationships. |
Data Analytics uses complex algorithms to analyze structured and unstructured data to provide details on the past, predict the future, and understand outcomes before they happen. |
Public Service Mutual is shorthand for a variety of initiatives, based on mutual or cooperative governance that in whole or in part delivers public services and in which employee or member control plays a significant role in their operation. Well-designed mutualization can transform the delivery of public services and deliver substantial benefits to public service stakeholders. |
| <html> |
<html> |
<html> |
Big data generally refers to datasets so large and complex they create significant challenges for traditional data management and analysis tools in practical timeframes. Often it refers to the use of predictive analytics or other advanced methods to extract value from data. These datasets exist because of the ever-increasing number and power of electronic devices, and their use for new roles. |
Citizen science is a research technique that utilizes local citizens as resources to gather information for scientists in a large research project. Citizen Scientists do not necessarily have any scientific background, but they volunteer their time to observe, record and report data for scientists. Typically, volunteers do not analyze data or write scientific papers, but they are essential to gathering the information on which studies are based. |
Foresight is a process of anticipating and managing change. Foresight methods are used for strategic policy and planning to systematically imagine plausible futures based on current data, trends and policies. The most common foresight approach is scenario planning. Scenarios are credible, challenging stories that transform strategically important knowledge into fresh perspectives about a range of plausible futures. |
| <html> |
<html> |
<html> |
Gamification is the use of game elements and game design techniques in non-game contexts. By incorporating game elements such as points, quests, avatars, or levels to real life challenges, organizations may create incentives that change in behaviour and stimulate innovation by supporting engagement and skills development. |
Open Policy Making refers broadly to the process of creating government policy with direct contributions from the public and other external parties. It includes the mindset, process and tools that create an “open by default” environment for governments to engage with citizens and other stakeholders in the design and delivery of stronger policies and programs. |
Smart Regulation aims to achieve public confidence in regulatory effectiveness while limiting the burden on those being regulated. Smart regulation often promotes a ‘bottom-up approach’ to regulation that offers regulated entities the flexibility to develop their own strategies to meet prescribed outcomes. It emphasizes outcomes and continuous evaluation to support effective policy design and implementation. |
| <html> |
<html> |
<html> |
Open data is data that is structured and machine-readable, freely shared, used and built on without restrictions. As a building block of open knowledge, open data promotes a robust and accessible commons, and interoperability is maximized by allowing for efficient combination or “crosstalk” of multiple datasets from multiple sources. Releasing open data can produce results like increased accountability and more efficient reporting. |
Crowdsourcing is the practice of obtaining needed services, ideas, content or data by soliciting contributions from a large group of people, typically via an online platform, rather than from traditional employees or suppliers. It goes beyond traditional surveys, citizen engagement, and the routine use of social media and there are many different types of crowdsourcing. |
Hackathons are intense and creative events where participants are put into teams that build solutions related to a predetermined theme. Traditionally hackathons (and their cousins Appathons, Codefests, and Pitch Camps) result in new apps, software programs, or products, but are increasingly expanding into service design, data visualization, or problem and solution scoping. |
| <html> |
<html> |
<html> |
Pay-for-performance (PFP) refers to funding arrangements where a commissioning organization financially rewards service delivery organizations (or private investors in the case of a social impact bond) for achieving agreed upon outcome targets. PFP is sometimes referred to as Pay-for-Success (PFS) in the US and Payment-by-Results (PBR) in the UK. |
Social innovation broadly refers to new solutions that better address complex social challenges, such as youth homelessness, long-term unemployment, or the social isolation of seniors. These solutions can include programming, processes, types of organizations, products, financing methods, or even principles. |
Prize challenges are a form of crowdsourcing that use competitions with prizes (e.g. monetary, recognition, access, etc.) to incent broad or targeted participation in helping to solve particular problems. Prize challenges can be used in a broad range of disciplines (e.g. technical, scientific, policy) and can vary in terms of their scope. |
| <html> |
<html> |
<html> |
Behavioural insights (BI) uses techniques from behavioural economics, psychology and social marketing to assist people make these beneficial choices. A fundamental finding from BI research is that small changes (which often cost nothing) to the way in which information and choices are offered can have substantial beneficial impacts on important decisions. |
Design thinking is a set of principles, practices and processes that are used in developing products, experiences and services based on the needs of the user. Design thinking has been repurposed to help governments develop better policies, programs, and services centered on users’ needs, by having actual users (e.g., citizens or businesses) participate in the creation of the solution |
Innovation Hubs / Labs (also known as innovation teams, labs, units) are differentiated from other teams in that they often adopt new and experimental methods to tackle various social and public issues. They come in a variety of sizes, use a range of techniques, and are equipped with different resources. Hubs / Labs can be distinguished from other teams in several ways. |
