ODI as convener for other sponsored CKAN work?

[jqnatividad]

ODI can be a convener for other organizations to come together and co-sponsor some additional work.

For example, we spoke with some folks at a state agency who wanted to adopt CKAN, but had specific geospatial requirements.

They were open to sponsoring the work and having it released as an open source extension, so long as they can find other agencies to help shoulder the development effort.

As ODI talks to various agencies at various levels of government, it may be best poised to help round-up and organize sponsors.

[rgradeck]

That's an important role. I can see others (as we are) interested in ETL and integrated data viz. ODI seems to know a lot of the players.

[waldoj]

FWIW, we're happy to function as that convener if we're the only organization in a position to do so, but I'd rather that we...uh...convene the convener? :) That is, I'd like for us to help an organization take on that role (by us making connections to sponsors, government agencies, etc.), working with an organization that is going to be hosting data repositories indefinitely, and who really needs more co-sponsored improvements to CKAN. The US ODI is likely to just show up, facilitate some improvements to benefit the cause of open data, and then help others enjoy the fruits of those benefits (i.e. go away). I speculate that, when this project is over, it'll be clear that there are a few organizations that are in a great place to take on that role.

In short, we want others to get credit whenever possible, and we want to create sustainable systems and processes that don't rely on our continued existence (because that's not sustainable).

[rgradeck]

Makes sense - If you create the roadmap, then others will have an easier time following it.