Create an ecosystem map

Once you’ve started to engage with your stakeholders, we recommend you create a data ecosystem map. A data ecosystem consists of the organisations, communities and people that create and benefit from the value created by the data flowing through our data infrastructure. A data ecosystem map illustrates the value exchanges in an ecosystem.

This map can be used both as a practical planning tool to manage your data ecosystem, and for communication and advocacy to demonstrate the opportunities for increasing value to particular parts of the ecosystem.

When creating a data ecosystem map, we recommend reflecting on the problem your initiative is trying to tackle. Try to frame this problem in a particular data-focused use case to optimise the mapping exercise and identify the gaps that might be addressed by building data infrastructure.

The following is an example ecosystem map for a challenge project around reducing snakebite mortality and morbidity in India:

We follow a four-step process to map create a data ecosystem map

Start with the part of the ecosystem you know best As you draw, start with the part of the ecosystem you know best. We recommend thinking about the most relevant organisations to your use case, including your own. Use Post-its or draw circles to plot all the people, organisations or technologies that are linked in some way to the data. It may help to think of the organisations and groups you need data from, or you provide services to. Stay with very specific examples as it ensures the representation is as realistic as possible.

For additional guidance, tips and examples regarding data ecosystem mapping, check out our free webinar Data ecosystem mapping: plotting the journey from data to value for your business from the ODI webinar collection.

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