What is the CDO survey?
The Data Foundation’s Chief Data Officer (CDO) Survey is an annual survey that aims to generate insights into the U.S. federal government’s CDO community. The Data Foundation is the only non-governmental organization that uniquely surveys federal CDOs, and our survey was the earliest to provide government-wide analysis about the state of the CDO position following the requirement of a CDO function in the Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act (Evidence Act) passed in 2019. The 2024 survey, conducted in collaboration with Deloitte, is the fifth annual CDO survey.
Your participation is an opportunity to give feedback about the role of CDOs across government agencies, including your organizational structure, resources, and priorities. Our survey is a visible and trusted product – your participation helps build understanding of the critical and evolving CDO role, your successes, and potential barriers.
Why did I receive the CDO survey?
The CDO Survey is sent to all U.S. federal department-, agency-, and bureau-level CDOs, deputy CDOs, or positions with responsibilities related to organizational data management and governance within the U.S. federal government.
Department Statistical Officials also are included in the CDO Survey sample frame. Title 2 of the Evidence Act, called the OPEN Government Data Act, assigns data management and governance responsibilities to Statistical Officials at 44 USC 3520(d).
How does the Data Foundation use the findings from the survey?
As an annual product, findings from the CDO Survey are used to build understanding of the critical and evolving CDO role in the federal government over time. The CDO Survey contributes to the development of a public report that highlights key trends, challenges, and opportunities to strengthen the federal CDO community.
Survey findings and the report’s recommendations are used by the Data Foundation throughout the following year, as well as leveraged by CDOs themselves, to garner support for the CDO community and elevate the role CDOs play in effective government function.
Following the close of the survey period, participants can also anticipate receiving a personalized analysis of your responses to provide insight into how your answers compare with your peers.
