How It Works
The TOP Model
The Opportunity Project (TOP) works through 12-14 week product development cycles—called ‘sprints.’
Federal agencies first define problem statements and then collaborate with technologists and community advocates outside of government, who rapidly build digital products to solve those challenges using open data.
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Identify Challenges
Government agencies or non-governmental organizations (NGOs) identify high-priority problems they seek to solve through the sprint. Challenges can be any priority facing the public.
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Team Up
Technologists from industry, NGOs, and universities sign on to create data-driven, digital products in collaboration with end users, community advocates, and data experts.
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Build
Tech teams build products during a 12-14 week technology development sprint that includes user research, data exploration, and product development. Past products include mapping tools, apps, websites, games, AI algorithms, network visualizations, and more.
- User Research:
Teams conduct user research and connect with user advocates who can offer insights into their communities.
- Data Discovery:
Teams begin identifying and exploring relevant datasets and connect with data stewards via email and phone to learn more about available datasets.
- Concept Pitch:
Teams present their initial progress and product concept for feedback.
- Product Advising:
Teams are paired with 1:1 product advisors that meet with the teams outside of milestones to discuss launch and product maintenance strategy
- Beta Demo:
Teams present a prototype of their product for feedback.
- MVP Demo:
Teams present a minimum viable product as the final outcome of the sprint and receive feedback on sustainability and longevity of their work.
- User Research:
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Launch
Products are launched and federal agencies can decide how they want to showcase the results of their sprint.
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Reach End Users
After the sprint, participants have the option to stay in touch and continue product development and deployment.
Roles
What participants do in each sprint varies depending on their role:
Tech Teams
Tech teams are the companies, universities, non-profits, and students who build digital products in the sprints. They design, develop, and launch the products they build, and own and maintain the products after the sprints. Teams may also develop non-digital products, such as toolkits, policy interventions and more.
Sprint Leaders
Sprint leaders typically consist of three-four team members from the federal agency or NGO that identify major challenges facing the public within their mission areas. During the 12-14 week sprint, experts and data stewards from each agency or NGO will provide feedback to the participating teams and assistance working with federal open data.
User Advocates
User Advocates are individuals who have experience with issues directly related to the challenges, and who work closely with end-users. Even better, they can be individuals who have experienced the problem directly. Community leaders, local or national advocates, service providers, and people with direct lived experience make great user advocates.
Data Stewards
Data stewards are integral to making sure the right federal, state or local open data is used, and help to answer technical questions participants may have.
Product Advisors
Product advisors are experts outside of government that consult and help teams develop products with a viable long term strategy; making sure that the product can be maintained and has a real, lasting impact on the intended end user after the sprint.
Interested in participating in a sprint?
Email the TOP team.