By Laini Byfield
ODI canvases
A lightweight way to force the right questions early — stakeholders, harms, governance, and decision boundaries.
How to use canvases in small data systems
The ODI’s Data Ethics Canvas is a project planning tool. In small data environments, it functions like a structured pre-mortem: what could go wrong, who gets harmed, and what controls exist.
Use before build
Document the purpose, stakeholders, and likely harms — decide what data is truly necessary before building.
Use every cycle
Re-run the canvas when data sources change, rules change, or reporting scope expands.
Reference: Open Data Institute, Data Ethics Canvas.
How it fits Small Data Ethics
Canvases create awareness. ETHICMAP turns awareness into operations by embedding checks into environment, timing, measurement, and publish loops — so the questions get asked every cycle, not just at launch.