This book systematically examines government chief data officers (GCDOs) in China, exploring their organizational structures, institutional arrangements, and practical effects.

It introduces the background to the establishment of GCDOs in China, their roles and responsibilities, and their institutional characteristics. Drawing on empirical evidence, the author unpacks the effects of the GCDO system and its underlying mechanisms. Grounded in the Chinese context, the book proposes a GCDO competency model to inform personnel selection, training, and performance evaluation in the public sector. It lays a foundation for understanding organizational change and institutional innovation in government data governance in the digital era.

The book will be of interest to scholars, students, and practitioners working in public administration, public policy, public sector innovation, digital government, data governance, and Chinese government.

Xiao Han is a Professor at the School of Public Administration from the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China. He researches digital government, public data governance, and intelligent government services.