Supplementary Materials for "Data Want to Be Free: An Innovation Resistance Theory Model for identifying Barriers to Government Data Sharing" study

The below files are Supplementary Materials for “Data Want to Be Free: An Innovation Resistance Theory Model for identifying Barriers to Government Data Sharing” study. Despite global movements toward data-driven innovation and sustainability across sectors, public agencies continue to face resistance when it comes to data sharing as open government data (OGD). As we transition into the fourth wave of open data—a phase that emphasizes inclusive data reuse beyond traditional publication norms—understanding this resistance becomes increasingly critical. While existing research has explored factors impacting the public organizations’ intention to share data, there is a paucity of research applying theoretical models to investigate the resistance by public organizations to making government data publicly available. This study addresses the gap by developing and empirically validating an Innovation Resistance Theory (IRT) model tailored to OGD -IRT4DS (IRT For Data Sharing)- that allows identifying predictors of resistance among public agencies. These barriers span functional (usage, value, risk) and psychological (tradition, image) dimensions. The model is refined through interviews with 25 representatives across 21 public agencies in six countries with varied open data maturity levels. The findings contribute to the literature by adapting IRT to the context of OGD amid the evolving open data paradigm, an area where its application has been notably limited. As such, this study addresses the growing demand for novel theoretical frameworks to examine OGD adoption barriers. Practical insights -uncovered dominant resistance factors- support policymakers in designing inclusive data ecosystems that account for institutional resistance and address challenges in OGD adoption. The below files are (1) research contexts for IRT applications as implies form the literature review that informed the developement of the Innovation Resistance Theory (IRT) model tailored to OGD -IRT4DS (IRT For Data Sharing), (2) the interview instrument developed by transforming the developed model and its individual barriers (i.e., items) into an interview protocol.