Business Register Redesign Technology Strategy Plan 19th International Roundtable Gaétan St-Louis Statistics Canada October 2005

Outline What is the Canadian Business Register Current Technology used Strategic Technology Plan New BR Model Implementation Plan Conclusion

What is the Canadian Business Register? The Business Register (BR) is a structured list of 2.2 million businesses engaged in the production of goods and services in Canada. The list is used by statistical programs to: determine the in-scope population to select a sample to conduct demographic studies

Current technology used Platform Main Frame Software/Tools PL1 Natural Assembler SAS ISPF IBM Utilities Database technology Adabas

Guiding Principles The use of proven standards and technology will reduce: Project risks Development time Cost The use of corporate services, utilities and products will create efficiencies and minimise cost. Limited software diversity will avoid dilution of our core knowledge.

Strategic Technology Plan Database Management Technology Database Management Data Models IT Resource Management Workflow Management Operational Research and Analysis Application Development Platforms

Database Management Technology Employ mainstream database management technology: SQL Server 2005 Knowledgeable skilled resources in STC BRD currently using SQL Server 2000 STC Microsoft Technology Center to help

Database Data Models Use standard relational database model features: Widely used and understood in STC Knowledgeable skilled resources in STC Object-relational extensions may be used where deemed beneficial and manageable

IT Resource Management Purchase existing corporate on-demand IT utilities and services Some utilities are well established in the department (Data Storage, Backup, Server Management,..) Capacity & redundancy requirements are immediately scalable

Workflow Management Custom build a Workflow Management System Business Register Division (BRD) has the Workbench model experience Specifically addresses BRD needs Allows for more flexibility in the ordering of the processes

Operational Research and Analysis Use the corporate strategic data warehousing technology. Existing applications in STC Knowledgeable skilled resources in STC Can facilitate the sharing of information with other divisions STC Technology Center to help

Application Development Platform Select from the list of strategic application development platforms (VB .Net and SAS) Knowledgeable skilled resources in STC and BRD SDD Technology Centers to help

New BR Model BR Environment Windows New BR Browser Module Legal Structure Operating Structure CE Module Browser Module Workload Module Structure Manager Module Update Module Response Burden Survey Interface EPM Tools Windows BR Environment New BR Reports & Analysis Tools Collection Entity (CE) Journal Response Burden Workload

Browser Module To display the database content Display information about: business or production unit collection entities response burden Journal content (update history) the structure information other sources of information (Tax, Surveys)

Update Module To handle all updates to the database Create automatic updates or signals from administrative sources to frame and CE Perform manual updates to frame and CE Verify and validate changes Disseminate info on updates to interested parties (Joint Staff) Record information to the journal for referral and management reports

Structure Module To manage and display the business structure Display structure in different formats Perform legal and operating structure changes (parent/child links) Propagate certain attributes within the structure (NAICS, revenue, …) Verify coherence of structure Generate reports on structure

Workload Module To receive and manage signals Receive signal to be processed Assign priority Group by business/portfolios Display signals to Analyst/Profiler (A/P) Keep track of decisions made by A/P Record information for management reports Manage A/P schedule

Survey Interface Module To create and manage information used by Survey Areas Select production units to be part of survey universe based on parameters from Methodology/Survey Managers Generate Collection Entity files based on sample information provided by Methodology/Survey Managers

Collection Entity Module To view, create and manage collection entities and contacts Generate collection entities based on Methodology criteria Display information about collection entities and contacts Customize information about CE Verification and validation of changes Record reporting arrangements

Response Burden Module To produce and manage response burden information Record logout and login of questionnaires View the response burden information Record exclusion requests Manage survey inventory for data collection operations

Reports and Analysis Tools Module To produce analytical and management reports for operations and survey managers Generate pre-defined and ad-hoc analytical and management reports Provide query and analysis tools to analyse the BR content Generate special BR “Products”

New BR Content Business data (administrative data, stratification variables data, …) Structure data Collection entity Response burden Workload Log/journal of transactions

Implementation Plan BR Environment – April 2008 Main Frame Windows CFDB Data Model Conversion Prototype September 2005 Archiving Generator Prototype October 2005 Main Frame Windows Browser Module March 2006 (Prototype) BR Environment – April 2008 CFDB Archive April 2008 Survey Interface Module April 2006 (Prototype) Legal Structure Operating Structure October 2005 (Prototype) Update Module May 2006 (Prototype) New BR EPM Tools October 2006 (Prototype) Response Burden Module October 2006 (Prototype) Structure Manager Module May 2006 (Prototype) Collection Entity (CE) Journal Reports & Analysis Tools January 2007 (Prototype) LCE Database November 2005 (Prototype) CE Module May 2006 (Prototype) Workload Response Burden EPM Tools April 2008 Workload Module September 2006 (Prototype)

Transition plan The objective is to reduce the impact on BR Stakeholders How? By identifying impact early in the redesign Outlining a transition strategy Preparing a transition schedule Estimating the user’s cost to adapt to new BR When? Final version of the plan by January 2006

Conclusion Use a Windows environment Employ SQL Server 2005, VB .NET and SAS Prepare a transition plan by January 2006 Start prototyping/testing modules in 2006 Start phasing-in surveys late 2007 Start production on new BR in April 2008

BR Redesign Technology Strategy Plan Questions ?