Main messages from the Strategic Management Seminar on Quality Frameworks held in Bečići-Budva on 10-11 July 2014

Strategic Management Seminar 2014 Participants Directors-General and quality mangers from NSIs of AL, BH, XK, FYROM, MN, RS, TK Quality managers from NSIs of AM, GE, MD,UA Experts from NSIs of HR, LT and IS Host Statistical Office of Montenegro MONSTAT Organisers Eurostat / EFTA Statistical Office / UNECE Statistics Division

Objective Follow-up on recommendations from AGAs and LPRs regarding the need for more comprehensive quality assurance frameworks the introduction of systematic quality management activities Discuss various frameworks, exchange best practices and common challenges

Initiatives and frameworks International developments UN: NQAF National Quality Assurance Framework and GSBPM Generic Statistical Business Process Model European quality initiatives: ‘Fit for purpose’ statistics, statistical law revision, peer reviews II, ESS QAF Frameworks European Statistics Code of Practice ISO: International Organization for Standardization EFQM: European Foundation for Quality Management TQM: Total Quality Management

Key messages I Countries are strongly committed to quality Look for ‘Fit for purpose’, not perfection Use generic models to start a process Select criteria to find the appropriate framework Take a systematic and integrated approach towards quality management Streamline quality into all statistical activities Give full support to the quality entity and the authority to put measures into effect

Key messages II Quality managers need to take leadership and have to be respected persons in the office Actively involve staff in the process, keep them motivated and provide continued training Involve other producers of official statistics and advocate the adoption of quality frameworks Advocacy is a task that could benefit from assistance from international and bilateral partners

Follow-up Discussion has been continued in the current PGSC on the involvement of other producers of official statistics in quality management work (Point 5.1) Organisation of a seminars /workshops on quality management and the European Statistics Code of Practice is being discussed The new Multi-Beneficiary Programme (IPA 2014) provides for a common project on Quality Management

Quality culture A set of group values that guide how improvements are made to everyday working practices and consequent outputs http://www.qualityresearchinternational.com/glossary/qualityculture.htm Seminar documents: http://www.unece.org/stats/documents/2014.07.tc.html Andrea Scheller, Head of the EFTA Statistical Office andrea.scheller@ext.ec.europa.eu