Producing and managing metadata Workshop on Writing Metadata for Development Indicators Lusaka, Zambia 30 July – 1 August 2012 Writing Metadata for Development Indicators July – August

Session outline Generic statistical models Principles of good metadata management Benefits of managing metadata July – August 2012 Writing Metadata for Development Indicators 2

“Metadata collection is dull, expensive, and time consuming.” UNECE Guidelines for the Modelling of Statistical Data and Metadata (1995)

Producing metadata Metadata created and used throughout the production process Reuse rather than recreate National standards and systems July – August 2012 Writing Metadata for Development Indicators 4

Generic Statistical Business Process Model (GSBPM) July – August 2012 Writing Metadata for Development Indicators 5 Source: UNECE (2009) 1. Specify Needs 2. Design3. Build4. Collect 5. Process 6. Analyse 7. Disseminate 8. Archive9. Evaluate

Generic Statistical Information Model (GSIM) – under development July – August 2012 Writing Metadata for Development Indicators 6 Source: UNECE (2012) www1.unece.org/stat/platform/display/gsimwww1.unece.org/stat/platform/display/gsim DRAFT

Managing metadata Principles of good management Statistical Metadata in a Corporate Context Central systems and tools – Vocabularies – Classification management – Question databases July – August 2012 Writing Metadata for Development Indicators 7

Core principles: metadata handling Consistent metadata across entire process Active not passive Reuse Version control July – August 2012 Writing Metadata for Development Indicators 8

Core principles: metadata authority Registration of metadata Single source One entry / update Document variations from standards July – August 2012 Writing Metadata for Development Indicators 10

Source: Statistics Portugal (INE), Isfan, T.M., Variables Subsystem, paper presented at the Joint UNECE / EUROSTAT / OECD Work Session on Statistical Metadata (METIS), Statistics Portugal Variables Registry Variables Manager Survey Manager Data users Management Application Search Engine Other databases

Core principles: part of business Integral part of business Matching metadata Describe flow Capture at source Exchange and use July – August 2012 Writing Metadata for Development Indicators 14

Core principles: users Identify users Different formats and levels of detail Availability July – August 2012 Writing Metadata for Development Indicators 15

Benefits of managing metadata Use up-to-date classifications and definitions Gain resources Increase morale and productivity Capitalising on lessons learned Make it available to users Easier for data users to understand Increased trust in official statistics July – August 2012 Writing Metadata for Development Indicators 16