Implementation of Eurostat Quality Declarations with Cost- Effective Use of Standards Q European conference on quality in statistics Vienna 2-5 June 2014 Mogens Grosen Nielsen & Lars Thygesen, Statistics Denmark

Agenda 1.On-going project – vision and implementation 2.Quality framework and related standards 3.Challenges 4.Conclusions

Vision and focus at Statistics Denmark 1.Statistical information must help users in the “turbulent information- sea” 2.Metadata about content and quality must – help users in their knowledge processes – give users precise information about our products 3.International standards and standard software must enable: – Cost efficient solution – Gradual implementation with few ressources – Sustainable long term solution

”Classical” metadata elements implemented using Data Documenation initiative (DDI) and SDMX Hvad betyder Quality declaration Variable/dataset Concept Variable database Klassifikationsdatabase Classifications Methods/ ”Survey” StatBankMethods papers Class database Concepts database

THE SOLU- TION METADATA IN COLECTICA Enter Q.D. Publish at Dst.dk Q.D. to EU Publish at the Intranet REUSE EXISTING METADATA

Single Integrated Metadata Structure (SIMS) and reporting formats: ESMS and ESQRS 6

Work processes and quality declarations 7 Needs : Fill in user needs etc. Analyse : Fill in accuracy etc.

Work processes and quality declarations in Colectica – Retail Trade index

Transmission to Eurostat and customized presentation in reports and at dst.dk -Many views into quality declarations to support various users -Example: Extract from report with summary information for Retail Trade Index

Status on EU-grant project  System using Colectica, DDI and SDMX in place  SIMS quality concept classification inside with integration to concept database  Files to Eurostat complying with ESMS and ESQRS metadata structure definitions can be generated  Guidelines and course material prepared  About 100 surveys created and subject matter staff are working to transform from old to new standard- based quality declarations

Implementation of Eurostat Quality Framework 12

Quality defineed and requirement for the Quality management system 13 1.Define content: SIMS 2.Guidelines for production processes 3.User needs: survey specfic and quality / metadata specific 4.Quality organisation Definition of quality: “the degree to which a set of inherent characteristics of processes and products fulfils requirements”

Challenge  Increase in number of user demand on content Response  Focus-groups  Improved dissemination Suggestion for research and development  How to improve dissemination of information on content and quality dimensions  How to ensure descriptions of society fulfilling the democratic ideal on information Challenge #1 User needs 14

Response  Stepwise implementation towards end-to-end processes Suggestion for research and development  How to implement efficient end-to-end processes (value chains)  Business Process Management Challenge #2 Corporate level issues 15 Challenge  Stove pipes

Challenge  Weak awareness on systematic quality work  How to put quality elements into GSBPM Solution  Describe each SIMS element in one or more GSBPM processes Suggestion for research and development  Improve integration of SIMS, QAF and GSBPM Challenge #3 Integrating quality into business processes 16

Challenge  Reuse of metadata  Short term solution must not conflict with long term solutions Solution  Standards (DDI, SDMX etc.) implemented stepwise Suggestion for research and development  How to implement stepwise standards with different ambition levels  GSIM should be improved towards practical use Challenge #4 Standards and technical implementation 17

Challenge  How to handle the four challenges above at Member and Eurostat level in a coordinated manner? Solution  Implement the same standards at different ambition-levels Suggestion for research and development  How do organisations work as social systems and how to improve cooperation of organisation Cost-efficient solutions at Member State and Eurostat level 18

Main conclusions to increase cost effectiveness 19 More R&D on how to a)fulfill user needs b) integrate quality and metadata into processes Build modern library catolog systems Access to Quality and Metadata should be like shopping at Amazon Think global, act local Implement the same standards at National and International level, but with different ambition-levels

The End!