High-stakes Numbers: Quality and Official Statistics James King Project Manager Managing Statistical Data Quality Project 14 Feb 2013

Introductions Why does Quality mean to you personally? Quality spearfishing gear

Statistics about Statistics NZ ~1075 FTE staff 222 statistical outputs (2012/13 year) In the last 3 months of 2012, in the print version of the Dominion Post Directly referenced 43 times 128 articles directly relevant (i.e. quote Statistics NZ data)

Statistics NZ Quality Model

Quality and Strategy The organisation’s four strategic priorities 5

Fit for Purpose?

Tier 1 Statistics The most important statistics Principles and protocols for producers of Tier 1 statistics (Statistics NZ, 2007) Protocol 1 – Quality Official statistics are produced using sound statistical methodology, relevant and reliable data sources, and are appropriate for the purpose. Is your agency a producer of statistics?

What we do to ensure quality On a journey… ‘Total Quality Management’ Policy Development –Overarching policy across the business Frameworks and Tools Quality Model Quality Management Network Output Quality Reviews Error reporting Quality Assurance Framework 8

A programme for reviewing the processes involved in producing statistical outputs. The purpose of an output review is to: reduce errors (both near misses and errata) identify efficiency and quality improvements spread good practice increase understanding of the drivers of quality within outputs. Quality Reviews

Error Reporting Under the Statistics NZ Policy for Handling Errors in Published Statistics, any error discovered in information published by Statistics NZ must be notified to the Business Area Manager who must then log the error and complete a full error report.

UN Quality Assurance Framework

Continuous Improvement Statistics 2020 Te Kāpehu Whetū Customer Focus Links with Business Efficiency Kaizen trained Business Analysts

Culture Change All the frameworks, documents and policies in the world won’t increase quality Key area of focus – organisational/team culture Research is showing that team culture the most important lever in quality management –Senior managers just need to make the right noises, consistently. 13

14 Culture (Implicit) Culture (Implicit) Behaviours (What actually happens) Behaviours (What actually happens) Stated Expectations (Explicit) Stated Expectations (Explicit) ‘Tangible’ ‘Intangible’

Quality Bake-off and Debate Competitive Advantage Keeping respondent trust in a challenging environment Lose trust, lose our lifeblood Willing respondents vital

What we’re looking for:

Further Questions?

Thanks for your time!