Establishing E&I capability and best practices at Statistics NZ Vera Costa & Tracey Savage 2008 UNECE Work Session on Statistical Data Editing

Overview Introduction E&I Methodology Network E&I Objectives E&I Principles E&I Strategy The Pacific Island Attachment Programme Current concerns Conclusions

Introduction E&I as a key issue within Statistics NZ –Context in which editing takes place has changed –Desire to improve the efficiency of data processing –Wider view of the objectives for E&I –Users’ demand for access to metadata

Introduction (cont.) Approach used – development of: –E&I Objectives –E&I Principles –E&I Strategy Development led by the E&I Methodology Network

E&I Methodology Network Established in 2004 Aims –Establish, document and promote E&I best practice –Provide information on E&I procedures and the quality of the data –Coordinate E&I skill development –Understand and research E&I

E&I Methodology Network (cont.) Activities of the network –Development of E&I objectives, principles and strategy –Research into generalised E&I tools –Offering E&I training

E&I Objectives Statistics NZ E&I objectives –Provide users with fit for purpose, plausible data and outputs by the most effective and efficient means –Ensure all users are better informed about the quality of our data and statistical outputs –Continuously improve our end-to-end business processes and overall data quality

E&I Principles Importance of having E&I principles Over-arching E&I principle ‘ Statistics NZ should maintain, wherever possible, the original data provided by the respondent or data supplier ’ Example of this principle in action – 2006 Census of Population and Dwellings Quality Management Strategy

E&I Strategy Deliverables –E&I Plan template –E&I Standards and Guidelines –E&I Training

E&I Strategy (cont.) E&I Plan –Developed for each family of outputs –Why have one? raise issues related to prioritisation of different users’ needs document the agreed E&I approach manage users’ expectations about the quality of the final outputs

E&I Strategy (cont.) E&I Plan (cont.) –How to create one No ‘one size fits all’ Discussions / workshops involving the Subject Matter Area(s) –What to take into account User needs Operational constraints Lessons learnt

E&I Strategy (cont.) E&I Standards & Guidelines –Why have them? – to ensure a consistent approach across similar outputs –Target areas E&I processes, methods and tools E&I metadata

E&I Strategy (cont.) E&I Standards & Guidelines (cont.) –Deliverables E&I Standards & Guidelines Document E&I Manual Presentations to promote the standards Modular E&I training

Pacific Island Attachment Programme What is it? Focus of the 2006 / 2007 Programme ‘data quality and editing strategies encompassing both business and household data’ Participant countries: Palau, Samoa, Tonga

Pacific Island Attachment Programme (cont.) Challenges –Cultural differences –Totally different work environment –Heterogeneous range of work experiences

Pacific Island Attachment Programme (cont.) Approach used –Providing an overview of E&I, focusing on E&I concepts How the knowledge could be applied back home –Avoiding mathematical expressions –Interacting with several Subject Matter Areas –Having a balance between E&I training Work on individual projects

Pacific Island Attachment Programme (cont.) Relevant topics –E&I objectives and principles –E&I methodology (not too much detail or formulas) –Quality and E&I quality indicators –Documentation

Pacific Island Attachment Programme (cont.) Achievements –Participants Project completion Advantages of a different approach when implementing E&I processes –Statistics NZ Pilot for E&I training

Challenges facing Statistics NZ Cultural changes High staff turnover Prioritisation of the work to be done

Conclusions Importance of the E&I Network Acknowledgements

Contacts Vera Costa Tracey Savage