IT Directors’ Group Meeting October 2010 Item 2.2 of the agenda Co-ordination with the DIME Rainer MUTHMANN, Head of Unit B2

19-20 October 2010IT Directors’ Group Meeting 2 Links among ESS methodology groups METHnet/ITSC/CVD-MH SG/CAB DGINS ESACESGAB ESSC/PG DIMEITDG (Sponsorship on Standardisation & Sponsorship on Quality) WGSC, SASG ESS Groups (e.g. SISAI & Statistical Metadata …) ESTAT co-ordination Groups with IT & methodological profile (e.g. CG1: re-engineering/business architecture) ESS Strategic layer ESS Operational layer ESTAT strategic layer ESSNets ESTAT operational layer Sectoral Directors’ Groups

19-20 October 2010IT Directors’ Group Meeting 3 Imperfect upstream co-ordination –In a situation beyond its mandate, a Directors' group will elaborate analysis and recommendations and seek an opinion from the ESSC; –ESSC position may affect more strategic groups, which will then implement aspects belonging to their mandates; –Enhanced communication can much improve its efficiency. Where to apply: Relevant in regulatory and governance processes, it is compatible with any hierarchical organisation.

19-20 October 2010IT Directors’ Group Meeting 4 Indirect downstream co-ordination Where to apply: Especially appropriate for ESSnets' monitoring and evaluation and to set up technical groups tackling specific topics under integrated(ing) approaches -Facing an issue beyond their individual mandate two or more Directors' groups jointly appoint a technical group of experts with corresponding competences; -The purpose would be widening the field of the technical analysis to enrich discussions; -The result would consist in specific recommendations and reports to directors’ groups concerned.

19-20 October 2010IT Directors’ Group Meeting 5 Direct horizontal co-ordination Where to apply: This way of co-operation would be relevant, for instance, to improve communication in a transition phase towards a more integrated ESS Business Architecture. -Two or more Directors' groups address a complex issue building on synergies and complementarities; -They may create a task force with some of their members and/or appoint a technical working group; -They draw specific conclusions for their own areas and a joint analysis or recommendation to the ESSC. -They exchange their agendas and set-up communication channels and consultation mechanisms, like participation to each other’s meetings and web 2.0 collaboration platforms.

19-20 October 2010IT Directors’ Group Meeting 6 The steps forward In the short term, ITDG to set up a simple co-ordination framework with DIME, as a pilot case for co-operation with a larger circle of strategic groups. Common membership to both groups limits burden. It could take the form of: –mutual reporting by joint members during plenary meetings including a systematic point in agendas: “co-ordination with other strategic groups: information and feed-back on horizontal issues” –launching a joint WIKI platform with the DIME secretariat to allow effective exchanges and to prepare the yearly more formal co-ordination. –where IT is a core aspect, assessment ESSnets may request a joint technical mechanism. In the longer term, ESSC could adopt a co-ordination plan for strategic groups. Reviewed yearly, it could become a key element of the ESS operational integration process.