SLOVENIAN EXPERIENCE IN IMPLEMENTATION AND MAINTENANCE OF DISSEMINATION DATABASE FROM USER'S AND PRODUCER'S PERSPECTIVE AT SORS Tomaz Smrekar, Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia

CONTENTS 1.Dissemination at SORS Vision and values Strategy Policy Users Products Communication 2.SI-STAT database Implementation Organization of statistical process Statisticians-reactions Users-reactions 3.Conclusions

1.DISSEMINATION AT SORS

SORS VISION – User-oriented – Management of the elements of the quality of national statistics – Qualified and motivated employees – Up-to-date coordination with international standards, EU standards in particular – Modern systems of collection, processing and dissemination of data – Surveys and innovation – Improvement of working conditions

SORS VALUES – Importance of users – Trust between users and employees – Independence of the institution and profession – Respect of privacy – Know-how and experience – Quality of statistical products and services – Work in interdisciplinary groups – Stimulating the working environment

DISSEMINATION AND COMMUNICATION STRATEGY The purpose of the strategy will be achieved with the following goals: 1.satisfied users 2.improvement of statistical literacy 3.recognisability and good reputation of the SORS trade mark, trust of users and actual use of statistical data 4.efficient preparation, promotion and transmission of data and information

RELEASE POLICY First release of all data in First release series-detailed data in database Release calender All releases at hours No outside prior access to data (4 exceptions) Web information is free of charge Bilinguality of all information Microdata for researchers

GROUPS OF USERS (Inmon 1997) Tourists (very occasional users: general publics, students) Harvestors (government for informed decisions) Miners (researchers, financial analists, economists)

IDENTIFICATION OF USERS’ NEEDS AT SORS User satisfaction surveys Statistical advisory committees Statistical conference ESS requirements

TIPICAL PRODUCTS FOR USERS Tourists (Do not miss, key indicators, first release, pocket books, yearbook, …) Harvestors (first release, analitical publications, database) Miners (database, first release,)

COMMUNICATION PYRAMID AT SORS First release Dissemination database (mass of output) Multithematic publications Analitical reports Conferences, seminars Microdata for researchers

IMPORTANCE OF CLEAR COMMUNICATION Decreases data misinterpretation Increases accurattely and fairley reported statistics Increase awerness and interest in statistics Increases survey response rates

FIRST RELEASE PYRAMID AT SORS Headline Short introductory/abstract Body text Simple table/graph Links: metadata detailed tables, SI-STAT database contact

2. SI-STAT DATABASE

IMPLEMENTATION Structure –File server –Microdata base Timetable –2003 (2 censuses) –2004 (regular production) –2008 (1200 tables, majority of fields of statistics) Implementation –6 months of outsourcing (3 IT specialists)

STATISTICAL PROCESS-SORS People involved –80 subject matter specialists –Electronic dissemination unit Training –Resources: manual 60 pages –16h group work + 4 h individual First selection –On will to work principe for production specialists –Major suport from dissemination Help desk and central support Connection with First relese –Integration –Bonuses

STATISTICIANS-REACTIONS General opinion: –Too demanding Young/old Critical issues: –Multidimensional tables –Common standards Help desk and central support

USERS-REACTIONS Users –Positive reactions Government analists Some media: Slovene FT, Reuters International organizations: OECD General users –Too demanding

CONCLUSIONS Dissemination database is one of dissemination products and is important element in the communication pyramid. It is designed for the most demanding users od statistical data.