1. Business Register Redesign Technology Strategy Plan
19th International Roundtable
Gaétan St-Louis
Statistics Canada
October 2005

2. Outline What is the Canadian Business Register Current Technology used
Strategic Technology Plan
New BR Model
Implementation Plan
Conclusion

3. What is the Canadian Business Register?
The Business Register (BR) is a structured list of 2.2 million businesses engaged in the production of goods and services in Canada.
The list is used by statistical programs to:
determine the in-scope population
to select a sample
to conduct demographic studies

4. Current technology used
Platform
Main Frame
Software/Tools
PL1
Natural
Assembler
SAS
ISPF
IBM Utilities
Database technology
Adabas

5. Guiding Principles
The use of proven standards and technology will reduce:
Project risks
Development time
Cost
The use of corporate services, utilities and products will create efficiencies and minimise cost.
Limited software diversity will avoid dilution of our core knowledge.

6. Strategic Technology Plan
Database Management Technology
Database Management Data Models
IT Resource Management
Workflow Management
Operational Research and Analysis
Application Development Platforms

7. Database Management Technology
Employ mainstream database management technology: SQL Server 2005
Knowledgeable skilled resources in STC
BRD currently using SQL Server 2000
STC Microsoft Technology Center to help

8. Database Data Models Use standard relational database model features:
Widely used and understood in STC
Knowledgeable skilled resources in STC
Object-relational extensions may be used where deemed beneficial and manageable

9. IT Resource Management
Purchase existing corporate on-demand IT utilities and services
Some utilities are well established in the department (Data Storage, Backup, Server Management,..)
Capacity & redundancy requirements are immediately scalable

10. Workflow Management Custom build a Workflow Management System
Business Register Division (BRD) has the Workbench model experience
Specifically addresses BRD needs
Allows for more flexibility in the ordering of the processes

11. Operational Research and Analysis
Use the corporate strategic data warehousing technology.
Existing applications in STC
Knowledgeable skilled resources in STC
Can facilitate the sharing of information with other divisions
STC Technology Center to help

12. Application Development Platform
Select from the list of strategic application development platforms (VB .Net and SAS)
Knowledgeable skilled resources in STC and BRD
SDD Technology Centers to help

13. New BR Model BR Environment Windows New BR Browser Module
Legal Structure
Operating Structure
CE Module
Browser Module
Workload Module
Structure Manager
Module
Update Module
Response Burden
Survey Interface
EPM Tools
Windows
BR Environment
New BR
Reports &
Analysis Tools
Collection Entity (CE)
Journal
Response Burden
Workload

14. Browser Module To display the database content
Display information about:
business or production unit
collection entities
response burden
Journal content (update history)
the structure information
other sources of information (Tax, Surveys)

15. Update Module To handle all updates to the database
Create automatic updates or signals from administrative sources to frame and CE
Perform manual updates to frame and CE
Verify and validate changes
Disseminate info on updates to interested parties (Joint Staff)
Record information to the journal for referral and management reports

16. Structure Module To manage and display the business structure
Display structure in different formats
Perform legal and operating structure changes (parent/child links)
Propagate certain attributes within the structure (NAICS, revenue, …)
Verify coherence of structure
Generate reports on structure

17. Workload Module To receive and manage signals
Receive signal to be processed
Assign priority
Group by business/portfolios
Display signals to Analyst/Profiler (A/P)
Keep track of decisions made by A/P
Record information for management reports
Manage A/P schedule

18. Survey Interface Module
To create and manage information used by Survey Areas
Select production units to be part of survey universe based on parameters from Methodology/Survey Managers
Generate Collection Entity files based on sample information provided by Methodology/Survey Managers

19. Collection Entity Module
To view, create and manage collection entities and contacts
Generate collection entities based on Methodology criteria
Display information about collection entities and contacts
Customize information about CE
Verification and validation of changes
Record reporting arrangements

20. Response Burden Module
To produce and manage response burden information
Record logout and login of questionnaires
View the response burden information
Record exclusion requests
Manage survey inventory for data collection operations

21. Reports and Analysis Tools Module
To produce analytical and management reports for operations and survey managers
Generate pre-defined and ad-hoc analytical and management reports
Provide query and analysis tools to analyse the BR content
Generate special BR “Products”

22. New BR Content
Business data (administrative data, stratification variables data, …)
Structure data
Collection entity
Response burden
Workload
Log/journal of transactions

23. Implementation Plan BR Environment – April 2008 Main Frame Windows
CFDB
Data Model Conversion
Prototype September 2005
Archiving Generator
Prototype October 2005
Main Frame
Windows
Browser Module
March 2006
(Prototype)
BR Environment – April 2008
CFDB Archive
April 2008
Survey Interface
Module
April 2006
(Prototype)
Legal Structure
Operating Structure
October 2005
(Prototype)
Update Module
May 2006
(Prototype)
New BR
EPM Tools
October 2006
(Prototype)
Response Burden
Module
October 2006
(Prototype)
Structure Manager
Module
May 2006
(Prototype)
Collection Entity (CE)
Journal
Reports &
Analysis Tools
January 2007
(Prototype)
LCE
Database
November 2005
(Prototype)
CE Module
May 2006
(Prototype)
Workload
Response Burden
EPM Tools
April 2008
Workload Module
September 2006
(Prototype)

24. Transition plan
The objective is to reduce the impact on BR Stakeholders
How?
By identifying impact early in the redesign
Outlining a transition strategy
Preparing a transition schedule
Estimating the user’s cost to adapt to new BR
When?
Final version of the plan by January 2006

25. Conclusion Use a Windows environment
Employ SQL Server 2005, VB .NET and SAS
Prepare a transition plan by January 2006
Start prototyping/testing modules in 2006
Start phasing-in surveys late 2007
Start production on new BR in April 2008

26. BR Redesign Technology Strategy Plan
Questions ?