1. Network of Methodologists11
Istat
Network of Methodologists
Giulio Barcaroli
Alessandro Pallara
DIME/ITDG Steering Group
Luxembourg, June 2015

2. Outline Organisation of the methodological function in Istat
The Network of Methodologists
The Methodology Committee
Centres of Competence
Survey on statistical knowledge and the DB of competences
Sharing knowledge: the collaboration platform, the Newsletter, the “Giornate della Ricerca”
Contribution to the standardisation program
Lessons learned
Istat Network of Methodologists
DIME/ITDG Steering Group Luxembourg, June 2015

3. Organisation of the methodological function in Istat
In DIQR, a centralised methodological division mostly dealing with R&D, industrialisation, standardisation
In the other production departments, 3 decentralised methodological units mostly dealing with the introduction of innovations in statistical processes
Istat Network of Methodologists
DIME/ITDG Steering Group Luxembourg, June 2015

4. Istat Governance System for Methodology
A central (formal) node with organizational and coordination responsibilities of:
- Methodological services;
- Annual research program;
- Monitoring methodological innovations
An innovative solution that is functional and non-hierarchical and is based on two pillars: (i) the Methodology Committee and (ii) the Centres of Competence
In addition to the Organisation Chart, for connecting the Centralised Methodological Division to the other Istat Units
Network of Methodologists
Centres of Competence
Methodology Committee
Informal clusters of experts with interests ranging throughout the reference areas of methodologies for statistical surveys
Istat Network of Methodologists
DIME/ITDG Steering Group Luxembourg, June 2015

5. Methodology Committee
Steering development in key methodological domains
Fostering the exchange of knowledge and experience between central methodological units and decentralized production units as well as updating information on methodological competences and resources in Istat
Fostering definition of annual research programs and favoring set up of the portfolio of strategic projects in methodological area
Monitoring the realization of the research program
Istat Network of Methodologists
DIME/ITDG Steering Group Luxembourg, June 2015

6. Domain subgroups (Centres of Competence) - tasks
Fostering harmonization of practices and identification of sound methods in each domain that are likely to be useful for all Istat production units concerned
Creating area-related repository of standards, guidelines, recommended practices and generic tools
Open discussions ad knowledge exchange between subgroups members, also through a dedicated area on the network internal website
Fostering experimentation and validation of standard methods and tools to be introduced in the production process
Holding seminars and contributing to the organization of training courses in each domain
Istat Network of Methodologists
DIME/ITDG Steering Group Luxembourg, June 2015

7. Centres of Competence
Currently, some 265 researchers actively involved in activities of the Centres of Competence
Istat Network of Methodologists
DIME/ITDG Steering Group Luxembourg, June 2015

8. The survey on statistical knowledge and competences of Istat personnel
Online survey, data collection: January-February 2011 (updated June each new candidate for entering the network)
Reference list: all graduated workers (about 1,400)
Three main objectives:
Identifying knowledge and competences in a broad range of statistical areas
Volunteering for participating to the Domain subgroups
Preliminary mapping of informal relationships among Istat researchers and their relationships with other national and international researchers and Institutions
Istat Network of Methodologists
DIME/ITDG Steering Group Luxembourg, June 2015

9. Database of Competences
Features currently available in the DB allow:
updating the database for candidates entering the network through an online questionnaire;
producing statistics on Istat’s methodological competencies
finding resources with specific skills in some 140 subject areas.
Istat Network of Methodologists
DIME/ITDG Steering Group Luxembourg, June 2015

10. Collaboration Platform
Since 2012, a collaboration platform (Microsoft Office Sharepoint 2010) has been set-up in order to enable both Methodology Committee and Centres of Competence managing all relevant activities and network initiatives.
Istat Network of Methodologists
DIME/ITDG Steering Group Luxembourg, June 2015

11. The Newsletter of the network
A Newsletter is being published starting from April 2015 in order to:
informing regularly on the activities of the Centres of Competence
discussing topics that are assuming an increasing relevance for the Network
disseminating good practices and information to the community of methodologists
Istat Network of Methodologists
DIME/ITDG Steering Group Luxembourg, June 2015

12. Giornate della Ricerca in Istat
A research workshop giving to experts of statistical methodology and survey statisticians from the NSI as well as from universities an opportunity to discuss recent advances in methodologies for producing official statistics
Two editions so far: in March 2013 and in November 2014
In the 2014 edition the Scientific Committee selected for presentation at the workshop 26 out of the 51 works proposed. Eight sessions, with an internal chair and an external discussant
The Conference generated considerable interest from researchers, both internally (nearly 300) and externally (over 40)
A selection of conference papers published on a special issue of the “Rivista di Statistica Ufficiale” after passing peer-reviewing
Istat Network of Methodologists
DIME/ITDG Steering Group Luxembourg, June 2015

13. Contribution to standardisation (I)
The Methodological Network contributes to Istat industrialisation and modernisation process by promoting the adoption of internal standards.
The «standard setting procedure» is based on the one defined by the European Sponsorship and the EssNet on Standardisation:
a Centre of Competence can propose the adoption of a particular method, technique or tool to the Methodology Committee;
the Methodology Committee selects a team of experts inside the Centre that carries out all the activities required for the adoption of the standard (drafting and testing, implementation plan, impact assessment, proposal on adoption);
the candidate is proposed to, and possibly adopted by, the Committee of Presidency and can be indicated as a standard in the Istat Repository for Methods and IT tools.
Istat Network of Methodologists
DIME/ITDG Steering Group Luxembourg, June 2015

14. Contribution to standardisation (II)
At the moment, three different candidates of standards have been submitted to this procedure, dealing with:
the production of sample estimates and the calculation of the relative sampling errors (methods implemented in software ReGenesees);
a procedure for selective editing to be used in business and institution surveys, able to ensure the cost minimisation of follow-up and the containment of residual errors within a predetermined threshold (implemented in software SeleMix);
the seasonal adjustment of time series (methods implemented in JDemetra++ in strict cooperation with the activities of the corresponding European Centre of Excellence).
Istat Network of Methodologists
DIME/ITDG Steering Group Luxembourg, June 2015

15. Lessons learned
The development of Istat Network of Methodologists represents a successful operation:
this initiative involves a large number of Istat researchers, far beyond those directly allocated in methodological units;
this allows to reduce the distance between «pure» methodologists and researchers with methodological competences directly involved in production processes, thus favouring collaboration;
circulation and sharing of information regarding best practices are greatly increasing, together with the capability to individuate fields in which to invest in terms of research and development of new methods and tools;
the Network represents also a basis for the standardisation of processes.
Istat Network of Methodologists
DIME/ITDG Steering Group Luxembourg, June 2015

16. Thank you for your attention
Contacts:
Istat Network of Methodologists
DIME/ITDG Steering Group Luxembourg, June 2015 16 16