planning and persuading: the organizational implications
DESCRIPTION
Presentation at Training on Metadata and Output Databases (project Strengthening the Institutional Capacity for BiH Statistics)TRANSCRIPT
Twinning project in BiH:Metadata Training
Planning and persuading: the organizational implicationsKatja Šnuderl
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Introducing myself Geographer (regional planning and
environment protection);
First project at SORS: Regional Database – relational database (micro and macro), aimed to bring several data sources into a common system (pilot);
Dissemination: Came here to migrate all data to PC-Axis (after censuses) – working on organisational issues, technical developments and regular production;(besides: coordinating data transmission to Eurostat and international organisations)
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Overview
From Theory to Practice Arguments for management Arguments for colleagues The task force How projects work
SORS experiences
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From Theory to Practice
Goals have to be clarified Priorities have to be set Brick by brick approach Changes are necessary
Change of management Change of technology Change of processes New directives or legislation
These will all influence the priorities
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Detailed Plan A target model of the whole system
At a conceptual level At implementation level
Identifying the section to be developed Identifying the target process Identifying the technology Identifying the actors Identifying the resources Time plan
Basis: analysis of the current process
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How projects work
Three pillars of a successful project: Understand Share Support
Pilot projects, prototypes = experiences ( implementation)
Failures happen, treat them as lessons learned
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The case for management
Why should resources be spent on this idea? Integrating organisation and processes Avoiding duplication Conforming to standards Re-usability Freeing valuable staff Web based services Quality improvement Enhancing staff capability
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The case for colleagues
Why should we have to do this boring work? Record once, use many times Sharing expertise Intellectual challenge Better public service Measuring performance Whole organisation approach to
statistics Knowledge codification and retention
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How to start
No one solution for all organisations
Users have to be engaged early Identify the key users Training should begin early Demonstrators should give a
hands on feeling as soon as possible
User interfaces geared to your users
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The metadata task force
Statistical methodologist Publishing editor Economic statistics specialist Social statistics specialist IT expert
Dedicated, enthusiastic and empowered!
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Systematic approach
Document metadata Persons and roles, formats, …
Process metadata Dates (timetable), tools, locations of data
and outputs, … Statistical metadata
Definitions, Units, Methods used, … Quality metadata …
Basic rule: register metadata where they appear for the 1st time and re-use
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SORS Experiences
1997: First study of the system and setting priorities
2000: Classification server built (based on New Zealand’s CARS system)
2002: Corporate metadata repository (METIS), in the same project basic common functions in the context of statistical data warehouse were defined
2003: Project on dissemination
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Challenges Process integration (LEGO blocks
instead of origami) Introduce positive attitude
(problem = obstacle vs. challenge, therefore problem identifications stop projects instead of improving them)
Qualified human resources and corporate knowledge
Statistician-friendly interfaces
Do something that works and proves efficient
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Metadata database implementations
Plan of activities Diary of activities Classifications Database of questionnaires Database of methodological
explanations Release calendar
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Planning & persuading: output database
1. Products coverage register2. Define new content to be prepared3. Discuss content structure4. Define input sources5. Define classifications used6. Define data table structure7. Define metadata8. Prepare tables9. Define updating processes and release
calendar10. Training11. First release in the database12. Restructure paper publications13. User satisfaction analysis
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Discussion…
The sign of a truly educated man is to be deeply moved by statistics. - George Bernard Shaw