Eurostat

The impact of the Memobust project results

Presented by

• Rob van de Laar• Statistics Netherlands

At the European Modernisation WorkshopESSnet/ESS.VIP workshop Valencia

23-24 January 2014

Modern methodology for Business Statistics

The Memobust project

Methodology for Modern Business Statistics• ESSnet project

• Co-ordinator: Leon Willenborg (Statistics Netherlands)

• Two phases: • January 2011 – July 2012• September 2012 – March 2014

Project team

• First phase: Netherlands; Greece; Hungary; Italy; Norway; Poland; Sweden; Switzerland

• Second phase: the same, minus Greece

Main goals

• Handbook on methodology for production of Business Statistics

• Special focus on design, data collection, estimation, and integration

• Comply with GSBPM (Generic Statistical Business Process Model)

Handbook content

• Modular structure• Parallel development• Easy maintenance

• Two types of modules• Theme (general) • Method (specific, more technical)

• 100+ modules• About 1500 pages (estimated)

Topics in the handbook

• 1. Introduction 13. Coding• 2. General Observations 14. Statistical Data Editing• 3. User Needs 15. Imputation• 4. Overall Design 16. Derivation of Statistical Units• 5. Repeated Surveys 17. Weighting and Estimation• 6. Design of Statistical Concepts18. Quality Aspects• 7. Questionnaire Design 19. Macro-Integration• 8. Statistical Registers and Frames 20. Seasonal Adjustment• 9. Sample Selection 21. Statistical Disclosure Control• 10. Data Collection 22. Dissemination• 11. Response 23. Evaluation• 12. Micro-Fusion 24. Dynamics of the Business Population

Intended readership

• Persons working at (European) statistical institutes in the area of business statistics:

• Survey managers• Process designers• Statisticians / production staff• Methodologists

Activities undertaken to give the handbook attention

CROS portal website

• The main source of dissemination is the project’s website on the CROS portal (memobust@cbs.nl). This website contains the handbook.

• It should be widely known.

• The website is intended to be the central hub.

Conferences and workshops

• Q2012 (Athens, 2012).• NTTS (Brussels, 2013).• European Establishment Statistics Workshop

(Nuremberg, 2013).• ESSnet workshops (Rome 2013, Valencia 2014).• UN/ECE work session on statistical data editing

(Paris, 2014).

Joint meetings

• In The Hague, Stockholm, Poznan, Rome, Oslo, Budapest, and The Hague again.

• To attract the attention at the national statistical office where the meeting was held

• This a rather effective way of spreading the news about the handbook in the NSIs involved in producing the handbook

Writing and reviewing

• The writing and reviewing of the handbook involved about 100 persons, distributed over the NSIs collaborating in the project.

• Already a fair number of people are aware of the handbook within the NSIs that took part in the project.

• They might guide colleagues to the handbook, including colleagues at other NSIs.

Reviewing outside project

• The handbook was reviewed by many European Statistical Institutes.

• The handbook was also reviewed by experts not participating in the project.

Training course

• A training course on the Memobust handbook was given in The Hague in November 2013.

• Participants attended from various European countries not directly involved in the project.

• One aim was to make the participants aware of the existence and usefulness of the handbook.

Future training courses

• The website can be used as repository of course material for future training courses based on the handbook.

• As a secondary effect course participants can draw the attention of many colleagues to the handbook.

Limited PR during the project

• A lot of the time in the project was spent on writing and reviewing modules.

• For a considerable time there was little to show of the handbook, only a few modules.

• When there was a substantial amount of material available in the handbook, the project was nearing its conclusion.

PR after the project

• After the project is finished it is important that the deliverables will be available.

• For this new activities should be organized to promote it and to make sure that it is used.

• One way to achieve this is through courses based on material from the handbook.

Usefulness of deliverables

• Contents:• Templates for modules for description of methods and

themes.

• Project management: • use of internal review procedure.• use of an Editorial Board for quality standard and

integration and harmonisation.

Use of the handbook

• Source of knowledge / aid in designing and running Business Statistics

• Information for users of business data• Base material for courses

• Course within the project: November 2013

• Reference and starting point for use of literature and software

• Facilitate the discourse on statistical methods and harmonization at the European level

After the project

• Keep the handbook up-to-date in the future• The modular, electronic form facilitates updating• This requires

• Active group of topic leaders (moderators)• ‘Center of expertise’ to co-ordinate the

maintenance• Financial sponsorship

After the project

• Extending the scope to social statistics?

• Same templates and modular structure could be used for extension of content