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