Statistical Dissemination

8/14/2019 Statistical Dissemination

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STATISTICALDISSEMINATION1,2POLICY AND STRATEGY


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THE TABLE OF CONTENTS:

1. Int rodu ction 42. The system of th e Slovenian nat ional stat istics 43. Register -orient ed stat istics 54. Stat istical supp ort on th e path to accession to EUan d related activities of Slovenia 55. Th e new mission 66. Th e vision 67. Th e values 68. Cur rent state of dissemination as an activity implemented in SORS 7

8.1 Statistical publications 7

8.2 Electronic media - The SORS Homepage http://www.stat.si 8

8.3 Statistical databases 89. Long-term ta rgets in th e field of da ta disseminat ion 910. The legal fra mework for deter mining th e needs of users 1011. Strength ening th e tr ust of users 1012. Quality as a strategic orientation of the Statistical Officeof th e Repub lic of Slovenia 1113. Op era ting objectives in view of repor ting on qu ality unt il year 2007 1214. Users of official stat istical data an d informa tion 12

14.1. The currently used segmentation of users 13

14.2. Proposals for more detailed segmentation of users 1715. Imp rovement of services 2016. Pr icing policy 20


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17. Data pr otection 2118. Disclosur e control 22

18.1. Users of data and disclosure of statistical data 2219. Fut ur e development of dissemina tion 24

19.1. Summary of the strategic objectives 24

19.2. The SORS user-oriented dissemination strategy is based on the

following principles 24

19.3. Records on issued publications 25

19.4. PX-web, search for data in tables, anticipation of publications

(release calendar), publications on Internet, search in full text of publications 26

19.5. Development work in the field of dissemination -

most important novelties 27

19.6. The KLASJE classification server 2720. Conclusion 28


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1. IntroductionLike other similar, modern social and economic communities, Slovenia as a young state has

two principal objectives: to have happy and satisfied citizens, and also to provide such

economic and social conditions that shall bring about satisfaction. Therefore, the rights and

obligations encountered on the way to satisfaction have to be properly distributed: phenomenaand circumstances relating to individuals or their business and other associations in the

society have to be measured rules have to be determined - at least in a statistical way. Andabove all, the announced principal and intermediate objectives have to be determined and

measured, so that on the one hand the agreed policies that are linked to these objectives shallhave solid foundations and shall be monitored by the national and the international democratic

communities and that on the other hand the required measures shall be sufficientlysubstantiated and timely as well. Both objectives, however, lead to a third objective. Namely,

to attain these objectives, a democratic means or tool has to be set up - namely national

statistics, which is not only independent and professionally consistent, but also continuously

monitors and makes comparisons of both national statistics and methods with those in the

international and supranational environments. It is national statistics that shall enableprofessionally correct and democratic decision-making in the country and that shall support

development planning and actions made either by residents, by Slovene or foreign investors

or those business subjects that are interested in or concerned about the development of

Slovenia. The language and methods of global statistics shall facilitate business subjects and

everybody else in understanding the great competitive world and in integrating into it

economically and in other manners.

Transition to modern, market-oriented society has had influence on rapid changes in national

statistics from being product-oriented to being user-oriented. In case of development ofdissemination, stress is being put on: harmonization with international standards, increase of

data quality, conformity of concepts and classifications, timeliness, presentations and user-

friendliness.

Meeting the users needs is the fundamental orientation and principle of the data

dissemination policy of the Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia (SORS). In fact, it is

on these principles that SORS has based its mission, strategy, objectives and programmes,

policies and activities. Even though in the Slovene system of national statistics the statistical

data dissemination is carried out also by other authorized performers and in some instances

also by certain Ministries, in case of data dissemination to the international environment,

SORS should at least be notified of such instances.2. The system of Slovenian national statistics

National statistics is a professionally independent activity whose objective is the

implementation of the Programmes of Statistical Surveys. SORS is the main performer andcoordinator of the activities. Namely, in the implementation of the Programmes of Statistical

Surveys, there are involved also authorized institutions, established by mid-term programmes

of statistical surveys. The Mid-term Programme of Statistical Surveys 2003-20071

determines,besides SORS, also other authorized performers of national statistics, these being:

1 Mid-term Programme of Statistical Surveys 2003-2007, OJ RS, No. 10/2003.


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- Bank of Slovenia (balance of payments statistics, financial and monetary statistics)

- Ministry of Finance (public deficit and debt statistics, public finance statistics)

- Agency of the Republic of Slovenia for Records and Services under Public Law (partly

business statistics)

- Institute for Health Protection of the Republic of Slovenia (health care statistics)

- Pension and Disability Insurance Institution of Slovenia (pensions statistics)- Health Insurance Institution of Slovenia (social security statistics)

- Employment Office of RS (partly employment statistics and unemployment statistics).3. Register-oriented statisticsIn co-operation with the Nordic countries, in the last 25 years SORS has been developing thestatistical environment, based on registers and above all on construction of infrastructural

administrative registers (Central Population Register, Business Register of Slovenia, Register

of Territorial Units) and on uniform identifications (personal identification number of citizen,

identification number of business subject, centroid). Even nowadays SORS has an important

role in development projects in the field of administrative records. Impacts on introduction ofstatistical classifications as a national standard, retaining of uniform identifications, giving

opinions to methodological bases on data collection and access of subjects of national

statistics to administrative records on micro level and by identification numbers, remain the

primary long-term objectives of the Slovenian national statistics also for the future mid-term

period.

In the past, SORS developed the basic administrative registers and handed them over to bemaintained by other institutions. In 1995, the Register of Territorial Units was taken over by

the Geodesic Administration of RS, whereas the Central Population Register was taken overby the Ministry of the Interior in 1998 and the Business Register of Slovenia was in July 2002

handed over to the Agency of the Republic of Slovenia for Records and Services under Public

Law.

The importance of registers, of the use of administrative sources and above all of the

possibility to make use of them in combination with statistical data, enables the system of

statistics to be more flexible and it facilitates redefinition of the user needs. 4. Statistical support on the path to accession to EU and related activities of Slovenia In 1996, the Europe Agreement establishing an association between the European

Communities and their Member States, acting within the framework of the European union, ofthe one part, and the Republic of Slovenia, of the other part was signed. In 1998 when the

Slovenia signed the Accession Agreement and during the screening exercises (i.e.comparative examinations of legislation, incl. statistical legislation) the Slovenian national

statistics made the commitment to achieve full harmonization with the statistical legislation ofthe EU not later than by the end of year 2002. As part of this process, in 2001 The Changes

and Supplements of the Slovenian National Statistics Act were adopted. Their purpose was to

ease the preparation and adoption of the Programme of Statistical Surveys, improve statisticalconfidentiality, deepen professional independence of SORS and more precisely determine the

role of the authorized performers of statistical surveys. The new legal basis thus providedSORS with reasons for its mission and for its scope of work. The long-term strategy was

prepared, incl. collection, processing and dissemination of data and of information. By havingsigned the Accession Treaty on 16th of April 2003, the state Slovenia and thus also the


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Slovenian national statistics have formally entered into to the decision-making processes of

the EU. The support offered by provision of data is becoming increasingly important for

decision-making in Slovenia and in order to be able to act as an EU Member State. The

European Commission, the European Central Bank and other EU institutions are important

data users within the European Statistical System (ESS).5. The new missionThe mission of Slovenian statistics is set out in detail in the National Statistics Act and in the

Mid-term Programmes of Statistical Surveys. The Slovenian national statistics providesbodies and organizations of public administration, the economy and the public with high-

quality, timely data, comparable in time, within the state and internationally, whereas thesedata refer to the situation and movements in the economic, demographic and social fields, as

well as in the fields of environment and natural resources. Data are provided at optimal costs

in order to meet the national needs and also in order to facilitate international comparisons.

By respecting statistical data protection, the trust of data users is provided. Professional

independence is attained via permanent training and education. Key words that relate to themission (for instance statistical confidentiality, trust of users, professional independence)

describe the basic principles of statistics and with due respect to these principles also

provision of statistical data of good quality (required to meet the users' needs within Slovenia

and in an international environment) can be guaranteed.6. The visionModern approaches to total quality management, highly qualified workers, up-to-date

harmonization with the international environment, user-orientation, modernisation ofprocesses and improvement of working conditions are the most important activities, which

enable the Slovenian statistical system to implement its mission.7. The valuesThe values of SORS and also those of the entire activity of national statistics in Slovenia are

being developed in an environment in which official statistical data keep gaining importance,

especially in view of Slovenia as a perspective EU Member State. So, the requirements and

the importance of the users, especially of the principal users in the EU, such as the European

Central Bank and the European Commission, and of national institutions, such as the National

Assembly of RS, the Government of RS, the Bank of Slovenia and the Chamber of Economy

and Industry of Slovenia, the key enterprises, the research community and the general publickeep increasing.

Trust gained on the part of all participants (users, data providers and producers of statistics)

keeps gaining importance. Independence of the SORS and statistics as a profession guaranteesthat this trust has been maintained. Knowledge, experience, team work, personal data

protection, quality and user-friendliness are those values, which can have decisive influence

on the satisfaction of users and of the employees.


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8. Current state of dissemination as an activity implemented in SORSThe most important component part of the policy of dissemination are in fact anticipation and

foreseeing of the users' needs, the segmentation of users and monitoring of the users

satisfaction with the quality of national statistics.

Statistical data collection, data processing, data analyses and interpretations of results do not

cover the entire objective of the statistical survey, if results of surveys are not timely, of goodquality, relevant for users and accessible to users in an adequate and user-friendly manner.

Provision of surveys results strengthens the trust of users into the SORS and providespromotion of the official statistical data.

Promotion of official statistics thus means increased awareness, trust and understanding

gained on the part of users and of the general public. In SORS, dissemination of statistical

results is implemented through:

- statistical publications- electronic media

- statistical databases (BSP - statistical databank, dynamic data in PX-WEB)

- e-mail

- Internet

- information services, provided by advisers from individual statistical fields

- services of the SORS Information Centre

- training and workshops.

8.1. Statistical publications

The findings resulting from the statistical surveys are presented to the public also in the

classical manner - in the form of printed publications. Namely, SORS issues 17 different

types of publications. All of them are published periodically, but not simultaneously

(monthly, quarterly, semi-annually, annually or periodically). This depends on the contents

and the purposes of the publications. In them, the first data from statistical surveys are

published, as well as the estimates of economic movements and/or findings of regular and of

periodical statistical surveys - presented in place and time. Publications are divided into:

- serial publications (Rapid Reports - SI, First Release - PO, Some Important Data on

the Republic of Slovenia - NP, Monthly Statistical Review of the Republic of Slovenia-MP,

Slovenia in Figures - ST, Statistical Yearbook - SL, CANSTAT Statistical Bulletin - CB,Catalogue of Statistical Publications-KP) and

- publications (Results of Surveys - RR, Methodological Material -MG,

Classifications - KL, Special Publications - PP, Development Questions of Statistics - RV,Proceedings Volume of Statistical days - ZB, Statistical Reports - SP, Reports on work

performed and the implementation of the National Programme of Statistical Surveys - PD,

Other publications - DP).

Serial publications find their audience among different users, above all enterprises, users inthe public sector and the general public. It is characteristic that they are published bilingually,

in Slovene and English. Therefore they are accessible also to the international public and suchdata can thus be used more widely (globally), as they are not available only to the Slovenian


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user and certainly all the methodological explanations, required for proper understanding of

the statistical data are to be included.

At present, all other publications are translated only occasionally, dependently of their

contents and of their purpose. These are either publications in which data are presented to

such low breakdowns that they are to be used in case of very in-depth research, or these arematerials which are intended primarily for the Slovenian users, reporting units and those who

prepare and implement the statistical surveys.

As users keep introducing new demands, constant changes and improvements of the contentsand of kinds of the statistical publications are required. The development of databases and

access to some publications on Internet have influenced the production of statisticalpublications. In the near future, the number of paper publications will diminish and the

dissemination policy will be modified in such a way that the number of publications

accessible on electronic media shall increase and it will be possible to print them on demand.

As certain publications are accessible on the SORS web sites (Statistical Yearbook,CANSTAT Statistical Bulletin, some issues of Results of Surveys, certain occasional

publications, etc.), the print run of printed publications is being reduced.

When determining the contents of the statistical publications, SORS has to take into account

the remarks and proposals of the statistical data users. The study on statistical data users

(more detailed distribution of users in view of their specific demands, introduction of regular

measuring of users satisfaction with quality of data) will have to cover also the needs andwishes of users, broken down by each type of printed publications.

8.2. Electronic media - The SORS Homepage http://www.stat.si

The number of data users who access to data via the Internet is increasing rapidly. The user

wishes to acquire the desired information as quickly as possible and in electronic form which

enables further work on these data. Therefore SORS attempts to make as many of its

publications as possible accessible on Internet. At present, the SORS web site contains

various information: on the SORS, short-term economic indicators, Statistical Yearbook

(since 1995), Slovenia in Figures, CANSTAT Statistical Bulletin, Facts and Figures, 2000

Agriculture Census, 2002 Population Census, Catalogue of Regional Divisions,

classifications, nomenclatures, etc. A central dissemination server is being constructed. It will

cover the contents, published on the web sites. In fact the server will be organized by subject-

matter fields and will comprise tables in PC-AXIS format (i.e. a structured format thatcontains statistical data in the form of multidimensional matrixes and adequate metadata),

publications, methodological explanations, etc. At present, the web sites already contain data,organized in a dynamic metadata-supported form, for two domains (2000 Agriculture Census

and 2002 Population Census). The scope shall be gradually expanded to other fields as well.

8.3. Statistical databases

SORS has already had databases for many years. They contain very long time series of

macrodata. Some time series date back to year 1952 (e.g. prices) or are still older than that.The database system was developed at the Office for Data Processing and Statistics in

Dsseldorf, (originally called Landesamt fr Datenverarbeitung und Statistician, Dsseldorf,Germany). SORS cooperates with Germany already from year 1971, when OECD offered


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assistance to the former Yugoslavia. The system, however, became completely operational in

1981.

The Internet version of the Statistical Databank (www.sigov.are/bsp/) is accessible by Internet

browsers, such as Netscape Navigator and Microsoft Explorer. The product has the shape of

tables and offers to users a simple dialogue. Data can be downloaded on a personal computer,where they are processed with the software, with which the users are already familiar. The

current system has some information on metadata. SORS is seeking for additional solutions,where metadata will be part of the statistical production process and it will be possible to

automatically store them together with data on user-friendly (accessible) databases.

The Statistical Databank contains the results of official statistical surveys. These are data,which are aggregated on different levels: Slovenia, municipalities, administrative units...

Information is available in Slovenian, English and German. In order to access the Statistical

Databank, identification is not required. Use is free of charge.

Users can make use of pre-prepared standard tables or they can make their own tables. Pre-prepared (i.e. in advance determined) standard tables enable users to simply and quickly

approach the selected fields. The time and spatial components can, dependently from

availability of data, be chosen arbitrarily. At the moment, the following fields are available:

foreign trade, population, earnings, labour force, consumer price indices, 2000 agriculture

census, elections to the National Assembly and 2002 Population Census. More demanding

users with special wishes can make their own tables, as they can arbitrarily select the

characteristics, time and level of aggregation of data.9. Long-term targets in the field of data disseminationLong-term targets are related to the fact, that on 16th April 2003 Slovenia signed the Pre-

accession Treaty as a future member of the EU. In May 2004 Slovenia will become a full

member of the EU. It is the inclusion into the decision-making process in the EU, the support

to policies in various fields, rapid development of the information society and possibilities of

the information-communication technology (ITC) that direct strategic deliberations especially

in the direction leading to the following objectives:

- timely and precise elaboration of reliable, adequate, high-quality data must meet the

requirements of the users on the levels of the country, the EU and on international

level

- further strengthening of those frames (the Statistical Council of RS and the Statistical

Advisory Committees of RS), where users, performers and data providers shallanticipate and harmonize users needs

- consistency (in time and place and internationally) of statistical products in thestatistical system and adequate coordination predominantly in the field of data

dissemination to the EU institutions- modern information technology must support the timely, cheapest, flexible and user-

friendly services

- improvement of knowledge on statistical services and restraints concerning their use,training for internal and external users

- strict respect of statistical confidentiality- development of the policy of protective prices, while bearing in mind the fact, that

official statistics is a public good and must be most broadly accessible to the benefit ofall potential users.


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10. The legal fra mework for deter mining the needs of usersThe legal bases for operation of national statistics are the National Statistics Act

2, the Mid-

term Programme of Statistical Surveys3, the Annual Programmes of Statistical Surveys and

the Personal Data Protection Act4. The stated legislation, besides other legal frames, valid in

the Republic of Slovenia, determines the roles of all those who provide data, collect them andmake use of them. At this point it goes without saying that the basic principles of official

statistics are fully respected. In August 1995, the Slovenian National Statistics Act officiallyset up the Statistical Council of RS and over 20 Statistical Advisory Committees of RS, where

debates are held between experts from Ministries, from academic circles, from the publicsector, from enterprises, from Chambers of economy and industry and from trade unions, with

the objective to harmonize the needs for data on the part of: data users, those implementingstatistical surveys and data providers. The Mid-term Programme of Statistical Surveys covers

about 600 titles of statistical surveys that are implemented by SORS and authorized

institutions, within which the entire process of official statistics is conducted - from data

collection, preparation of statistics to data dissemination.11. Strengthening the trust of usersThe National Statistics Act demands consistent respect of principles and rules on statistical

data protection, including statistical confidentiality, and it maintains and strengthens the trust

of data users and data providers. Data, collected with statistical questionnaires, can be used

for statistical purposes only and they are disseminated as aggregates, so that it is not possible

or it is extremely difficult to identify individual observation units. Individual data(i.e. those with identifications), acquired from reporting units or from administrative sources,

also can be used for statistical purposes only. Microdata (deindividualized individual data)can be used for research purposes. For research purposes, however, registered research

workers and research institutions can get access to the name and surname of the individual,

his address, year of birth, sex and vocation. SORS as the legally authorized office for linkage

of data on micro level thus prepares the majority of sample plans for surveys to be conducted

in the field and mail surveys of research institutions or research workers. The Personal Data

Protection Act very severely determines the conditions for dealing with personal data. Rules

on technical, organizational and IT-procedures when handling with data are written down in

the internal rules of those who implement the Programmes of Statistical Surveys.

The Programmes of Statistical Surveys (annual and mid-term ones) which are published in the

Official Journal of the Republic of Slovenia are made out as a kind of a catalogue, stating all

the requirements for statistical data.

2National Statistics Act, OJ RS, Nos. 45/95 and 9/2001.

3 Mid-term Programme of Statistical Surveys 2003-2007 (OJ RS, No. 10/2003).4

Personal Data Protection Act, OJ RS, Nos. 59/99 and 57/2001.


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12. Quality as a strategic orientation of the Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia Despite relatively well developed modes of formal co-operation with data users and despite

possibilities that data users can state their opinions and thus exert certain influence

(in the Statistical Advisory Committees of RS, the Statistical Council of RS, groups, when

collecting opinions), identification of users is becoming ever more difficult. Use ofinformation technology has resulted in an increase in numbers of badly identified or not

identified users, and this really is a paradox5. In fact, segmentation of users is becoming more

and more detailed, as different groups of data users set specific requirements. Measurements

of the satisfaction of data users and of data providers are becoming essential as they clearlyindicate how data users respond to the offered products and services. Data users expect that

their needs will be met and fulfilled by modern data dissemination methods, but in realitypaper publications still remain an important channel of data dissemination.

Data users are often data providers as well. This must be clear to us if we wish to reveal the

synergy of both roles. This is especially important in case of principal data providers, who

must be included in all the surveys in order to maintain the quality of statistical data. Theburdens on data providers are becoming decisive for the increase of non-response.

Introduction of adequate communication channels between the organisation who is data

provider & data user and the SORS presents a challenge in view of improvement of quality.

The evaluations on quality that are made out by the users can either greatly differ one from

the other or they even contradict one another. As competitiveness is increasing (due to limited

resources from the budget and the emergence of the private sector), the support on the part of

the users and of the profession is important. The need to collect data on the opinion of usersand the use of such data for total quality management is increasing in the public sector as

well. Introduction of total quality management demands that national statistical officesprovide more information on who the users are and what they request.

The National Statistics Act determines SORS as a professionally independent office, which is

the main performer of the activity of national statistics and the one that coordinates the

implementation of the activity of national statistics. Professional independence is ensured in

legal provisions, which do not allow any government body to give to SORS obligatory

instructions in relation to professional and methodological questions of national statistics

(e. g. contents, scope, obtaining the right to acquire data already in advance). The same

applies also for other authorized performers in this field6. The rights and obligations of

respecting the fundamental principles of official statistics7 apply for all those participating in

the activities of national statistics - in case of the right to obtain data and in case of data

dissemination. Such a solution simultaneously facilitates and also binds the subjects of the

Slovenian national statistics to produce statistics and to disseminate high-quality data and toprovide adequate services to users. The user is one of the important elements in the valid

regulation of the Slovenian national statistics.

5The number of accesses made to the SORS Home Page in fact tells nothing on the actual use of published data.

Therefore additional surveys on use of data and on user satisfaction with Internet will have to be conducted.

6The activity of Slovene national statistics is carried out by the Statistical Office Republic of Slovenia and by

the authorized performers: Agency for Public and Legal Records and Services under Public Law, Bank ofSlovenia, Institute for Health Protection of the Republic of Slovenia, Ministry of Finance, Pension and Disability

Insurance Institution of Slovenia, Employment Office of Slovenia, Health Insurance Institution of Slovenia.

7 Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics, UN-ECE, CES 1992.


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13. Operating objectives in view of reporting on quality until year 2007- SORS has established an already long-standing tradition of publishing its kernel and

basic methodological explanations in paper publications. For instance: in the collection

Statistical Information, there are in the chapter Methodological explanations published the

key definitions of surveying, the data on the structure of the sample, the sources of theobtained data, formulas for calculations, etc.

- On the web site of the International Monetary Fund, SORS is already publishing the

key explanations for selected categories of data that are interesting for monitoring of keyeconomical and financial movements. A similar approach will be prepared also for the

remaining categories of data.

- SORS will keep acquainted with the efforts of international institutions in preparing

the reports on data quality. SORS will develop and implement those quantitative indicators of

quality, adopted on international level, especially those which will be required by Eurostat.

- SORS will regularly (in 2-year intervals, as is determined by international standards)

conduct surveys on users satisfaction and thus deepen and further develop its dialogue with

users of statistical data.

- SORS will strive to ensure that statistical surveys will be well documented. The basic

principle to be used is that the survey is documented only once in a regulated shape

(METIS + KLASJE) and that this documentation represents the general, common source,which can be reused at any time.

- SORS will continue to strive to shorten the publication period for monthly, quarterly,

semi-annual and annual surveys.

- While striving to achieve the abovementioned and in line with special requests to

extend the calendars on release of future publications, SORS will gradually extend the scope

of such calendars (besides First Release) also to the Statistical Information and subsequently

to other collections of publications.

- SORS will be gradually expanding the domains available to users via the Internet, so

that until year 2007 all the official statistical data shall be accessible to users via this medium.

14. Users of official statistical data and information8

Data users are those to whom the mission of SORS is addressed. Their importance isincreasing together with their awareness and level of knowledge and with the improved

quality of statistical products and services. User-oriented and professionally independentnational statistics are a sign of the level of democracy within the society. The users

8In case of statistical texts, the Slovenian term uporabnik in fact is not equivalent to the English term user

which is used as the English equivalent.Different countries make use of different terms even when they refer to one conception. The majority of NSIs,

however, make use of the English term user when they refer to the Slovenian meaning uporabnik. When

referring to somebody who places an order and usually pays the charge for the service rendered, the English termcustomer is used. In other cases, the term client can be used as well. On these matters, a consensus has notyet been reached in the EU.


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themselves, however, do not determine all the needs for statistical data, and above all they do

not always perceive (establish) them at the right time. For this reason the anticipation of

future users' needs is an important component part of the national statistics' strategy. Due to

their different modes of communication, the users who represent a very heterogeneous group

really have influence on the quality of data of national statistics. The proposed strategy sets

out the segmentation of the users, which is more detailed than the currently valid one inSORS. Its importance is based on the specific requirements of users.

14.1. The currently used segmentation of users

In the SORS, users are divided into four groups, these being: enterprises, the public sector, the

general public and research institutions. In view of their diversified needs for statistics and ofdifferent interests in statistics, these groups vary among themselves: users from research

institutions, who often do analytical work, need more detailed statistical data, which they

combine with other data, statistical and administrative sources quite the opposite applies for

users from the general public who need topical data from the social and economic fields, in

short time series, so that the data themselves already at least briefly present or hint at thephenomena of the society. Users from enterprises and those from the public sector need

official statistical data for different reasons which to a large extent vary due to topical

happenings in their environment or in the entire society - the scope of their requests can vary

from the most simple questions to special, quite non-standard requests

(e.g. for processing of microdata) which can be arranged against payment and performed in

subject-matter departments of the SORS.

In 1996 the SORS Information Centre started to records the requests of data users, received

by post, facsimile and e-mail. The following table comprises the results, obtained for years1996, 2001 and 2002.

Group Structure of the written requests, accepted in the Information Centre

1996 2001 2002

Enterprises 42 % 31 % 24 %

Public sector 35 % 29 % 23 %

General public 16 % 36 % 50 %

Research and

development 7 % 4 % 3 %

Written communication with users is only one of the ways in which we disseminate statistical

data and we believe that it roughly reflects the situation on user group demand for officialstatistical data. In the Information Centre to which users are most frequently directed, data are

disseminated by telephone as well. This is done in two ways: firstly, an adequately qualified

person provides replies to the short and simple questions of users, and secondly the automatic

telephone answering machine reads out the topical short-term indicators

(regulated into 9 statistical fields) and the dates when the subsequent publications containing

such indicators shall be published.

In case of dissemination of data and information by telephone, it is not possible to record therequests by user groups. Therefore only the total number of requests is recorded, together with

the breakdown of No. of requests for each working hour. Thus it is not possible to claim withgreat certainty which way of obtaining data is preferred (is more useful or more often used)

by each of the 4 user groups.


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The statistics on telephone requests (excl. the automatic telephone answering machine) clearly

indicates that quick provision of most topical data is becoming increasingly popular.

Yet, wider access of users to the web sites and the increasing supply of official statistical data

on the world wide web have caused that even the telephone (as the most frequent

dissemination channel) is gradually losing its primer position in the list of data search options:

No. of telephone requests for statistical data

1997 2001 2002

17 121 30 132 28 003

At present the automatic answering machine cannot record the requests for statistical data in

such a way as to make a breakdown according to fields of statistics. Yet, when observing the

calls (this can be performed by a special computer program), we can see there are no calls

from midnight until 5 oclock in the morning, while most calls are recorded during the

morning (i.e. until noon). Since 2002 when the form of written requests for data

(letter, facsimile, e-mail) is recorded as well, it is evident that the response time of SORS is

gaining importance. The user namely expects to receive the reply to his request for datathrough the same channel and he also anticipates he shall receive a reply without undue delay.

In the first half of 2002, 55 % of all written requests for data were received by e-mail,whereas of all user groups e-mail was predominantly used by the general public (over 66 %).

In the entire year 2002, 60 % of all written requests for data were received by e-mail. Thefrequency of electronic communication with SORS thus increased in the second half of 2002.

Thus, for instance, in January 2003 the Information Centre directed over 45 % of usersdirectly to the SORS web sites, of these even 40 % were directed to the Statistical Databank,

whose coverage is at present incomplete and covers 8 fields of statistics. Not only anticipation

and experience of other statistical offices, but our experience as well indicate what is the right

strategic orientation concerning preparation of a more comprehensive offer of statistical dataon electronic medium.

The practice of making visits to SORS to obtain statistical data has changes and so have the

needs and especially anticipations of users, especially due to the fact that currently the

majority of data are available either on SORS web sites, by telephone and e-mail. One of the

most important characteristics of statistical data, which is gaining importance on the part of

the user is simplicity and speed of access, whereas many users are prepared to cancel their

requests in cases when the waiting periods for replies are rather long. By all means, the widerange of data offered on the SORS web sites influences the number of data users - visitors to

SORS who therefore less frequently visit the Information Centre. Most visitors are students

who need longer time series of data and statistical comparisons by states and some of themseek data on enterprises - especially when seeking for information for other states. The sameapplies for users from the group of scientific and research institutions. The group of the public

sector comprises few visitors who request for data from printed publications and those

available on the electronic medium.

Visits made in person to the SORS Information Centre

January-June 1998 January-June 2001 January-June 2002

243 632 326


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The increasing number of possibilities which face the statistical offices and users of statistical

data and the development of information technology bring about new challenges as well.

There is no dilemma whether to accept these challenges. The only question is how to best take

advantage of these possibilities to increase the well-known identity and visibility of the SORS

as the most important producer of official statistical data and to simultaneously increase the

satisfaction of statistical data users.

EnterprisesIn the first half of 2002, SORS received 334 written requests for data from enterprises, of

these over 40 % by e-mail. In fact, enterprises have predominantly (19 %) asked for data fromthe Business Register of Slovenia, almost 16 % of questions referred to external trade

statistics, then there were 12 % of requests for data on industrial production and only on thefourth place ranked the data on prices (8 %). Enterprises usually seek for data from more than

one field only - usually for data on external trade and industrial production. As external trade

statistics is available on the web sites in the Statistical Databank and in discussions users are

directed to this source, we can wonder whether the demand for external trade data is realistic.

In the second half of 2002 the ratio has changed, predominantly because SORS on 15th July2002 submitted maintenance of the Business Register of Slovenia to the Agency of the

Republic of Slovenia for Records and Services under Public Law.

As regards the demands for data set by telephone (which are neither reflected in written

requests for data nor represented by No. of visits to the Information Centre), it is our estimate

that enterprises rapidly need information on the most topical indicators, such as earnings and

inflation. As these data are also available on web sites and from the automatic phoneanswering machine, we believe that despite the stated analysis, these data are of most interest

to enterprises.

In the framework of strategic communication with enterprises as the target public, SORS will

prepare a plan for promoting rapid access to topical data, including paid advertising, focused

on:

- access to topical data and indicators on SORS web sites, incl. the advance release calendar

for the forthcoming year

- access to the most recent, most topical data and indicators, which are available on the

automatic phone answering machine.

Users from the public sector

Users from the public sector, to which belong also local communities, have focused the

majority of their written requests on data from the Business Register of Slovenia (30 %).As this register was transferred to the Agency of the Republic of Slovenia for Records and

Services under Public Law in the middle of year 2002, it is understandable that the frequencyof requests in this user group diminished accordingly. Then follows the interest for prices

(11 %), population (10 %), employment (8 %), farming and fishing (6 %), etc. Because thisgroup holds subscriptions to numerous statistical publications, in their written requests for

data they seek those data which have not yet been published. When a municipality is

interested in data on population, SORS in a personal discussion with their representativeadvises them to examine the SORS web sites and the Statistical Databank, as transfer of data

is enabled to their computers and thus also further manipulation with data is enabled.


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In future, users from the public sector who are really faithful and regular subscribers of

numerous SORS publications will have to be offered on SORS web sites the possibility of

access to tables from printed publications.

The general public

In 2002, users from the so-called general public were those who sent most frequently requeststo the SORS. Nearly half of the users from this group, among them the media, hold a special,

most important position.Among all groups of users, here the distribution of requests to various statistical fields is most

even and there is not a field, in which they would show no interest. The other interestingcharacteristic of this group is that in the year 2002 even 66 % of all electronic requests for

data that were received directly from the general public, which indicates that the Sloveneshave the possibility to access Internet and that the so-called Internet literacy of this population

is quite high. These findings are an additional incentive and plea to renew the SORS web

sites. More detailed analysis of this group of users reveals it is becoming more and more

difficult to identify the users into one of the four of user groups as these were defined years

ago, when this basic breakdown of users was by far more appropriate.Since all users have numerous possibilities to access the world wide web, most of them do not

find it necessary to introduce themselves as representatives of an enterprise or scientific or

research institution, etc. Even in case data are used for business purposes, users establish

contacts with SORS from their private addresses and thus only in case of such search for data

that request further consultations with data users, can we really reveal that the person is for

e.g. an independent researcher or analyst in a certain enterprise. Upon such discoveries doubt

slightly increases on whether statistics on user groups is really well traced.

MediaAmong various groups of statistical data users, media have a special position. Namely, the

role of press agencies, TV and broadcasting stations and newspapers is to transmit data and

information to others, above all to the broader public. When announcing certain data and

information, media trigger public debates and assist in the formulation of the public opinion.

Understandably, SORS is greatly interested in appearing in media and to a certain extent

citations of SORS in media are evenly related to usability of statistical data and information.

Discussions with journalists reveal that they find many presentations of data and

commentaries to the statistical publications to be too complex, even beyond comprehension

and with no clear message on the findings or results that arise from the conducted surveys.

Time and time again SORS and the journalists together establish that it is SORS who should

prepare the press releases containing a clearly stated message and revealing the true

importance of the data acquired from the statistical surveys.In order to further maintain and to perhaps even improve good relations between the SORS

and the media, SORS will - in the frame of strategic communication with this target public -introduce as follows:

- the professional field of public relations. This will be done in the framework of

tasks of the Information Centre of SORS, with special stress placed on relations with media.

This would be made in order to monitor all the relations with interest groups (stakeholders), toset up and maintain with them mutually useful relations, especially with media (Veri, Zavrl,

Rijavec, 2002) - through media that SORS reaches out to the other public- public relations (viewed as a profession) have become welcome to SORS and for this

reason special organizational rules will be prepared- a guide on media, containing the basic rules or else instructions on communication


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with journalists, and rules & recommendations for statisticians of subject-matter departments

for their presentations on press conference, etc.

- workshops for those statisticians from subject-matter departments, for whom it has

been foreseen they will hold presentations and interpretations of statistical data and

information to the media, on the following contents: what media are, presentation of

journalist's manner of work (2 journalists would be invited, of these 1 working for anewspaper, the 1 for TV), mastering of rhetoric, writing short commentaries with a clear

message, preparation of simple tables and graphs, etc.- press releases, which would be prepared in subject-matter departments

- promotion projects initiated upon publication of some statistical publications or thoseon web sites

- promotion at the completion of renewal of web sites, incl. advertising on electronicmedia

- a web journalistic centre, which would contain: press releases, news, invitations to

attend events, media archives of photographs, registration of journalists and

subscription to messages and invitations via e-mail (alert me).

Research workers

Among statistical data users, the science and research group is the smallest one. In 2002 it

submitted only 3 % of all written requests for data. On the other hand, these requests are

usually very demanding, so that special additional treatment of microdata is usually required.

Share of users of scientific and research institutions

2000 2001 2002

5 % 4 % 3 %

Although the share of these users is relatively small and keeps diminishing through years, weestimate that this group are the only user group, whose desire for data and expectations often

exceed the amount of actually collected data. These users state their requests very clearly. The

National Statistics Act allows the research workers to have access to individual data for the

determined purpose of the survey. In future, when official statistics will be disclosed as

assistance in scientific research, these users will acquire access to deindividualized data, but

prior to this formal and technical conditions and duties will have to be precisely defined.

14.2. Proposals for more detailed segmentation of users9

User data provider

Almost all statistical offices all over the world face data collection problems.In Slovenia this fact has not become more clearly visible until the 10-year period. Especiallyin the business world the data provider can appear also as data user.

Among four user groups, it is enterprises that most probably play this double role.

Experience gained in communication with enterprises as data providers shows that in

enterprises the person usually responsible for providing data to the statistical office is not the

person, who for this enterprise prepares the analyses which requires official statistical data.This could be one of the reasons why the role of the statistical office in different departments

of a certain enterprise is not clearly understood.

And vice versa: the fact, that a certain enterprise really needs statistical data, does not

9

The proposals are taken from the Magistrate work of Mrs. Irena Kriman, The role of data users in total qualitymanagement of the services rendered by the national statistics, Faculty for Social Sciences, University ofLjubljana, June 2002.


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guarantee that the statistical data of the enterprise shall really be transmitted to the statistical

office.

In order to increase the visibility and corporate design of the statistical office among the users,

the next project on strategic communication with enterprises will cover some smaller

promotion actions which shall be prepared for this group of users, who act as data providersand data users.

Internal users and external users

Besides external data users (the public sector, enterprise, general public, science andresearch), in statistical offices the internal users are also important - especially those working

in national accounts statistics and other cross-cut fields of statistics (e.g. regional statistics).The latter are often very critical towards products, therefore their knowledge on quality and

limitations of sources are really important for quality assurance (above all coherence) of final

products. In order to achieve bigger transparency of the needs of internal users, special will be

prepared as the same contents may appear in several statistical surveys. Or else a list of

surveys will be prepared, containing the characteristics which are necessary, so that anothersurvey can be correctly implemented.

National and foreign users

Doing business with Slovenian and foreign users differs predominantly in the language of

communication and partly also in the mode of presentation of data. The majority of required

statistical surveys is already being carried out in Slovenia and data are disseminated in line

with the international standards. For this reason, extensive interpretations of data to foreignusers are not required. International organizations, however, hold an exceptional position

among foreign users.

International organisations

A special group of foreign users are international organisation and other supranational

institutions (for instance Eurostat). This group mostly consists of different organisations

within the United Nations (the Statistical Commission, the Conference of European

Statisticians and the UN Statistical Division for the fields of ECO, ILO, WHO, UNESCO),

OECD, IMF, WTO and other. It is characteristic of these users that they are cofounders of

standards in the field of statistics and they implement the policy of their harmonization. Due

to certain differences in standards, countries have to perform additional work to meet the

needs of the users. In SORS, dissemination of data to international organisations shall be

regulated centrally, i.e. through the Information Centre. The basis for a review of all

international tasks is a list of all sets of data which SORS is regularly sending to Eurostat anda list of those that are available at SORS but are at present not sent to Eurostat. SORS is

cooperating in the national project E-government as well - in the sub-project entitledInforming of International Organisations. The results of this project will provide a good basis

for a review on the actual state of dissemination of the Slovene official statistical data into theinternational environment and they shall most likely direct the further development of

uniform communication with international organisations in Slovenia.


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The European Union

It is predominantly due to the volume of requests for data and their legal regulation that the

European Union (EU) represents a large internal user of the European Statistical System, to

which the Slovenian national statistics also belongs. Fulfilment of the needs of the EU is a

priority task of Member States and of candidate countries10.

Within the ESS, data are officially collected by Eurostat and the European Central Bank,whereas the latter collects statistical data of the central banks of the Member States. Data are

collected also by Directorates-General who receive them directly from Ministries and alsofrom agencies (e.g. the European Environment Agency).

Despite the fact that NSIs are responsible for international dissemination of data, there arecases when data are collected separately and without the assistance and knowledge of the

NSIs and even that of Eurostat.SORS will continue to harmonize the transmission of data to the EU on national level

(within the statistical system and also in agreement with Ministries).

Students

In most cases this is a very numerous group of users who expect to acquire datapredominantly in electronic form. This group is especially important as this is considered to

be investment in future users and collaborators, irrespective of the whether they shall once be

employed within the field of statistics or in other activities. Proper use and intensity of use of

statistical data often corresponds to the inclusion and level of co-operation of the teachers of

these students with national statistics11.

Users as data providersMany data users are at the same time data providers as well. This creates the possibility of

synergy of effects, at the precondition that both parties are mutually adequately informed andin case the needs of both parties are taken into account. Difficulties arise predominantly in

certain groups of corporative users (e.g. enterprises), where the role of data providers

disseminating data to the official statistics is usually not played by the same persons

(e.g. employees in the accounting department, personnel department, production), and in

enterprises data are required either by the Department for planning and analysis or

respectively by the management of the enterprise. Therefore careful consideration should be

placed to the question which is the appropriate level at which to promote the correct use of

statistics. In the past the statistical offices mainly cooperated with those who persons who

filled in the questionnaires. Improved co-operation with managements of enterprises could

diminish the problems on non-response and enable better (quality!) use of statistical data. It is

really essential to see the observation unit as a whole. For this reason, internal harmonization

of methodological bases within the statistical offices and also unification of organizationaland technical approaches to data collection and data dissemination are required.

Users who reorganize (transform) data for their members

This group consists of organisations, such as chambers and organisations of employers, towhom data providers granted the right to obtain certain data and use them for statistical

10 At the DGINS meeting of the Directors General of NSIs of EU Member States and Candidate Countries whichwas held in Palermo, Italy the principle First for Europe was adopted, valid predominantly in case of short-

term economic indicators.

11

In Slovenia exceptionally good cooperation has been established with the Faculty for Social Sciences and theFaculty of Economics, both of the University of Ljubljana.


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purposes. In fact, these elaborated data are used to decisively contribute to satisfying the

needs of the users who are members of abovementioned organisations. 15. Improvement of servicesEven daily communication with various users itself dictates to SORS the guidelines fordevelopment and improvement of its services. The tasks are as follows:

- to create a new SORS web site that will be in line with the well studied rules on high-quality elaboration of web sites, so that the usability of official statistical data through this

dissemination channel shall be on the increase. Such a web site will provide: transparency andsimplicity, data equipped with metadata, a browser, an offer for subscription to the web

(announcements of release of future publications and e-publications, announcements ofavailability of data in the database (tables, Statistical Databank, other regular or periodical

publications) (alert me). Web sites will emphasize the identity of SORS and thus the SORS

corporate design shall be increased, together with the positive image and reputation of SORS.

- the Statistical Databank that is located on the SORS web sites will expand its offer tothe currently missing statistical fields

- publication of electronic form of printed publications on the SORS web site

- preparation of a database containing a set of topical data for which there will be

available a time series that shall be as long as possible (at least from 1991 onwards). It

will provide data for most statistical fields and three levels of territorial breakdowns

(country/state, statistical region, municipality)

- the content of printed publications is to be simplified and is to become moretransparent, so that the analytical work (with statistical data) performed by users shall

no longer be so demanding.16. Pricing policyIt is essential to know that the activity of the national statistical office is financed from the

national budget and that SORS does not have the status of a profit organisation, because these

facts to a large extent determine the basic way we cooperate with customers / users of official

statistical data. The prices of the basic publications and other services have therefore been set

as low as possible and products and services are often declared to be promotion material. This

applies especially in case of printed publications which are donated to institutions, such as are

schools and the like. In this way we strive to spread statistical literacy. More demanding user

needs, market-orientation and partial introduction of market-orientation in activities of

national institutions offer even other solutions which are still in line with the principles ofactivity of public institutions.

The price list of the SORS services is adopted by the Government Republic of Slovenia.

In future, the price list of products and services will be published in all media in which SORSappears when disseminating data and information. Three price levels are foreseen , these

being:

- free access to all data, published on the SORS web sites free access to all most highly

aggregated data from all statistical fields, irrespective of the dissemination channel(dissemination by classical post or e-mail, phone or automatic phone answering

machine)


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- prices for printed publications are stated in the valid price list prices for preparation of

larger quantities of data from standard tables which are accessible free of charge on

web or at the subject-matter department or in a printed publication are stated in the

valid price list - the basis for calculating the price of a tailor-made product or

performed service will be the time actually spent for this administrative task

- prices for non-standard processing of data, data analysis made on demand, etc. arestated in the valid price list, containing the price/hour for an hours work of the experts

(expert and programmer).17. Data protection The Changes and Supplements of the National Statistics Act state provisions that areimportant for the fields of data protection and statistical confidentiality as well. With the

adoption of these changes, SORS continues to ensure the legally requested statistical

confidentiality in case of data on individuals and legal persons (important provisions for the

2002 Census of Population, Households and Housings were included).

In view of the purpose for which data are used this means that the collected individual

personal data on natural persons and on legal persons can be used for statistical purposes only.

Individual data cannot be disclosed to other users or for other, i.e. non-statistical purposes.

SORS is fully aware of the meaning of safe and rational use of the Internet and the e-mail.

Therefore it looked for an exemplary example in the acts of the European Commission and it

closely observed the translation of the document entitled Rules and conditions of use of the

Internet and e-mail with the equipment of the European Commission. This is a document thatwas made in an environment that is explicitly referential to the entire Slovene public

administration, although this is not one of those documents with which harmonization shouldbe achieved, but it serves merely as a source document.

Preparation of adequate acts was envisaged also in the project entitled Policy of protecting

and safeguarding, which is implemented by the RS Government centre for informatics. In

2001, two draft proposals were discussed, namely the Organizational recommendations to

bodies of public administration on use of e-mail and Recommendations to users for safe use

of e-mail within the public administration of RS.

SORS submitted to the RS Government centre for informatics a draft document entitled Rules

and conditions of use of the Internet and e-mail with the equipment of SORS - as a

contribution to the debate on the following two documents:

- Rules on the procedures and measures for data protection, collected with the SORS's

Programme of Statistical Surveys- Rules on handling with confidential data and on the manner of protecting confidential data at

SORS.In the document entitled Rules and conditions of use of the Internet and e-mail, SORS

anticipated that, in view of available PC hardware and software, all SORS staff shall bepermitted to have access to sources of information on Internet and e-mail. SORS staff can

make controlled use of the Internet and e-mail when this contributes to effectiveness of work

and to improved quality of the work performed.


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(National Statistics Act, Personal Data Protection Act) and in the SORS internal Rules on

procedures and measures for protection of data collected at SORS in line with the Programme

of Statistical Surveys. Upgrades consist of mathematical procedures for protection of tables

and microdata.

The basic procedure-used when protecting-tables is compilation of lines and (or) columns.Use of this procedure reduces the number of sensitive cells which are determined by a

threshold or with the (n, k) rule of prevalence14

. The final method which is used when tablesare protected is use of missing values at cells, which remain sensitive even upon compilation

of lines and (or) columns. This means that values of the sensitive cells are not published andare replaced by missing values (z).

When protecting microdata, initially all the identifiers (name, surname, address...) areremoved. Then the degree of sensitivity of variables (very sensitive, sensitive, less sensitive)

is defined and the number of units in different combinations of variables is verified. In case

this number is smaller than the pre-determined threshold, the values at units are considered to

be sensitive and they have to be adequately protected. In protecting microdata, the final

protective method is, similarly as in case of protection of tables, use of missing values withwhich the values in sensitive units are replaced. The number of missing values can be largely

diminished by combinations of different categories of variables. Compilation of different

categories of variables is the basic method used to protect microdata.

When tables are being protected, the software package -Argus is used. In order to protect

microdata, the software package -Argus is used. Both software packages were developed

within the project for statistical data protection at the Dutch statistical office, in co-operation

with experts from other countries15

.

In future more detailed rules on data protection will be separately defined for each survey.The adequacy of methods for the protection of tables and microdata which are currently still

not used will be tested as well.

Training of statisticians in the fields of data protection and data control:

Holders of statistical surveys regularly attend seminars on data protection and on the use of

methods and software packages.

14Engl. (n, k) - dominance rule Leon Willenborg, Ton de Waal, Statistical Disclosure Control and Practice,

pp. 89.15 Anco Hundepool et al., 2003, -ARGUS version 3.2 user's manual, 2003, -ARUGS version 2.2 user's manual,Statistics Netherlands, Voorburg, The Netherlands.


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19. Future development of dissemination 19.1. Summary of the strategic objectives

In the field of dissemination, SORS is especially striving to be a user-friendly institution

towards all data users in Slovenia and abroad. Adjustments will be made to different segmentsof users and to users' needs. SURS will strive to permanently improve the quality of data and

of related services.

The main strategic objectives presented can be summarized as follows:- quality in the widest sense,

- equal access to statistical data (results),- professionalism,

- transparency,

- user-friendliness,

- improvement of accessibility to statistical data and information on the world wide

web,- as many publications as possible are to be published bilingually, in the Slovene

language and in English,

- uniform and transparent dissemination of data to the international environment.

The basic objectives of SORS cover not only provision of data to the internal users, but also

dissemination of data in order to meet the needs of the ESS and international dissemination.

In case of data dissemination to the international environment, the adopted legislationstipulates that SORS is the coordinator of these activities.

The demands for timely statistical data (especially in case of short-term statistics) are on the

increase in the fields of economic statistics and other statistics. These demands can be met by

prompt action on the part of reporting units, with the use of secondary sources and by

improving the work procedures within SORS.

For some users (e.g. the International Monetary Fund), SORS is preparing an advance release

calendar. According to plans, such a calendar will be prepared for all results.

At present, users are divided into four groups: enterprises, the public sector, the general public

and research workers & the universities. Important future tasks are:

- more detailed segmentation of users in view of their specific demands,

- improvement in the field of users training and development of subject-matterstatistics,

- introduction of regular measurements of the satisfaction of users with the quality ofdata and services.

19.2. The SORS user-oriented dissemination strategy is based on the following principles:

- Large quantities of data and detailed statistics can be disseminated in electronic form.Therefore all statistical data will be available in electronic form.

- Paper publications will focus on the most important, topical news. Presentations of key

data and the use of diagrams and commentaries will assist users in understanding ofcomplex phenomena in the society.


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- Paper publications and electronic ones are coordinated. When summary tables are

printed in paper publications, more detailed tables with statistical data will be

accessible on the SORS web sites and in other electronic forms.

- SORS will maintain one entrance point, the SORS Homepage, from which access is

granted to statistical data and also to electronic forms of paper publications (in htmland pdf format).

- The SORS Information Centre and its Library are also one of the centres of

dissemination of international statistics in Slovenia. They hold publications, issued byEurostat, the UN, OECD, other international organisations, as well as a selection of

statistical publications of other countries. The Library is really a professional libraryand is included in the COBISS system.

- In statistical data dissemination one foreign language (i.e. English) is used.

- In case of incorrect interpretation of data in the media, SORS duly reacts as soon asthis is perceived.

19.3. Records on issued publications

- Publications, issued by SORS, are equipped with and identified by the assistance of

- rules on the catalogue number.

- /Rules are accessible on: http://surs_web/projects/Stat2000/V1-GROUP/- 12.3 Records on data users

At present, the way in which SORS monitors and statistically processes data on its users isincomplete due to only partial arrangement of the basic records on users. This represents a

problem in the elaboration of the samples for monitoring the satisfaction of both users and

orderers of SORS services. Lists of users, which are at present dispersed within SORS and

unsystematically arranged in various departments, are hardly suitable for effective keeping of

records that would be used in further strategic communication with users.

In case enterprise identification numbers from the Business Register of Slovenia were

arranged in the database of users (enterprises), this could enable processing of data on users,

orderers, those who pay for our services by activity, by size of enterprises, location. If

comparisons were made with address books, information on which users are data providers as

well could be linked. The general public and their opinion can be obtained without any

relatively high costs, as only some questions would have to be added to the Survey on

consumers opinion.The project of setting up a uniform database of users will cover: users who are regular

subscribers to statistical publications, users who regularly order special processing ofstatistical data and occasional users of the SORS services. The database will initially serve as

the basis for situation analysis which will represent the initial measurement of the state or willserve as a review of internal advantages and disadvantages and external opportunities and

threats which have influence on the successful work with users.

The situation analysis will be prepared in the Information Centre with the support of an experton system technical support. As the next step, the plan on communicating with users will be

prepared, comprising precisely determined objectives, distribution of staff and means and thetime plan. The plan will logically follow the findings of the analysis and will comprise: a

description of individual steps required for implementation of the plan, the break-down offinancial needs and the consequences that result from the implementation of the proposed


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plan. When the proposed plan has been completed for the first time, the evaluation and annual

report will be prepared. The annual report will be the basis for the next analysis and the entire

cycle will be repeated with an annual frequency. In this project on communication with users,

media will have a special position as a special type of target public.

19.4. PX-web, search for data in tables, (advance release calendar), publications on Internet,search in full text of publications

In the project " Alignment of Slovene Statistics with t he Acqu is Commu na ut air e,Component 1: Development of integrated regional and agricultural data" revision of thedissemination process is being prepared by SORS. A browser will assist the users of statistical

data and publications in accessing to data and publications which are published by SORS.

19.5. Development work in the field of dissemination - most important novelties:

- anticipation of publications in future (advance release calendar) for different time

periods (next week, month, etc.) or respectively for selected statistical fields (forinstance: dates of publications on CPI by months of year 2003)

- "permanent" archive of all publications on Internet in pdf and html format access to

parts of publications also via tables of contents and indexes

- dynamic selection and creation of data tables by use of PC-Axis files via PX-Web

- further work or data analysis in user environment with the use of a selected format

(excel, txt, csv, html, etc.)

- dissemination of data to subscribers using "data shooting" (saved queries) andadditions of new points of time in standard tables

- access to Basic methodological explanations and the standard report on data quality.This is a combination of the contents of the Swedish template (used also by the Danes)

and the Eurostat standard report on quality. This shall be attached directly to the data

tables

- elaboration of the GESMES/CB report from PX files.

19.6. The KLASJE classification server

According to the Mid-term Programme of Statistical Surveys, a large part of classifications

which are used by SORS in data collection, data processing and data dissemination belongs to

the statistical infrastructure. In addition, SORS also uses a wide range of nomenclatures and

other (independent) code books which are used in individual statistical surveys. In November

2002, the classifications database comprised around 500 classifications and code books in oneor more versions and over 60 concordances among them.

Within the project E-government, SORS will (with the assistance of a browser) ensure accessto this database in two directions: via the Homepage and via the web portal

e-government.Within this project, SORS will also continue with the construction of additional functions on

the world wide web (access to concordance, search by items of classifications, etc.). It will

also explore the possibilities on introducing common rules and tools that would enable the so-called mutual categorization (as in case of COBISS) or respectively the mutual

registration of classifications to all the institutions authorized by the Programme ofStatistical Surveys for statistical data collection and publishing.


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Until 2007, SURS will:

- Rationalize and shorten the preparation and releasing of publications also by modified

organizational instructions and by the use of templates created in Word

- Link the documentation with the production process, with the formal system of

metadata, which can be read by software and by experts- SORS has set up a common database of classifications (KLASJE). Until 2007, this

database will contain sets of permissible values for all statistical variables which are published by SORS.

- Structure the output database as a reference base, via which the entire disseminationprocess will be implemented

- Use the family of software modules PC-AXIS as the central tool, for electronicdissemination of data

- Develop availability of GIS data, accessible in the network, and thus stimulate future

development.


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20. ConclusionIn Slovenia, the long-term objective focuses on development of the dissemination policy of

official statistics, which are user-oriented. With register-oriented statistics and with further

development of databases, users are invited to transfer data to their own PCs where they can

make their own recalculations. Metadata should be a component part of statistical production.In this view, data warehouses are an important tool for warehousing, reuse and dissemination

of statistical data and metadata. Technical and organizational functions must run smoothlyand efficiently. SORS has already started to implement vocational training of the SORS staff

and training for users. Satisfaction of certain categories of users16

has been measured (17) andstatistics on users is being collected.

The survey on users satisfaction revealed that users are an important link in the chain inquality development of the Slovenian national statistics. Especially the legal regulation and

the organisation of active co-operation with various formal and informal bodies are well in

place. Despite this, data on at least the observed population illustrate that in the understanding

of the importance and satisfaction there still exists a certain gap between SORS and its users.

This can be observed especially in relations to users of the public sector and of science &research. Enterprises are certainly the second group of users who need data in order to make

comparisons of the situation on the market.

Among the key issues in total quality management in SORS and within the entire activity of

national statistics, SORS will continue to treat and segment users according to demands and

will keep increasing the understanding and anticipation of user needs. SORS will develop

systematic monitoring of the proposals, remarks and opinions of its users and of rapidreactions. A comprehensive approach to the user - data provider is required, as this is search

for synergy between both roles. Even data providers themselves, especially enterprises, fail tosee the relations between both roles. In future, the documentation on various segments of

users will be continuously elaborated and will facilitate quality frames for user surveys.

Measurements and analyses of user satisfaction will be incorporated among the regular tasks

of SORS. The range (characteristics) and analysis of quantitative data on users (by user

groups, types of media, manners of access). It is of prime importance to elaborate a system of

reacting to opinions, viewpoints and proposals, made on the part of the users, including feed-

back information.

16 See: Irena Kriman, The role of data users in total quality management of the services rendered by the nationalstatistics, Faculty for Social Sciences, University of Ljubljana, June 2002.

Statistical Dissemination

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