Background

• Defining and mapping business processes in statistical organisations started at least 10 years ago– “Statistical value chain”– “Survey life-cycle”– “Statistical process cycle”– “Business process model”

Background

• Defining and mapping business processes in statistical organisations started at least 10 years ago– “Statistical value chain” X– “Survey life-cycle” X– “Statistical process cycle” X– “Business process model” X

Generic Statistical BusinessProcess Model

Why do we need a model?

• To define, describe and map statistical processes in a coherent way

• To standardize process terminology

• To compare / benchmark processes within and between organizations

• To identify synergies between processes

• To make informed decisions on systems architectures and organization of resources

History of the Current Model (version 4.0 April 2009)

• Based on the business process model developed by Statistics New Zealand

• Added phases for:– Archive (inspired by Statistics Canada)– Evaluate (Australia and others)

• At least three rounds of comments

• Terminology and descriptions made more generic

• Wider applicability?

Applicability (1)

• All activities undertaken by producers of official statistics which result in data outputs

• National and international statistical organizations

• Independent of data source, can be used for:– Surveys / censuses– Administrative sources / register-based statistics– Mixed sources

Applicability (2)

• Producing statistics from raw data(micro or macro-data)

• Revision of existing data / re-calculation of time-series

• Development and maintenance of statistical registers

Structure of the Model (1)

Process

Phases

Sub-processes

(Descriptions)

Structure of the Model (2)

• National implementations may need additional levels

• Over-arching processes– Quality management– Metadata management– Statistical framework management– Statistical programme management– ........ (8 more – see paper)

Key features (1)

• Not a linear model• Sub-processes do not have to be followed

in a strict order

• It is a matrix, through which there are many possible paths, including iterative loops within and between phases

• Some iterations of a regular process may skip certain sub-processes

More information?

• http://www1.unece.org/stat/platform/display/metis/The+Generic+Statistical+Business+Process+Model

Metadata systems are covering each phase(METIS 2008)

55%

70%

61%

82%

76%

61%

91%

36%

27%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

1. Specification of needs

2. Develop and design

3. Build

4. Collect

5. Process

6. Analyse

7. Disseminate

8. Archive

9. Evaluate

% of respondents

Metadata by use process - SCB

Case study(Statistics Norway)

• Description of the production process for Price index for legal services with emphasis on the use of metadata throughout the process. – Description of the process for a new statistic

and for future publishing of the same statistic. – Creation of a metadata checklist that can be

used whenever this type of statistics is produced.

• 7 participants: IT, standards, metadata, statistics• 450 man-hours for the project.

Result 1 – New statistic

Process Activities Actors1 Specify needs Statistics division, Eurostat,

National accounts, Branch organisation, businesses, Justice department

1.1 Consult and confirm need

Discuss need for price index with national accounts & branch organisation

Result 2 – Metadata overview

Process Create Use Update1.1 Consult and confirm needs

Product nr. Dissemination policy

Project description. Eurostats legislative decree

Documentation of discussions with actors.

Process Create Use Update

 6.5 Prepare statistics for dissemination

New classifications for new statistics, if necessary

Existing classifications

Classifications for established statistics

  New variables for new statistics, if necessary

 Existing variables

Variables for established statistics

Result 3 – Metadata overview

Result 4 – Metadata checklist

Process Metadata checklist

1 Specify needs

1.1 Consult and confirm need

Update product register, make resource estimates and project description.

1.2 Establish output objectives

Check for existing variables and classifications and update if necessary.

Specify needs

Develop & design

Build Collect Process Analyse Disseminate

Variables X X X

Classifications X X X X

File descriptions

X X

Questionnaires X X

Rules X X X

About the statistics

X X

About the data collection

X

Metadata

portalX

Metadata systems & Statistics Norways Statistical Business Process Model

Specify needs

Develop & design

Build Collect Process Analyse Disseminate

Eurostat X X

Branch organisations

X X X

Businesses X X X X

Justice department

X

Director general

X X

Head of department

X X

Head of division

X X X X X

Resp. statistics X X X X X X X

Different actors & Statistics Norways Statistical Business Process Model

Conclusions - case study

- Process improvements were suggested and made

- Include metadata documentation and linking of metadata in formal approval procedure

- Suggestions for improved functionality in systems were identified and improvements made.

Conclusions – BP model

- The method of documenting a statistic based on the Statistical Business Process Model, can be used for other statistics.

- Documentation of new and established statistics is useful for training new employees and for rotation of current employees

Conclusions – BP model – cont.

-The business process model is an important tool in planning, standardising and improvingwork processes in statistical production, and for training purposes.

-The business process model is also a communication tool for standardisation and cooperation between statistical agenciesand government departments.