1. 1 Analysis of standards in statistics - Towards a systematic analysis R. Depoutot (Insee) The Hague, 4-5 July 2011

2. 2 Aim of the paper Complementary to KSH paper obottom-up approach olists all activities that could be standardised Here = systematic / formal analysis otop-down: defines all possible kinds of standards corresponding to the agreed definition without listing them oChecks if the list provided by the bottom-upo approach is complete oNot concrete oDoes not qualify the possible standards: are they of interest in practice? Combination of both approaches should be fruitful

3. 3 Systematic analysis of standards A standard is a document, established by consensus and approved by a recognized body, that provides, for common and repeated use, rules, guidelines or characteristics for activities or their results, aimed at the achievement of the optimum degree of order in a given context. Note: Standards should be based on the consolidated results of science, technology and experience, and aimed at the promotion of optimum community benefits. Features of any standard are marked in bold

4. 4 Components of standards C1- a recognised body C2- a set of rules, guidelines or characteristics C3- activities or their result C4- a given context for the choice of the optimum degree of order C5- a given cultural environment (results of science, technology and experience) and a community Standard defined by (C1,C2,C3,C4,C5). Note: “given choice for the optimum degree of order”

5. 5 Analysis of components C1- a recognised body (ESS: one single body) C5- a given cultural environment (results of science, technology and experience) and a community (can be simplified: one year) Standard defined by (C2,C3,C4,year). Note: “given choice for the optimum degree of order”

6. 6 Analysis of components (cont’d) Use of the coherence principle: oFor one activity and one degree of order (level of quality requirement), there should be one single standard. Standard defined by (e,C3,C4,date) [e= exists/does not exist yet] Context for the choice of the optimum is very activity-dependent => the analysis of activities is crucial for the analysis of standards

7. 7 Analysis of statistical activity Pure statistical work: specification, monitoring of production, etc.. Modelling of activity, data collected and processed, etc… Pure IT work: incorporation of models and processes in IT languages

8. 8 Analysis of statistical activity: example data collection phase in Business statistics: is it the design? the development of the production system? the production phase? does it include the statistical specifications? the development of tools (and in particular questionnaires, IT tools, training of staff, monitoring of production). should we consider every production process in isolation, or with respect to the global production system? (for instance to benefit from existing environment for data collection)

9. 9 How to deal with IT tools Distinguished from standards in the mandate of the Sponsorship - called « shared IT tools » Formally: oA standard is a document (an agreement) oThere could be a standard, with rules defining when and how the IT package should be used oWithout such specific rules:  in general, packages include several methods, that do not necessarily correspond to good practice in statistics, nor in modelling.  However, such standard would make sense for the “IT” dimension of work  Represent a common language: many advantages in an integrated system

10. 10 Standardisation with “IT tools” Standardised statistical methods could be translated into functions of a common IT tool: oThis would lead to cost-saving implementation of the methodological standards oSuch implementation could be shared between NSI, but… IT tools incorporate not only computing tasks, but also: –Human-Machine interfaces (HMI) –Process management tools (schedulers) –Access to databases These may vary a lot from one NSI to the other

11. 11 Standardisation with “IT tools” (cont’d) IT specialists try to bridge such gaps: oThey look at parts of the IT packages that could be standardised and incorporated in various systems oVery innovative approach: CORE  Define layers  Define services  Define interfaces Consequence: very probably, the activities/products to be standardised will not correspond to any step in the GSBPM