PRODUCER-USER RELATIONS AT SORS: FIRST RELEASE CASE Metka Zaletel Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia

CONTENTS 1.Dissemination at SORS Vision and values Strategy Policy Users Products Communication 2.First release and special days series Background Structure Organization of statistical process Users’ satisfaction 3.Conclusions

DISSEMINATION AT SORS

SORS VISION – User-oriented – Management of the elements of the quality of national statistics – Qualified and motivated employees – Up-to-date coordination with international standards, EU standards in particular – Modern systems of collection, processing and dissemination of data – Surveys and innovation – Improvement of working conditions

SORS VALUES – Importance of users – Trust between users and employees – Independence of the institution and profession – Respect of privacy – Know-how and experience – Quality of statistical products and services – Work in interdisciplinary groups – Stimulating the working environment

DISSEMINATION AND COMMUNICATION STRATEGY The purpose of the strategy will be achieved with the following goals: 1.satisfied users 2.improvement of statistical literacy 3.recognisability and good reputation of the SORS trade mark, trust of users and actual use of statistical data 4.efficient preparation, promotion and transmission of data and information

RELEASE POLICY First release of all data in First release series-detailed data in database Release calendar All releases at 10:30 hours Early (privileged) access to data for 4 high officials in Slovenia – clearly defined and described on web site. Web information is free of charge Bilinguality of all information Microdata for researchers

GROUPS OF WEB USERS (Inmon 1997) Tourists (very occasional users: general publics, students) Harvesters (government for informed decisions) Miners (researchers, financial analysts, economists)

IDENTIFICATION OF USERS’ NEEDS AT SORS EU, OECD, UN and other international requirements Statistical advisory committees Meetings with users (workshops, conferences, etc) User satisfaction surveys

TIPICAL PRODUCTS FOR USERS Tourists (Do not miss, key indicators, first release, pocket books, yearbook, …) Harvesters (first release, analytical publications, database) Miners (database, first release)

COMMUNICATION PYRAMID AT SORS First release Dissemination database (mass of output) Multithematic publications Analytical reports Conferences, seminars Microdata for researchers

2. FIRST RELEASE AND SPECIAL DAYS SERIES AT SORS

THE PURPOSE OF THE SERIES To feed social debate with statistical data – in democracy data are not only for experts To point out the essentials in our data To put data in context – to make data meaningful To give data the attention and understanding that it deserves To higher the visibility of SORS

FIRST RELEASE AREAS AT SORS Description - text Quantification - tables Illustration - charts Geography - maps

STRUCUTRE OF THE FIRST RELEASE Headline Short introductory / abstract Body text Simple table / graph / map Links: metadata detailed tables, SI-STAT database contact

PROCESS OF PREPARATION People involved –80 subject matter specialists –Editor –Translator –IT specialist Training –Manual available at the intranet –Training: 7 days training in general dissemination, story telling and web CMS –Trainers: dissemination specialist, PR specialist, journalist, IT specialist Process –Clear description of tasks of different players –Automated IT procedure –Clearly defined revision policy (errors) –Help desk for dissemination and IT issues

3. CONCLUSIONS First release series is one of dissemination products and is important element in the SORS communication pyramid. It is designed mainly for general public and journalists but it is used also by analysts.