1. Variables documentation system in Statistics Norway
Anne Gro Hustoft
Jenny Linnerud

2. Vardok (Variable Documentation System)
The most important purposes:
A central system for documenting ”all” variables in
Statistics Norway (e.g. definition, validity period, code list....)
A tool for harmonising names and definitions of variables.
User involvement!
Stepwise development!

3. Organisational information
Project group consisting of 1 standards, 2-4 subject matter
and 2 IT specialists
Reference group consisting of heads of relevant divisions
Steering group consisting of heads of relevant departments

4. Development process using contextual design (2001-2002)
Mapping of user needs and present status of variable documentation
Interviews with representatives of subject matter divisions directly involved
Paper prototyping, test version, testing
User involvement: 15 divisions and 42 people
Pilot version put into production 2002

5. Development process (2003)
Linking to other metadata systems
Resources spent
A bit more than 3 man years (more than 70% IT)
Status
2002: 158 variables
2003: 510 variables documented in total

6. Linking to other metadata systems
DataDok
Variable definitions
VarDok
About the
statistics
File descriptions
Reports
StatBank
Norway
Stabas
Classifications
Dissemination

7. Exit Edit Language Search Print Help News Windows
Valid from
File descriptions
Owned by
Definition
Name
Short name
Approved for Internet
Internal use
External
Search
Contact to
Sensitivity
Ext. source
Int. source
Statistic
Theme
Code list
Standard
Comments
Ext. docum.
Int. docum.
Unit
Copy id by
Edited
Created
Cancel
Save
Print No
Ordinary
Standard Industrial Classification
Yes

9. Challenges in future development
Variables based on other variables: VarA=VarB+VarC
Multilingual functionality
Vardok’s place in the production process
Ownership of variables
- Internet