1. Main messages from the Strategic Management Seminar on Quality Frameworks held in Bečići-Budva on July 2014

2. Strategic Management Seminar 2014
Participants
Directors-General and quality mangers from NSIs of AL, BH, XK, FYROM, MN, RS, TK
Quality managers from NSIs of AM, GE, MD,UA
Experts from NSIs of HR, LT and IS
Host
Statistical Office of Montenegro MONSTAT
Organisers
Eurostat / EFTA Statistical Office / UNECE Statistics Division

3. Objective Follow-up on recommendations from AGAs and LPRs regarding
the need for more comprehensive quality assurance frameworks
the introduction of systematic quality management activities
Discuss various frameworks, exchange best practices and common challenges

4. Initiatives and frameworks
International developments
UN: NQAF National Quality Assurance Framework and GSBPM Generic Statistical Business Process Model
European quality initiatives: ‘Fit for purpose’ statistics, statistical law revision, peer reviews II, ESS QAF
Frameworks
European Statistics Code of Practice
ISO: International Organization for Standardization
EFQM: European Foundation for Quality Management
TQM: Total Quality Management

5. Key messages I Countries are strongly committed to quality
Look for ‘Fit for purpose’, not perfection
Use generic models to start a process
Select criteria to find the appropriate framework
Take a systematic and integrated approach towards quality management
Streamline quality into all statistical activities
Give full support to the quality entity and the authority to put measures into effect

6. Key messages II
Quality managers need to take leadership and have to be respected persons in the office
Actively involve staff in the process, keep them motivated and provide continued training
Involve other producers of official statistics and advocate the adoption of quality frameworks
Advocacy is a task that could benefit from assistance from international and bilateral partners

7. Follow-up
Discussion has been continued in the current PGSC on the involvement of other producers of official statistics in quality management work (Point 5.1)
Organisation of a seminars /workshops on quality management and the European Statistics Code of Practice is being discussed
The new Multi-Beneficiary Programme (IPA 2014) provides for a common project on Quality Management

8. Quality culture
A set of group values that guide how improvements are made to everyday working practices and consequent outputs
Seminar documents:
Andrea Scheller, Head of the EFTA Statistical Office