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The Importance of User Relations for a Modern National Statistical Agency
Presentation given by Petteri Baer at the Seminar on Dissemination
NBS Moldova, Chisinau 27 May 2010
27 May 2010
Director General Heli Jeskanen-Sundström Co-operation Committee
Interview andSurvey Services
Advisory Board of Statistics Finland
Advisory Board of the Library of Statistics
Scientific Advisory Board
SocialStatistics
Econo-micStatistics
PricesandWages
Popu-lationStatistics
BusinessTrends
BusinessStruc-tures
Statistical Research and Methods
Library of Statistics
Secretariat of Director General
Management Services
Information Services
IT and Statistical Methods
2Petteri Baer
Statistics Finland’s services, 1/3
Online servicesin total around 120,000 web pages
PublicationsRoughly 90 publications per year. The majority are also
available in electronic form Software products
Geographical information, statistical tables, classifications etc. Classification services
Handbooks and applications
27 May 2010 33Petteri Baer
Statistics Finland’s services, 2/3
Special compilationsTailored compilations from existing Statistics Finland
data or by collecting new research material Interview and research services
Commissioned surveys and compilations according to customers’ needs
Training in statisticsTraining on statistical methodology, graphics and
reading and user skills. Tailored courses for customers Business Register
E.g. address data of enterprises for marketing purposes27 May 2010 44Petteri Baer
Statistics Finland’s services, 3/3
International consulting in the field of statisticsExpert help in developing statistics
Regional service offices in Turku, Tampere, Seinäjoki and Oulu
Offer all the services of Statistics Finland Library of Statistics
National central library of statistics, open to everybody Information service
Information service queries by telephone or e-mail
27 May 2010 55Petteri Baer
27 May 2010
Good user relations are important, because…
Only used statistical information is useful information
Statistics is mainly not produced for the archives
If statistics does not serve as a tool for decision making and helping to understand on-going phenomena, it has failed its core function
27 May 2010
Basic statistics - an infrastructure of modern society
Basic statistical information is a tool for safeguarding democracy
In order to participate in decisions of society, citizens should have access to basic information on structures, development
Statistics serves decision making This infrastructural service of basic statistical information, often
generates demand for more sophisticated and customized statistical information on additional topics and phenomena
More labour- and/or investment-intensive statistical services and service products are usually chargeable
7Petteri Baer
27 May 2010
In a world with growing information overflow a tough question is:
Will Official Statistical Agencies in the future have the role of a key provider of
correct, objective, non-partial, non-biased, understandable, comparable and easily accessible information, relevant to stakeholder and user needs?
Or will they degenerate intounder-funded producers of historical data, having a limited role as a background source for users
mainly in public administration and in institutions of economic and social history?
8Petteri Baer
27 May 2010
User relations are of strategic importance
The question of the development of services, development of modern service products,
the questions on marketing and dissemination of statistical information
Both are questions of a strategic importance for any National Statistical Agency.
They are not just side functions or minor activities. They are questions about the future of any statistical
agency.
9Petteri Baer
27 May 2010
Proactive is the magic wordStatistical agencies need a well balanced, proactively communicative and professionally led and administered comprehensive approach to the development of their information services
The information services are, together with the data collection and production of statistical information, one of the CORE FUNCTIONS of any statistical agency
Reference is made to the Fundamental Principles of the UN The Generic Statistical Business Process Model,
developed by the UNECE and Eurostat
10Petteri Baer
27 May 2010
The importance of user friendly Database services
Statistical agencies produce quite a lot of statistical information
Different users have different aspects of interest, they want information
By industries, By enterprise sizesBy regionsComparisons over different time periodsInternational comparisonsAnd numerous other aspects…
PC-Axis, PX-Web… User friendly services!
11Petteri Baer
27 May 2010
In the East European countries
…the top layer of the state administration is usually well served with statistical information
President’s office Ministries Central Bank
But what about other stakeholders?
District and local administrations needs?
27 May 2010
The media is our partner
In disseminating the main results of all your agency’s hard work on statistics
In making problematic issues known
Help the media to be well informed!
27 May 2010
Relations with the business community – difficult but rewarding
The business community is a much broader target group than often believed
Banks Insurance companies Big corporations Medium sized enterprises Chambers of commerce Branch organizations Employers organizations Foreign companies Etc.
27 May 2010
The research community – aspects for building good relations
Co-operation in methodological developmentRecruitment of new statistical professionalsPromoting the use of statistical information in general
Continuous pressure for providing good metadataFinding ways for a broader use of microdata without violating confidentiality
15Petteri Baer
27 May 2010
Other important stakeholders and users of a statistical information
Libraries Educational institutions International organizations Non-governmental organizations
(NGOs) Trade unions Social issues Environmental issues
Information brokers Information service agencies Business intelligence systems Knowledge managements systems
27 May 2010
The importance of good contact information
User lists Existing customers and
contacts Regular and heavy users of
economical statistics Contact directories Feedback contacts Contact / Customer
database Customer Relationship
Management (CRM)
27 May 2010
For good user interaction at least a Customer Database is needed
For contactingFor surveys on satisfaction or dissatisfaction
For presenting new targeted services
For other forms of interaction
27 May 2010
Statistical agencies profit much from active and critical feedback (1)
Having more feedback will help us to develop our services
Interaction with critical customers will help us in having a positive pressure on performing better
27 May 2010
Statistical agencies profit much from active and critical feedback (2)
A demanding customer is like a grain of sand within the mussel. It doesn’t feel good but the result may be a beautiful pearl!
Thank you for your attention!