Transforming Census Bureau Operations
Meeting on the Management of Statistical Information Systems (MSIS
2012)Streamlining Statistical Production
Today’s Agenda
• Challenge: Better Meet Our Clients’ Needs• What Have We Done?
– In the Regions– At Headquarters
• Lessons Learned• The Road Ahead
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Future Success Demands Change
• Our society has changed since our basic survey designs were constructed.
• Our past success offers no guarantee of future success.• Like all successful organizations, we must innovate,
become more efficient, flexible, and responsive to our customers.
• Data‐driven management demands a new mindset along with new technologies and systems.
• We have all the capabilities to succeed in this future.
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Serving our Client Needs
• They want:– visible cost controls and cost predictability– us to proactively identify ways to improve their
surveys based on examining paradata and response data
– clear roles of accountability and responsibility
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Regional Office Realignment
• Announced in June 2011• Implementation Began in January 2012• Finished by November 2012• Estimated Savings of $15-18 Million per year• Two key elements
– Reduction in Offices– Field Management Changes
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Program Coordinator
Survey Supervisor (CE)
Field Rep (CE, CPS) Field Rep (CE, ACS) Field Rep (CE)
Senior Field Rep (CE, CPS) Other Survey
Supervisors/Senior Field Reps
Example Pathways of Communication
CEQ/CEDCPSACS
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New RO Organization ChartData Collection
Regional Director
Assistant Regional Director
Coordinator A
Survey Statisticians (Field)
Field Supervisors
Field Representatives
Coordinator B
Survey Statisticians (Office)
Assistant Regional Director
Coordinator C
Survey Statisticians (Field)
Field Supervisors
Field Representatives
Coordinator D
AdministrationAutomationRecruiting GeographyPartnership
Headquarters Realignment
• For Reimbursable Demographic Surveys:– Complement the Regional Office Realignment– Leverage Efficiency and Streamline HQ Operations
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Key Dimensions on Which HQ Options Vary
• Project authority and resource control.• Team composition.• Business Process Standards, Protocols
and Integration Dimension.
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HQ Options’ Team Activities • Reviewed our current processes
• Developed options for improvements
• Solicited input from all managers and staff
• Solicited input from our clients
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The New HQ Look
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Survey Sponsor
Survey Director
Survey Team
Service Provider
Service Provider
Service Provider
Service Provider
Service Provider
Service Provider
Service Provider
Service Provider
Regional Office Survey
Statistician Office
Service Provider
HQ Service Providers
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Stat MethodsFrame Development
Sample Design
Data Collection Automation
UTS/Data RepositoryCATI/CAPI Quest. Develop.
Case Management
Data Processing, Editing
Sample SelectionEditing Execution
Imputation Execution
Cost Estimation, Analysis and
ModelingStandard Cost Controls
Develop Cost modelAnalyze Historical Data
Data CollectionCoordinating Functions
Field TrainingNPC Functions
Subject Matter Questionnaire Content
Data AnalysisDissemination
Survey AnalyticsImprove AnalyticsAnalyze paradataExpand Metrics
Interagency Agreements,
Processing and Approval
Coordinate Standard Templates
Track all Agreements
Project Management Business Analysis
SupportDefine Governance
Structure
Survey Team• Survey Director • Project Manager provides project management support
for the entire lifecycle of the survey.• Survey Design Members
– Questionnaire Design/Development/Edits– Sample Design/Estimation– Data Analysis– Cost Estimation
• Survey Operations Members– Data Collection – Production analytics– Field Procedures; Training– Data Processing
**This team does NOT necessarily have data tabulation and dissemination expertise (depends on sponsor).
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Survey Director• Fully credible authority for all survey decisions: budget,
design, methods, innovation.• Serves as the central point of contact to the sponsor for
entire survey activities and products.• Engages sponsors in serving program needs.• Anticipates upcoming issues within the survey lifecycle
and pro-actively suggests solutions.
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Shared Lessons Learned
1. Senior Leadership2. Communication3. Staff Engagement4. Real time Monitoring of Effects of Change
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The Road Ahead
1. Transition of Field Regional Offices2. Survey Analytics3. Reimbursable Surveys
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