Abstract

Statistics Portugal is the central statistics Authority of the National Statistical System in Portugal. Together with other national authorities it strives with a spirit of cooperation and a sense of community to grow and improve processes and products that better meet user needs and expectations. Quality management in a wider approach in the organization has been a journey of many steps, up and downs, successes and failures, but nonetheless an experience that made Statistics Portugal stronger and trustworthy over time.

The paper proposes to focus on the main strengths of this solid and genuine journey concentrated on quality issues, namely addressing the reviewing of activities, the documentation systems and IT applications that support statistical processes, as well as integrating new staff on a job training approach.

But also on the challenges that current times pose to the new roles of statistical offices within the emerging data ecosystem. Namely the impact of new data sources and innovative methods on traditional quality management systems. Statistics Portugal has been dealing with this challenge for some years now and developing its national data infrastructure within a wider stakeholder community towards a more efficient statistical system.

Thus, the quality angle will be used to show a path of improvement, assessment and innovation. And how its quality management system framework has evolved and adapted to the new challenges and reality.

Lastly, Statistics Portugal will address the theme that working together and establishing partnerships is the right path instead of being isolated from the community at large. Examples of external stakeholders’ collaboration and engagement will be presented allowing a discussion on the involvement approaches within the statistical system. Nonetheless it is a journey of a lifetime and often a never-ending story.