Strengthening Modernization and Innovation – a holistic approach
Conference
64th ISI World Statistics Congress
Format: CPS Abstract
Keywords: administrative, innovation, new-data-sources
Session: CPS 40 - Aspects of official statistics III
Tuesday 18 July 8:30 a.m. - 9:40 a.m. (Canada/Eastern)
Abstract
To face the challenges of the new ecosystem in which national statistical offices are now operating, Statistics Portugal has been developing several initiatives to spur innovation and efficiency. The organizational, technological, methodological, communication and human resources initiatives are important on their own, but they are much more impactful when worked together. In this paper, Statistics Portugal will present the main initiatives and challenges it has been working on.
From 2018 onwards, the development of National Data Infrastructure strengthened the appropriation and use of administrative data and other sources and created a single point access to several types of data and made it available to multiple purposes and users, while ensuring the protection and integrity of data. In 2019, Statistics Portugal adjusted its internal organization to strengthen the capacity for data management and analysis. The Statistical Production Process Handbook was updated in 2020 to, among other reasons, introduce the National Data Infrastructure in statistical processes and, in that same year, created a dedicated unit – Administrative Data Unit – centralizing the quality procedures in the treatment of administrative and other data.
Investments in IT and knowledge strengthened the technological infrastructure, the acquisition of new technologies, new skills and techniques, and the introduction of innovative processes. Specific training also plays a crucial role, and several contracts and collaborations with academia are put in place. Resident researchers help the introduction of new developments, namely in the processing of administrative data.
Communication is also a key factor. In what concerns working together with data holders, Statistics Portugal developed a new approach with the personal engagement of the Board and the involvement of a multidisciplinary team in the negotiation of the acquisition of data. The relationship with data providers has long been a focus of Statistics Portugal. Feedback reports for administrative data providers, like those that Statistics Portugal has implemented for business survey respondents since 2013, are under development.
Finally, worth mentioning the creation of StatsLab, an area available on Statistics Portugal’s website with new statistical products, presented under development, aiming at taking advantage of new data sources and new methodologies.