Revising Priorities in Statistical Programme Management

1. Revising priorities in the statistical programme Management Group on Statistical Cooperation * 24 & 25 March 2011 * Carina Fransen

2. Contents • Reason and objectives • Background • Process • Challenges and how to deal with them • Current state of affairs • Next steps Revising priorities in the statistical programme of Statistics Netherlands

3. Reason and objectives Reason Society changes and so does the need for statistical information. New developments lead to new demands. Budgets are limited, new priorities mean reduction elsewhere. Main objective Adaptation of the statistical programme in order to fulfil the needs of society (in present and nearby future) as good as possible,while staying within budget Revising priorities in the statistical programme of Statistics Netherlands

4. Revision of priorities in 2010 Immediate cause Request by CCS (Central Statistical Committee) to examine the possibility and desirability of adaptations of the statistical programme. End current MAP 2009-2013 Find most optimal programme within existing resources Principle 11 of Code of Practice: Relevance: “Processes are in place to consult users, monitor the relevance and practical utility of existing statistics in meeting their needs, and advise on their emerging needs and priorities.” Revising priorities in the statistical programme of Statistics Netherlands

5. Revisions of priorities in the past Revision 2002 • Reduced/cancelled (e.g.): nature, social situation, budget survey, stock market, social security • New (e.g.): social dynamics, ageing society, productivity, prices and volumes of services • Process: top down approach • Positive: simple, clear • Negative: due to the chosen approach little commitment below top level. Revising priorities in the statistical programme of Statistics Netherlands

6. Process priority revision 2010 (1) Board of directors: “Statistics divisions are to put forward proposals for reductions in the current statistical programme, amounting to 10% / 20% of their budget (or fte), in order to use the proceeds for new statistics” (2 reprioritization scenario’s, not as answer on further budget cuts) Revising priorities in the statistical programme of Statistics Netherlands

7. Process priority revision 2010 (2) To try and optimize choices and ensure that they can and will be put into practice, involvement of statistics divisions is needed. Outline of the process: • Proposals composed by statistics divisions • Comments by working group • Discussion in board of directors • Decision by Central Statistical Committee Revising priorities in the statistical programme of Statistics Netherlands

8. Proposals by statistics divisions Statistics divisions examine their programme and put forward proposals for reductions: • cancel (part of) a statistic • reduce detail, quality and/or frequency Points of consideration: • Relevance for society • Connection with other statistics • Feasibility • Necessity (e.g. national and EU regulations) Revising priorities in the statistical programme of Statistics Netherlands

9. Challenges • Involvement of external stakeholders • Risk of strategic behaviour by statistics divisions Revising priorities in the statistical programme of Statistics Netherlands

10. Challenge 1: Involvement external stakeholders Problem Advisory boards, Ministries and other strategic partners only have some suggestions for new priorities, not for reductions Solution SN itself has to assess priorities and consult stakeholders with specific + & - proposals Revising priorities in the statistical programme of Statistics Netherlands

11. Challenge 2: strategic behaviour Problem There might be some reluctance to cooperate fully due to fear that the revision of priorities is ultimately just a way to cut budgets. Tactical or strategic behaviour: • Putting forward unfeasible proposals • Not considering effects for other divisions • Claiming that new statistics will not be able to compensate for the loss of the ones that will be cancelled • Discussing the figures: “20% reduction of which departments ?” Revising priorities in the statistical programme of Statistics Netherlands

12. Challenge 2: strategic behaviour Solutions • Transparancy: • clear agreements at top level and beyond on the goals and the exact numbers. • communication with all concerned. • devise a set of criteria for objective choices between statistics • Using a working group: • representatives of statistics divisions • chaired by chief statistical officer • create a sense of a common goal Revising priorities in the statistical programme of Statistics Netherlands

13. Process • Proposals of divisions received • Interim report by working group including proposals to CCS • Development and application of assessment model (next slide) • Result (sheet 15 & 16): all proposals ranked and in categories: • ordered by “desirability” and feasibility • separate categories for proposals on analysis & interpretation and process redesign Revising priorities in the statistical programme of Statistics Netherlands

14. Assessment model Assessment model, developed wih external consultancy • questions to objectify relevance for society, costs and benefits (reduction of admin burden and staff costs) and feasibility (e.g. legal context) Application of assessment model: • questions answered by experts • scores per question, depending on answer • total score per proposal => ranking • proposals in categories to CCS Revising priorities in the statistical programme of Statistics Netherlands

15. Legal context Users Society Benefits A certain series of statistics Benefits -/- Costs = Value Costs Organisation Alternative producers Suppliers Framework as basis for the assessment model Revising priorities in the statistical programme of Statistics Netherlands

16. Results of the exercise 110 fte Group I possible to assess on relevance for society, desirability and feasibility 4 categories Category 1: (26,7 vte) This statistical information is relevant for a specific group users. Comparable informations is available from other institutions. Quite isolated. No crucial role in a integrated system of statistics. Little effect on image and position of Statistics Netherlands in society Category 2: (33,8 vte) Greater importance and relevance for society. Objections expected from limited group important users/stakeholders. In some cases a negative effect on image and position of SN might be expected. Revising priorities in the statistical programme of Statistics Netherlands

17. Category 3: (21,3 vte) Implementation of negative priorities in this category touches upon the essence of SN statistical programme. Broadly used and highly relevant in society. Repeal is potential damaging for the image and position of SN Category 4: (12,6 vte) Legally obliged statistical information on national or EU level. Relevance differs per topic area. Implementations of proposals in this category needs prior adaptation of legal provisions. Unilateral termination leads to administrative measures. Group II policy consideration – relevance and importance A: reduction of capacity for analyses & interpretation (27,6 vte) B: quality and efficiency of the process (29,5 vte) Revising priorities in the statistical programme of Statistics Netherlands

18. Current state of affairs Current state of affairs: on hold: • Possible additional budget cuts by government (part of proceeds of prioritisation might be needed) • Balancing assessment model against new proposals (not yet developed) Revising priorities in the statistical programme of Statistics Netherlands

19. Thank you for your attention! Questions? Revising priorities in the statistical programme of Statistics Netherlands