SDDS Plus - Efficient reporting and coordination concept

Transcription

1 EFFICIENT STATISTICAL PRODUCTION SESSION D: WORKING TOGETHER IN DIFFERENT WAYS SDDS Plus - Efficient reporting and coordination concept Mihaela Weideskog Statistics Sweden

2 SDDS Plus - Efficient reporting and coordination concept Mihaela Weideskog Abstract SDDS Plus is a reporting standard that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) introduced in 1996 as guidance to member states in the dissemination of comprehensive, timely, accessible, and reliable economic and financial statistical data in the context of increasing economic and financial integration. Starting with 1 st of January 2015 has Statistics Sweden (SCB) taken over the national responsibility for SDDS (The Special Data Dissemination Standard). At the same time Sweden joined the first SDDS Plus group of countries in the world. In connection with this a new IT support system, a new work process and a new management plan were developed. Coordination concept and management plan SDDS Plus includes 33 data categories that are produced by a relatively large number of statistics producers both from Statistics Sweden and from four other organisations. Several times each week some of these data categories are published and this will simultaneously be replicated on the national website for SDDS Plus as well as on the IMFs registry. In the same time some of the statistical content must be converted to SDMX. Statistics Sweden as national coordinator for SDDS Plus has the responsibility for coordinating the day to day process as well as for managing the frequent contacts with the IMF, all the statistics producers involved and the users. Creating a standard, highly qualitative and flexible solution for publishing and converting to SDMX for all the data categories has therefore been essential so that the management and the work process will not be time consuming. New IT support system With the help of the new IT support system the SDDS Plus working process carries out today in an automatic manner. All the previous customized and manually produced reports for SDDS Plus purpose have ceased. The statistical content is automatically retrieved from one single database, then converted to SDMX and published on the national website in an automatic manner. Key words: data collection, mixed mode, web surveys, non-response.

3 1. Introduction The purpose of this paper is to describe how Statistics Sweden prepared for SDDS Plus and implemented a new IT -solution and a new work process which were essentially in order to streamline the work process towards efficiency and a less person-dependent process. Today the SDDS Plus process at Statistics Sweden is carried out automatically and all the previous customized and manually produced reports for SDDS Plus purpose has ceased. The following is a brief outline of the contents of this paper. Section 2 describes the SDDS Plus background. Section 3 describes the SDDS Plus organisation in Sweden and the complexity of the task. In section 4 the solution for SDDS Plus at Statistics Sweden is presented and section 5 contains the conclusions of the SDDS Plus work. 2. Background SDDS The Special Data Dissemination Standard - is a reporting standard that the IMF introduced in 1996 as guidance to member states in the dissemination of comprehensive, timely, accessible, and reliable economic and financial statistical data in the context of increasing economic and financial integration. In November 2014 the IMF has launched SDDS Plus as the highest tier of the Fund s Data Standards Initiatives. The SDDS Plus features more rigorous requirements for coverage, periodicity, timeliness and the length of time series data. Adherents are required to disseminate all SDDS prescribed data categories, plus nine additional data categories. To qualify for adherence, countries should be ready to disseminate at least five of the nine additional data categories and to prepare a transition plan for the remaining data categories that will need to be implemented within five years of adherence. No flexibility options are available for any of the nine additional SDDS Plus data categories. Furthermore there is a new requirement for converting the data to Statistical Data and Metadata exchange - SDMX. Statistics Sweden new national coordinator In October 2014 it was decided that starting from 1 st January 2015 Statistics Sweden (SCB) would take over the responsibility for the national coordination of SDDS from Swedish Central Bank (Riksbanken). At the same time Sweden committed to adherence to SDDS Plus i.e. joining the first group of countries. At this moment Statistics Sweden stood before a complex assignment with a tight deadline. For the following three months Statistics Sweden would have to prepare the takeover of the national coordination role and create an entirely new IT -support according to the new requirements of SDDS Plus, an entirely new work process and a management plan customised to the new process.

4 3. The SDDS Plus organisation in Sweden Within the SDDS Plus process several times every week, all year round, a number of data categories are disseminated. In addition there are several authorities involved. A highly qualitative and flexible solution for the entire process has therefore been essential, in order to obtain effective solutions considering the management and the coordination of the work. The new solution would also enable the changing of the work process towards efficiency and a less person-dependent process. 3.1 Several Swedish organisations These data categories are produced by a number of statistics producers both from Statistics Sweden and from several other Swedish organisations such as: The Central Bank, The National Financial Management Authority, The Swedish National Debt Office and The National Institute of economic research. Figure 1. SDDS Plus process organisation in Sweden: IMF Producers of statistics - other organizations SCB National coordinator - SDDS Plus working group Producers of statistics - SCB Users of statistics 3.2 A substantial number of data categories There are 33 data categories included in the SDDS Plus. The data categories are divided in six key sectors of the economy such as: real sector, fiscal sector, financial sector, external sector,

5 population and an addendum. See Annex 1 for detailed information about data categories by statistics producer. 3.3 Demanding monitoring According to the IMF requirements, countries adhering to the SDDS Plus are obliged to disseminate advance release calendars (ARCs) and release the data accordingly and simultaneously to all interested parties. Therefore, although the process is carried out automatically, a monitoring of the process is nevertheless required. 4. Efficient reporting and coordination concept at Statistics Sweden For a successful overtaking of the responsibility for the national coordination of the SDDS Plus the SDDS Plus project started in October 2014 at Statistics Sweden. The project was organised in several focus areas and consequently several working groups such as: IT-solution, communication and management plan. Figure 2. SDDS Plus project organisation: Project manager It - solution Communication Management plan 4.1 IT solution The main purpose for the IT -solution was to create a highly efficient IT -support system in order to conduct the future SDDS Plus process entirely automatically. The IT -solution was designed according to the Statistics Sweden IT policy in order to take advantage of the existing infrastructure and standard solutions. Furthermore, one of the main requirements within the project was to create a single standard IT solution for all the data categories. Neither double dissemination of the same data nor local nor specially developed solutions for each data category were accepted.

6 Figure 3. Map of the IT solution: Automatically conducted process Statistical data produced outside Statistics Sweden SDDS Plus database SDDS Plus website Statistical data produced at Statistics Sweden Regarding the SDMX converting, the process is automatically carried out by the SDDS Plus IT-support system as follows: - The statistical data produced outside Statistics Sweden is transferred through a File Transfer Protocol FTP to Statistics Sweden. The files are then transferred to SDDS Plus database by System Center Orchestrator. The files are converted into SDMX and the SDMX files are stored in the SDDS Plus database and then disseminated. - The statistical data produced and published at Statistics Sweden is simultaneously retrieved from Statistics Sweden s statistical database (SSD) and converted to SDMX by the SDDS Plus IT support. The SDMX files are stored in the SDDS Plus database and then disseminated. The only activity that the SDDS Plus staff is required to carry out manually is to update the link at IMF National Summary Data Page IMF NSDP for the actual SDMX file, which takes less than one minute. The IT work within the project was carried out by the IT -group. The group consisted of following project members: - Project manager - IT -coordinator - IT experts including a test manager - IT architect 4.2 Communication for SDDS Plus new national website A new national website for the SDDS Plus was another requirement for the project. There are standard requirements for the website regarding e.g. the order in which the columns and the rows are presented as well as for the content. The main objective, besides the layout, was to create a website that requires minimal management and staff costs. The publishing process and website administration usually involves multiple skills. Therefore a number of individuals from several units have to be

7 involved in each of the disseminations. This entails relatively high administration and staff costs. Taking into consideration that SDDS Plus includes several releases each week, a highly effective solution is required in order to uphold minimal management costs. The task is today accomplished with a fully automatically dissemination process. The statistical data for each data category is initially published at or on the websites of the other organisations involved, according to the Advance Release Calendar - ARC. On the SDDS Plus website there is a hyperlink to the published statistical data on the actual web site. The statistical information presented on the SDDS Plus national website is thus always simultaneously updated. The work with the communication of SDDS Plus was carried out by the communication - group which involved following project members: - Project manager - Website specialists - Communications specialists 4.3 Coordinating SDDS Plus new management plan Statistics Sweden as national coordinator for SDDS Plus has the responsibility for coordinating the day to day process as well as for managing the contacts with the IMF, all the statistics producers involved and with the users, both nationally and internationally. This requires a highly effective management plan. Each of the parties involved in the process has to be thoroughly informed about their role and responsibilities. It is essential that the communication flow within the process is conducted without any ambiguity. Statistics Sweden has initiated formal agreements with all the organisations involved in the SDDS Plus process. Internally at Statistics Sweden, a communication plan has been prepared and agreed with all the producers of statistics involved in the process. These agreements contain detailed information regarding the content of the statistical data that has to be reported, the way of reporting errors in the process, contact information for each statistical producer as well as a thorough description of responsibilities for each part of the process. SDDS Plus working group at Statistics Sweden A working group for coordinating the SDDS Plus process has been established at Statistics Sweden. The group includes the following roles: - SDDS Plus coordinator head of the group - SDDS Plus coordinator - backup - Monitoring responsible - Metadata responsible The SDDS plus working group has the following responsibilities: - Speaking partner with the IMF

8 - Monitoring the day to day process there are always two members of the group (including backup) scheduled for monitoring the dissemination process. A detailed chart with the publishing dates and the monitoring teams are planned each autumn for the entire following year. - Coordinating the communication with all the statistical producers - Communication with the users of statistics An important contribution to the successful results of the project was that there was a significant flexibility regarding the way of reaching the target of the project. The project members were always prepared to change solutions, to move forward or postponed a deadline for an activity or to try new tools. 5. Conclusion Starting with 1 st January 2015 Statistics Sweden has taken over the responsibility for the national coordination of SDDS. Subsequently a new IT -solution, a new communication plan and a new management plan have been created. The SDDS Plus project was a complex assignment with a tight deadline. The complexity of the process is generated by the fact that there are several Swedish government agencies involved in the process and there are specific requirements from IMF regarding the release process. Several times every week, all year round, a number of data categories are disseminated. It has therefore been essential to create a highly qualitative and flexible solution for the entire process, so that the management and the work process will not be too time-consuming and less person-dependent. Currently the SDDS Plus working process carries out in an automatic manner. All the previous customised and manually produced reports for SDDS Plus purpose have ceased. The statistical content is automatically retrieved from one single database, then converted to SDMX and published on the national website in an automatic manner. The SDDS Plus process is coordinated by the SDDS Plus working group at Statistics Sweden. In February 2015 Sweden officially introduced the SDDS Plus reporting standard, with six of the nine additional data categories in place. By December 2015 the remaining three data categories were also introduced to the users. SDDS Plus is now fully implemented at Statistics Sweden. Sweden s SDDS Plus national website For more information please see 6. References International Monetary Fund, SDDS Plus legal text, SDDS Plus Guidelines.

9 Annex 1 The list of SDDS plus data categories by Swedish statistics producer: Statistics Sweden is producing the following statistical data, by category: - National Accounts - Sectoral Balance Sheet - Production index - Employment and unemployment - Wages/earnings - Consumer Price Index - Producer Price Index - General Government Operations - General Government Debt - Depository corporations survey - Other financial corporations survey - Financial soundness indicators - Debt securities - Interest rates, lending and deposits rates - Balance of payments - Merchandise rate - International investment position - Gross external debt position - Coordinated portfolio investment survey CPIS - Coordinated direct investment survey - CDIS - Population The Swedish Central Bank is producing the following statistical data, by category: - Central bank survey - Interest rates, Central Bank - Official reserve assets - Data template on International reserves and foreign currency liquidity template - Composition of Official Foreign Exchange Reserves - COFER - Exchange rates The National Financial Management Authority is producing the following statistical data: - Central government operations, budget outcome The Swedish National Debt Office is producing the following statistical data: - Central government operations, net borrowing requirement The National Institute of economic research is producing the following statistical data: - Forward looking indicators

10 Stock market statistical data is provided by Stockholm Stock Exchange All Share Index (OMXSPI) and by Affärsvärlden Weighted All Share Index (AFGX).