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Moving into the 21st Century: A New Strategy for IMF Statistics Dissemination

This session discusses emerging trends and best practices in data dissemination, with a focus on moving from traditional print and CD-ROM products to online platforms. Key findings and recommendations from qualitative research and best practices studies are presented, along with the next steps for implementation.

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Moving into the 21st Century: A New Strategy for IMF Statistics Dissemination

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  1. Moving into the 21st Century:A New Strategy for Disseminating IMF Statistics and Metadata Working Session on Emerging Trends and Best Practices in Data DisseminationUnited Nations Statistics DivisionMarch 3, 2006

  2. The Current Situation • 4 “traditional” products in print and on CD-ROM • Balance of Payments Statistics • Direction of Trade Statistics • Government Finance Statistics • International Financial Statistics • 3 online products, different formats • International Financial Statistics (modeled after the CD-ROM) • International Reserves (static tables) • Coordinated Portfolio Investment Statistics (static tables) • IMF Data Dissemination Standards Bulletin Board • Special Data Dissemination Standard • General Data Dissemination System

  3. First Steps... • Spring 2005: two studies commissioned by the IMF’s External Relations Department and Statistics Department • Qualitative Usership Research of traditional products (conducted by Research Perspectives) • Review of Best Practices for Web Dissemination of Data (conducted by Sabatier Consulting) • Fall 2005: studies completed and results presented to IMF staff

  4. Key Findings and Recommendations: Qualitative Usership Research6 focus groups, 36 in-depth interviews Positive feedback • Users of IMF data also access data from a wide variety of sources (e.g., OECD, UN, World Bank) • IMF databases have an excellent image (“the gold standard”) but some reputational issues • Online data desired despite access limitations in some locations • Many still want print publications • More data desired, e.g., data on Taiwan and trade breakdowns • Some interest in one large database (“super IFS”) rather than separate products • World Bank’s World Development Indicators mentioned as an ideal in terms of user-friendliness

  5. Key Findings and Recommendations: Qualitative Usership Research (cont’d)6 focus groups, 36 in-depth interviews Negative feedback • IFS online and CD-ROM considered highly user-unfriendly by current standards • Desire for more information on definitions yet confusion over the term “metadata” • What metadata does exist users cannot find • Data are not sufficiently timely • Quality control issues: users find errors in the data which are not corrected quickly enough • Insufficient information on changes to the database • Dislike of IMF mnemonics (“impenetrable”) requiring print publication to understand data • Insufficient information on series definitions • Inadequate content support for users

  6. Key Findings and Recommendations: Best Practices for Web Dissemination of Data40 telephone interviews: 19 comparable organizations, 21 data distributors • Increasing worldwide access to and comfort with the Internet • Users wish all data accessible via the Internet • Trends toward free access; simpler, flatter pricing; and instant pay-per-use • Online downloads replacing CD-ROMs but demand for print likely to continue • Many technologies in use although move towards industry standard software • Slow movement towards standardization of database structures and metadata

  7. Key Findings and Recommendations: Best Practices for Web Dissemination of Data • Provision of data in XML • Desire to store queries for repeated execution • RSS feeds increasingly utilized • Importance of clear metadata for searching and understanding data • Desire to have references from main web site to partner organizations offering data • Customer support essential but move to online help to reduce resources • Need for online mechanisms for feedback and questions

  8. Next Steps... Winter 2006 • Statistics Department staff retreat to consider medium-term strategies of the IMF • Introduction of StatisticsQuery@imf.org permitting content questions to come directly to the Statistical Information Management Section (SIMS was created in June 2005) of the Statistics Department • Adoption of Remedy for tracking queries to ensure timely responses and consistent responses • Creation of a library of responses to ensure consistency of message and reduce resource requirements

  9. Next Steps... Spring 2006: issues to be addressed • Work practices within Statistics • Development of a statistical data warehouse • The role and extent of metadata • Effective user support • Technology alternatives • Marketing and pricing strategies Summer 2006 and beyond: implementation of short-term and medium-term strategies for online dissemination

  10. National Sources ICS National Sources ICS Statistics IFS Area Depts 10+ countries Research WEO A Vision for the Economic Data Warehouse and Future Dissemination DATAWAREHOUSE EXISTING DATA & METADATA Plus additional metadata DATA SEARCH & ELABORATION Rationalized Databases, Gaps Identified Web Access to Data Warehouse Data (disseminate as appropriate) IMF.ORG Statistics Portal Validated Data Metadata • Searchable by: • Topic • Country • Source • Reports Publications External Data OECDMEI INTLINE CD ROM Metadata

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