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Statistics Explained – introducing a new approach to dissemination. Ulrich Wieland, Eurostat. The problem . Large amounts of value-added content available in publications Publications do not easily reach the audience Production process for publications is very cumbersome
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Statistics Explained – introducing a new approach to dissemination Ulrich Wieland, Eurostat
The problem • Large amounts of value-added content available in publications • Publications do not easily reach the audience • Production process for publications is very cumbersome -> The Eurostat management committee asked for more effective ways of dissemination Statistics Explained, UN-ECE Work session, Paris 30.6.-2.7.2010
The approach • Using Wiki for content creation • Collaborative approach • Same software as Wikipedia (Mediawiki) http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/statistics_explained Statistics Explained, UN-ECE Work session, Paris 30.6.-2.7.2010
Three steps of implementation • Developing the concept • Developing an operational system and opening it to the public • Integrating the system in Eurostat‘s business processes Statistics Explained, UN-ECE Work session, Paris 30.6.-2.7.2010
Implementation timetable • January 2008 Request from Management Committee • September 2008: First prototype • November 2008: Concept approved by the Management Committee • September 2009: Opening to the public • 2010 – 2011 Integration into Eurostat’s business processes Statistics Explained, UN-ECE Work session, Paris 30.6.-2.7.2010
A quick start • Use of open source software • Prototyp could be deloped with available resources (most work was done by a trainee) • Substantial amount of content was available Statistics Explained, UN-ECE Work session, Paris 30.6.-2.7.2010
Technical infrastructure • Mediawiki (also used for Wikipedia) • Numerous extensions to adapt to the Eurostat requirements • Piwik for tracking the usage The system is exclusively based on open source software Total technical work (including experimenting and testing) is about 15 man-months Statistics Explained, UN-ECE Work session, Paris 30.6.-2.7.2010
Implicating information producers Main discussion points • Responsibility for content • Quality control • Freshness of information • Relation to publications • Relations to the Eurostat website • Workload Statistics Explained, UN-ECE Work session, Paris 30.6.-2.7.2010
Responsibility for content, and quality control • Balance between efficient cooperative working and the need to control the content • Updating by all Eurostat staff • Validation of content by the competent statistical unit; each page is owned by one unit • Validation of layout, language, structure, readability, hyperlinks etc. by the dissemination unit • Pages are only visible to outside staff when validated by both the statistical unit and the dissemination unit • All changes are traced Statistics Explained, UN-ECE Work session, Paris 30.6.-2.7.2010
Freshness of information • Manual updates rather than automatic updates of information • Clear indication of the date of the article • Regular manual updating (at least annually) to be inforced Statistics Explained, UN-ECE Work session, Paris 30.6.-2.7.2010
Statistics Explained Authors Users Flagship publications Printed products PDFs Archive (Publications office) Statistics Explained and publications • Reversing the workflow • Some major publications will remain, but most will be replaced by Statistics Explained Statistics Explained, UN-ECE Work session, Paris 30.6.-2.7.2010
Relation to the Eurostat website • Statistics Explained is an integral part of the Eurostat website • Extensive hyperlinking between Statistics Explained and other parts of the website • Overlap with other parts of the website needs to be avoided Statistics Explained, UN-ECE Work session, Paris 30.6.-2.7.2010
Advantages and disadvantages of Ststaitics Explained + simplification of the production process + high visibility on the Internet + ease of use • new tool to learn • Need to reorganise the production process (especially if external contactors are involved • Need to change the habits of users Statistics Explained, UN-ECE Work session, Paris 30.6.-2.7.2010
Introducing the system I Early adopters: • Direct support to create show cases • Several personnel initiatives to create/modify articles • SBS publication and Sustainable development publication • Statistics in Focus • Manual and guidelines for information producers • Training courses • Strong support by the hierarchy Statistics Explained, UN-ECE Work session, Paris 30.6.-2.7.2010
Introducing the system II Large scale introduction • Obligatory update of the yearbook pages through Statistics Explained • Management Committee decision to stop publications which can be easily replaced by Stastistics Explained • Further courses and improved guidelines Statistics Explained, UN-ECE Work session, Paris 30.6.-2.7.2010
Keys to quick success • Strong support by the hierarchy • Avoiding technical complexity • Early discussions with users • Availibility of content in suitable form (e.g. Yearbook) • Mixed project team Statistics Explained, UN-ECE Work session, Paris 30.6.-2.7.2010
Contact Ulrich Wieland, Eurostat ulrich.wieland@ec.europa.eu Marc Debusschere, Eurostat marc.debusschere@ec.europa.eu Statistics Explained, UN-ECE Work session, Paris 30.6.-2.7.2010