Abstract

The main pillars of Istat modernization programme, started in 2016, were:
- the centralization of Data collection, Methodology, IT and Data Dissemination, with the creation of
ad hoc Central Directorates;
- the development of the Integrated system of statistical registers (ISSR) as the foundation of
statistical production;
- the investment in the use of new data sources for official statistics production.
Besides other methodological challenges, this new organization of statistical production required to
renovate and adapt the quality assurance system, that was quite advanced but mainly tailored for
traditional statistical production processes (e.g. direct surveys, statistics based on administrative data,
statistical compilation like the National Accounts). In 2020-2021 a 5-year quality strategy was developed
and endorsed by Istat top management. The coordination of the strategy implementation was assigned to
the Quality Committee, chaired by the Director of Methodology, where the Quality Unit is placed. The
Quality Committee (QC) is composed by representatives of different Departments and Directorates. A
Quality Manager was appointed to support the QC in its coordination role. The quality strategy included a
set of activities differentiated for types of statistical processes, i.e.:
- For traditional processes, a checklist to verify the conformity to sound statistical methodology and
standard procedures was developed and applied to 210 statistical processes. The result of the
checklist could be an internal label of conformity or the identification of improvement actions. In
addition, since 2024 a programme of internal statistical audits was also started, 3 traditional
processes are audited each year.
- Statistical registers of the ISSR were still not mature enough to apply audit procedures. A specific
quality framework, including a metadata model based on GSBPM and GSIM standards and specific
quality indicators for each relevant GSBPM subprocess, has been defined. It is currently been
applied to some statistical registers.
- The use of new data sources (the so-called big data) for official statistics is probably the main
challenge nowadays for quality assurance. Here the investment is twofold: Istat participates
actively in several international initiatives where the definition of quality framework for new data
sources in Official Statistics is discussed; internally, a first Task Force has established the structure
for a high level quality framework and will proceed soon in the definition of its main elements,
taking into account already existing international proposals and internal experiences.
At this point the complexity of coordinating all the mentioned activities should be self-evident. The
presentation will focus on the main achievements, as well as on the lesson learnt and what it is still to face.
Some hints to the next 5-year quality strategy will be also given.