Transforming Census Bureau Operations

Meeting on the Management of Statistical Information Systems

(MSIS 2012)Streamlining Statistical Production

Today’s Agenda

• Challenge: Better Meet Our Clients’ Needs

• What Have We Done? – In the Regions

– At Headquarters

• Lessons Learned

• The Road Ahead

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Future Success Demands Change

• Our society has changed since our basic survey designs were constructed.

• Our past success offers no guarantee of future success.• Like all successful organizations, we must innovate,

become more efficient, flexible, and responsive to our customers.

• Data‐driven management demands a new mindset along with new technologies and systems.

• We have all the capabilities to succeed in this future.

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Serving our Client Needs

• They want:– visible cost controls and cost predictability– us to proactively identify ways to improve their

surveys based on examining paradata and response data

– clear roles of accountability and responsibility

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Regional Office Realignment

• Announced in June 2011

• Implementation Began in January 2012

• Finished by November 2012

• Estimated Savings of $15-18 Million per year

• Two key elements– Reduction in Offices

– Field Management Changes

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Program Coordinator

Survey Supervisor (CE)

Field Rep (CE, CPS) Field Rep (CE, ACS) Field Rep (CE)

Senior Field Rep (CE, CPS) Other Survey

Supervisors/Senior Field Reps

Example Pathways of Communication

CEQ/CEDCPSACS

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New RO Organization ChartData Collection

Regional Director

Assistant Regional Director

Coordinator A

Survey Statisticians (Field)

Field Supervisors

Field Representatives

Coordinator B

Survey Statisticians (Office)

Assistant Regional Director

Coordinator C

Survey Statisticians (Field)

Field Supervisors

Field Representatives

Coordinator D

AdministrationAutomationRecruiting GeographyPartnership

Headquarters Realignment

• For Reimbursable Demographic Surveys:– Complement the Regional Office Realignment

– Leverage Efficiency and Streamline HQ Operations

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Key Dimensions on Which HQ Options Vary

• Project authority and resource control.• Team composition.• Business Process Standards, Protocols

and Integration Dimension.

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HQ Options’ Team Activities • Reviewed our current processes

• Developed options for improvements

• Solicited input from all managers and staff

• Solicited input from our clients

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The New HQ Look

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Survey Sponsor

Survey Director

Survey Team

Service Provider

Service Provider

Service Provider

Service Provider

Service Provider

Service Provider

Service Provider

Service Provider

Regional Office Survey

Statistician Office

Service Provider

HQ Service Providers

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Stat MethodsFrame Development

Sample Design

Data Collection Automation

UTS/Data RepositoryCATI/CAPI Quest. Develop.

Case Management

Data Processing, Editing

Sample SelectionEditing Execution

Imputation Execution

Cost Estimation, Analysis and

ModelingStandard Cost Controls

Develop Cost modelAnalyze Historical Data

Data CollectionCoordinating Functions

Field TrainingNPC Functions

Subject Matter Questionnaire Content

Data AnalysisDissemination

Survey AnalyticsImprove AnalyticsAnalyze paradataExpand Metrics

Interagency Agreements,

Processing and Approval

Coordinate Standard Templates

Track all Agreements

Project Management Business Analysis

SupportDefine Governance

Structure

Survey Team• Survey Director • Project Manager provides project management support

for the entire lifecycle of the survey.• Survey Design Members

– Questionnaire Design/Development/Edits– Sample Design/Estimation– Data Analysis– Cost Estimation

• Survey Operations Members– Data Collection – Production analytics– Field Procedures; Training– Data Processing

**This team does NOT necessarily have data tabulation and dissemination expertise (depends on sponsor).

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Survey Director• Fully credible authority for all survey decisions: budget,

design, methods, innovation.

• Serves as the central point of contact to the sponsor for entire survey activities and products.

• Engages sponsors in serving program needs.

• Anticipates upcoming issues within the survey lifecycle and pro-actively suggests solutions.

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Shared Lessons Learned

1. Senior Leadership

2. Communication

3. Staff Engagement

4. Real time Monitoring of Effects of Change

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The Road Ahead

1. Transition of Field Regional Offices

2. Survey Analytics

3. Reimbursable Surveys

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