Consultations with users in
preparing for census data
dissemination
United Nations Regional Seminar on Census Data Dissemination
and Spatial Analysis 14-17 September, Nairobi, Kenya
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Overview of the presentation
Introduction
Objective of user consultation
Identification of users
Managing the user consultation
process
• Tools to be used for product design
• The business plan
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United Nations Regional Seminar on Census Data Dissemination
and Spatial Analysis 14-17 September, Nairobi, Kenya
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Introduction
The user consultation process carried out
at the census planning stage is important
•in achieving the objective that the census
is relevant to users.
• in making the census as responsive as
possible to user needs in terms of the
collection, processing, tabulation, storage
and availability of meaningful data.
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and Spatial Analysis 14-17 September, Nairobi, Kenya
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Introduction
cont’d
• foster a wider and more informed
understanding of and support for
census plans and activities.
The consultation process carried out at
the census planning stage is
– a major factor in the development of
a dissemination programme.
– also a major indicator of the quality
of the census
United Nations Regional Seminar on Census Data Dissemination
and Spatial Analysis 14-17 September, Nairobi, Kenya
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Objective of user consultations
• to provide information to assist users
to make more informed decisions. By
– focussing on data relevance, quality
and timeliness of delivery;
– adapting a range of products and
services to meet current and
emerging needs in the market place
• to consolidate and improve the
product range for the next census.
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and Spatial Analysis 14-17 September, Nairobi, Kenya
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Identification of users
• Government policy makers, and
provincial and local governments
• Researchers
• Individuals and institutions in
business, industry and labour
• Media
• Stakeholders within the census agency
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and Spatial Analysis 14-17 September, Nairobi, Kenya
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Managing the user consultation
process
The user consultation process should also
seek views of census data users on the
strategic goals and directions for the
census dissemination phase.
The consultation can be carried out in 2 stages.
Stage 1: on the broad directions
Stage 2: on specific products & services
United Nations Regional Seminar on Census Data Dissemination
and Spatial Analysis 14-17 September, Nairobi, Kenya
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Stage 1: Consultation on the broad
directions
•Provide users with the dissemination
strategy in publication form,
accompanied by a questionnaire.
The first publication can provide the
goals, the strategies to achieve the
goals and the broad directions of the
dissemination phase.
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and Spatial Analysis 14-17 September, Nairobi, Kenya
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Stage 1: Consultation on the broad
directions … cont’d
The self-enumerated questionnaire
can comprise two parts:
– client’s use of current census products &
services;
– strategies proposed by the census
agency for the products & services of
the next census
 Information may be available on the
quantity of products purchased by each
user.
United Nations Regional Seminar on Census Data Dissemination
and Spatial Analysis 14-17 September, Nairobi, Kenya
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Stage 2: Consultation on specific
products and services … cont’d
• A second publication and questionnaire
can be mailed out to those clients that
expressed interest in further
consultation
• Face-to-face sessions can be conducted
with key users
• Users should also be consulted on
whether they prefer printed and/or
electronic products
United Nations Regional Seminar on Census Data Dissemination
and Spatial Analysis 14-17 September, Nairobi, Kenya
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Stage 2: Consultation
… cont’d
• Some data users will need specialized
products that the census organization is
not planning to produce
• Reactions from clients can be sought
against a number of specific criteria, such
as: content and functionality; views on,
and reactions to, pricing of products and
services; importance of timeliness; client
support; usefulness and appropriateness
of the census data and products.
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and Spatial Analysis 14-17 September, Nairobi, Kenya
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Tools to be used for product
design
The user consultation process can use 3
tools for product design conducted in
three phases
(a) Qualitative studies;
(b) Quantitative studies; and
(c) Detailed product design.
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and Spatial Analysis 14-17 September, Nairobi, Kenya
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(a) Qualitative studies
Aim: to better understand the reactions
of clients to the current census
dissemination programme,
• focus groups, usually general in
nature, covering a range of clients and
products
• larger-scale conferences and/or
workshops can be held to allow
consultation with clients and users from
the central and regional offices of the
census agency.
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and Spatial Analysis 14-17 September, Nairobi, Kenya
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(b) Quantitative studies
A variety of questionnaires may be
required focusing on: a particular
product or service; particular market
segments or industry sectors; and
users’ technical requirements
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and Spatial Analysis 14-17 September, Nairobi, Kenya
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(c) Detailed product design
•The major tasks in the detailed product
design phase are:
– Determining overall product mix;
– Developing product plans for corporate
approval;
– Developing prototypes;
– Devising classification proposals;
– Consulting users; and
– Finalizing product design.
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and Spatial Analysis 14-17 September, Nairobi, Kenya
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The business plan
• A business plan is developed even if no
revenue is required or expected showing the costs, the estimated
number of units to be created and the
expected principal users of the products
and services.
• A management steering group can be
established to review on a regular basis
the development of the plan and to
monitor revenue and expenditure under
the plan.
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and Spatial Analysis 14-17 September, Nairobi, Kenya
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THANK YOU!
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and Spatial Analysis 14-17 September, Nairobi, Kenya
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