Why and how to use the VSS

1

What is the VSS
Introduction to the Virtual Statistical System
2
VSS is a Portal providing

• On-line resources for NSOs and other data
  producing agencies
• Information about statistical organizations and
  operations
• Links to valuable information (sites documents)
• Checklists for the improvement of statistical
  organizations
• Exchange of information for practitioners and
  users
• Access to 200 eLearning lessons about 10 topics.
  

3
Why VSS and who needs VSS?

• Experience shows the clear need for improved
  access to statistical information.
• The Web offers exciting possibilities to access
  and share information.
• Countries requested to be involved in South-South
  communications
• Where to go to find the VSS
• google virtual statistical system, or
  www.virtualstatisticalsystem.org or
  statsys.com.

4
The VSS is designed

• To learn about official statistics.
• To improve the statistical capacity of countries
  by using
• VSS knowledge base.
• VSS eLearning courses.
• VSS communication tools.

5
Main Components of the VSS

• Activities
• Themes
• Comments

• Discussion groups
• Wiki information exchange

• Animated presentations
• Power point presentations

6
The VSS can be used to

• understand a range of issues that national
  statistical organizations face.
• understand the nature of statistical subject
  matter topics.
• to design strategies to improve national official
  statistics.
• to design implement plans for projects.

7
Activities and Themes

• Two sides of the same coin.
• Activities are a series of building blocks for
  national statistical systems and organizations.
• A Building block is a complete set of activities
  which are defined by a series of checklists.
• One building block is a (useful) condition for
  the next.
• Building blocks have several aspects (tabs).

8
Accessing VSS Knowledge Base Activities and
Themes
9
Building blocks for statistical systems
10
Themes

• are the other side of the coin.
• are the subject matter topics about which
  statistics report, and
• deal with specific questions, other than generic,
  that statistical organizations may face.
• are the traditional fields of work in statistics.
• have a number of separate aspects (tabs).

11
How Statistical Operations
Work