How to get started: Steps for new members
This checklist can help you get started with voluntarily applying the Code principles: Trustworthiness, Quality and Value (TQV). It’s not a must-do list but some useful pointers.
It will help you think about how you already show TQV and begin to see how you can further develop your practice, both individually and within your organisation.
This is an ongoing process. It’s not about perfection but provides a useful set of lenses to reflect on in your work and to provide reassurance to others – ‘Think TQV’.
1. Build understanding of the three Code principles – Trustworthiness, Quality and Value
- Speak with OSR
- Speak with senior leaders / key stakeholders in your organisation to get buy-in
- Contact OSR if you would like to arrange training for your team
2. Review your approach – how do you show TQV?
- Look at examples from other adopters
- Join the community of practice to hear others’ experiences
- Speak to OSR about buddying up with an experienced adopter if helpful/possible
- Begin to formulate a TQV statement that shows your approach to TQV
- As a team see how your practice already shows TQV:
i. How are you trustworthy in the way you are organised and manage and use data?
ii. What is the quality of your data/outputs and how robust are your methods/processes?
iii. How do you ensure value in your activities and information?
3. Consider ways of improving practice
- Think about how else you can further develop your Trustworthiness practices or activities in line with the Code principles:
i. Can you better demonstrate objectivity and impartiality?
ii. Are there ways you can enhance your organisational arrangements?
iii. Can you be more transparent about your plans to share your outputs?
iv. Can you be more open about where user needs can or cannot be met and why?
v. Do your data handling and security arrangements meet current standards and requirements? - Consider how else you can enhance your Quality practices in line with the Code principles:
i. Are your sources and data still appropriate for your needs?
ii. Are there ways of further enhancing your methods or new ways of working that you can adopt?
iii. Are there ways of better measuring or understanding uncertainty or the limitations in the data?
iv. Do you clearly explain about the quality of your outputs to your users and stakeholders?
v. Are there opportunities for partnering with other analysts or organisations to extend your work? - How can you enhance the Value of your outputs in line with the Code principles?
i. Do they still meet the need and purpose of your users?
ii. Do you have a good understanding of key stakeholders needs?
iii. How can you improve your engagement with stakeholders?
iv. Can you improve accessibility and clarity of your outputs?
v. How can you innovate in the way you present or promote your outputs?
4. Publish a TQV statement
- Look at other adopters and learn from their approaches
- Tell your story of how you show TQV in the way you work and produce your outputs
- Write for your stakeholders and the public as your audience and reassure them about your approaches
- Contact OSR with your TQV statement to receive comments on drafts and to get added onto the OSR list of voluntary adopters
5. Continue to review your practices and see how you can become more mature in applying TQV
- Think TQV! When tackling any issue, reflect on each principle to see what answers emerge
- Consider using the Statistical Practice Capability Framework – a maturity model for focusing on the strategic use of TQV in business practices (contact OSR for more information)
- Review your current practice periodically and update your published TQV statement
- Keep in touch with OSR – say how you are getting on, ask any questions, share examples of good practice
Download the checklist and begin to document how you are getting on in showing TQV. If you have any questions as you go, feel free to contact the voluntary application team at OSR by emailing regulation@statistics.gov.uk.
