Page 311 - Special Topic Session (STS) - Volume 4

STS637 Magued O.
4. Re-engineering the statistical system
Figure 1 illustrates data production under the business as usual scenario
and under expected changes in the future eco-system of the fourth industrial
revolution. It is suggested to re-engineer the current statistical system to allow
for an inclusive approach that integrate all producers and users of data and
big data while respecting the fundamental principles of official statistics. The
model should take into consideration the challenges facing the statistics
discipline in the data science era and should address governance issues related
to the production, analysis and dissemination of big data without
compromising professional considerations, including scientific principles and
professional ethics.

Figure 1: Framework describing the impact of disruptive innovations on data production.

To be able to conduct this re-engineering all stakeholders should embark
in making necessary institutional, legislative and mind set changes.
Furthermore, intellectual contributions should focus on bridging the gap
between rigorous research and available big data, and, on integrating data
and big data analysis in the decision-making evidence-based process.

5. Action plan
As presented above the era of big data is bringing several challenges and
opportunities for the statistical community. To be able to re-engineer the eco-
system, such challenges and opportunities need to be considered by all
stakeholders. The following action plan is suggested:

Academia - In academia, the discipline of statistics needs to be re-shaped to
take into consideration disruptive innovations that are becoming part of our
daily life. Whether the term of “statistics” will remain as a brand of academic

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