structuring a research service
TRANSCRIPT
24th Annual IFLA Pre-Conference of Library and Research Services for ParliamentsOttawa, 6 to 8 of august, 2008
Petition from Congress
Plan approved
Model design / Pilot project for Committees
Financial Support
Permanent appraisal and upgrade
Attitude of exploring alternatives
STRUCTURING A
RESEARCH SERVICEIssues to Discuss
Our Experience
Public policy / Legislative process
Oversight
Constituency Work
Grassroots learning
Parliamentary Diplomacy
Opinion Shaping
Issue activation
Political education
Local concerns in national spotlight
Understanding your AUDIENCEMultiple roles and Moods
ROLES MISSION PRODUCTS AND SERVICES ORGANIZATION PROCESSES INFRASTRUCTURE STRATEGY STAFF ISSUES CAPABILITIES LEARNED AFRAID
Multiple Roles of MPs
Who is she/he?A multi-tasked person
…with multiple roles
... who lives day-to-day
… faced by all sorts of issues
… with little time
… who needs support
ROLES MISSION PRODUCTS AND SERVICES ORGANIZATION PROCESSES INFRASTRUCTURE STRATEGY STAFF ISSUES CAPABILITIES LEARNED AFRAID
Understanding your AUDIENCEMultiple roles and moods
Surprise! what is this?
I need an informed opinion
I have to defend my position
I need to make a point
I have to vote
I need to communicate it to my constituency
what do I lose or gain?
What could I tell the press?
I will be on a talk show
I am giving a talk
Moods
ROLES MISSION PRODUCTS AND SERVICES ORGANIZATION PROCESSES INFRASTRUCTURE STRATEGY STAFF ISSUES CAPABILITIES LEARNED AFRAID
GETTING STARTED THE MISSION
ROLES MISSION PRODUCTS AND SERVICES ORGANIZATION PROCESSES INFRASTRUCTURE STRATEGY STAFF ISSUES CAPABILITIES LEARNED AFRAID
A tool to empower MP’s and their communities
An instrument for the creation, discovery and
exploration of knowledge
A social space to enrich their day-to-day activities and
concerns
Role of area
MISSION CUSTOMERS ORGANIZATION INFRASTRUCTURE PRODUCTS AND SERVICES STAFF DEVELOPMENT WHERE WE ARE
ROLES MISSION PRODUCTS AND SERVICES ORGANIZATION PROCESSES INFRASTRUCTURE STRATEGY STAFF ISSUES CAPABILITIES LEARNED AFRAID
For Whom? and How?
ROLES MISSION PRODUCTS AND SERVICES ORGANIZATION PROCESSES INFRASTRUCTURE STRATEGY STAFF ISSUES CAPABILITIES LEARNED AFRAID
MPs and their staff
Presidents of Senate and Lower House
Legislative and Oversight Committees
Political Committees
District Offices
Congress Personnel
Net Citizens
For whom?
ROLES MISSION PRODUCTS AND SERVICES ORGANIZATION PROCESSES INFRASTRUCTURE STRATEGY STAFF ISSUES CAPABILITIES LEARNED AFRAID
A Holistic approach that will respond to MPs concerns? (Analysis, references, loans, indications, speeches, press analysis, explanations of laws for citizens and Research)
or only Research group
… services and products distributed through different channels
What and How?
ROLES MISSION PRODUCTS AND SERVICES ORGANIZATION PROCESSES INFRASTRUCTURE STRATEGY STAFF ISSUES CAPABILITIES LEARNED AFRAID
Confidentiality
Opportunity
Pertinence
Equality of access
Objectivity: scenario analysis
Quality: research methods, validity property rights respect, multiple and transparent sources used
Values
ROLES MISSION PRODUCTS AND SERVICES ORGANIZATION PROCESSES INFRASTRUCTURE STRATEGY STAFF ISSUES CAPABILITIES LEARNED AFRAID
Provide:
Specialized advice and Reports
Capabilities for dialogue with the Executive
Early warning
Raw information
Possible roles for a new area
MISSION CUSTOMERS ORGANIZATION INFRASTRUCTURE PRODUCTS AND SERVICES STAFF DEVELOPMENT WHERE WE ARE
ROLES MISSION PRODUCTS AND SERVICES ORGANIZATION PROCESSES INFRASTRUCTURE STRATEGY STAFF ISSUES CAPABILITIES LEARNED
Possible roles for a new area
Support for oversight functions
Aid for relationships with diverse publics
International and national issue context
Channel digital network conversations
ROLES MISSION PRODUCTS AND SERVICES ORGANIZATION PROCESSES INFRASTRUCTURE STRATEGY STAFF ISSUES CAPABILITIES LEARNED AFRAID
SERVICES ANDPRODUCTS
On demand or supply
Oral and /or Written
Political Advice, Round Table Discussions
Reference
descriptive analysis
policy evaluation
ROLES MISSION PRODUCTS AND SERVICES ORGANIZATION PROCESSES INFRASTRUCTURE STRATEGY STAFF ISSUES CAPABILITIES LEARNED AFRAID
SERVICES ANDPRODUCTS
prospective analysis (future possibilities and/or probable scenarios)
directed writing
comparative law
Macro Regional Trends
Public Opinion Trends
Country Profile in comparative context
District Statistics
ROLES MISSION PRODUCTS AND SERVICES ORGANIZATION PROCESSES INFRASTRUCTURE STRATEGY STAFF ISSUES CAPABILITIES LEARNED AFRAID
legal
scientific
economic
sociological
government
SERVICES ANDPRODUCTS
international
political science
engineering
statistical
geographical patterns and trends
TYPES OF ANALYSIS
ROLES MISSION PRODUCTS AND SERVICES ORGANIZATION PROCESSES INFRASTRUCTURE STRATEGY STAFF ISSUES CAPABILITIES LEARNED AFRAID
reports, conferences, face-to-face, maps, graphic presentations, training, getting MP s staff started in facebook, blogs, etc.
SERVICES ANDPRODUCTS
TYPES OF SERVICE
online, cell phone, web services, paper, face-to-face, audio
CHANNELS OF DISTRIBUTION
ROLES MISSION PRODUCTS AND SERVICES ORGANIZATION PROCESSES INFRASTRUCTURE STRATEGY STAFF ISSUES CAPABILITIES LEARNED AFRAID
ORGANIZATION
Model By Subject, Disciplines, Committees, Services, Products Pros and
Cons
Roles, responsibilities and requirements
What can and cannot be done
Analysis of models in other Libraries (benchmarking).
Listening Strategy
Consultancy
ROLES MISSION PRODUCTS AND SERVICES ORGANIZATION PROCESSES INFRASTRUCTURE STRATEGY STAFF ISSUES CAPABILITIES LEARNED AFRAID
CUSTOMER MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
Petition
Promise according to negotiated conditions
Delivery and Verfication of Satisfaction
PROCESSESMAIN
QUALITY CONTROL OF SERVICES AND PRODUCTS
prior to delivery, work is checked by supervisors
ROLES MISSION PRODUCTS AND SERVICES ORGANIZATION PROCESSES INFRASTRUCTURE STRATEGY STAFF ISSUES CAPABILITIES LEARNED AFRAID
PROCESSESMAIN
RESEARCH WORK
Define research question; select sources; find proper analysis; analyze; redact; validate; feed repository; distribute, check experience
KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
Type of customer, coverage, frequency, types of services/products, periodic reports,
and alerts.
ROLES MISSION PRODUCTS AND SERVICES ORGANIZATION PROCESSES INFRASTRUCTURE STRATEGY STAFF ISSUES CAPABILITIES LEARNED AFRAID
INFRASTRUCTURE
Web sources, free information or paid services: full text databases
Journals, books, newspapers
Repositories: cataloguing and retrieval
Physical premises
ROLES MISSION PRODUCTS AND SERVICES ORGANIZATION PROCESSES INFRASTRUCTURE STRATEGY STAFF ISSUES CAPABILITIES LEARNED AFRAID
PERSONNEL
STRATEGY
ROLES MISSION PRODUCTS AND SERVICES ORGANIZATION PROCESSES INFRASTRUCTURE STRATEGY STAFF ISSUES CAPABILITIES LEARNED AFRAID
Incorporate qualified existent staff
Hiring: acquire knowledge, experience, networks and flexibility
Train in-house in legislative management and processes
Promote collaboration and flexibility
Manage dynamics to stimulate involvement
Develop special skills: vis-a-vis members
Understand the political arena and keep updated
Make Oral Presentations for Committees
Learn Protocols for Committee sessions
Responsiveness attitude towards the client
Be an educator
STAFF CHALLENGES
ROLES MISSION PRODUCTS AND SERVICES ORGANIZATION PROCESSES INFRASTRUCTURE STRATEGY STAFF ISSUES CAPABILITIES LEARNED AFRAID
How are clients assessed?
Partnering with external centers of expertise
What are meaningful performance metrics?
How to measure service/product impact?
ON-GOING, COMPLEX
ISSUES
ROLES MISSION PRODUCTS AND SERVICES ORGANIZATION PROCESSES INFRASTRUCTURE STRATEGY STAFF ISSUES CAPABILITIES LEARNED AFRAID
ANALYTICAL CAPABILITIES TO KEEP MPS
UP-TO-DATE & INFORMED
National and neighboring country issues
Familiarity with new information and communications technologies
Openess to social collaborative networks and conversations
Strategies for anticipating public policy issues
ROLES MISSION PRODUCTS AND SERVICES ORGANIZATION PROCESSES INFRASTRUCTURE STRATEGY STAFF ISSUES CAPABILITIES LEARNED AFRAID
LESSONS LEARNED
Low profile, Do not rush, Go slowly
Let clients know about new services
What is good today, might not be tomorrow
Trust your experience and intuition
Elevator Strategy
Door to Door
ROLES MISSION PRODUCTS AND SERVICES ORGANIZATION PROCESSES INFRASTRUCTURE STRATEGY STAFF ISSUES CAPABILITIES LEARNED AFRAID
AFRAIDDO NOT BE
ROLES MISSION PRODUCTS AND SERVICES ORGANIZATION PROCESSES INFRASTRUCTURE STRATEGY STAFF ISSUES CAPABILITIES LEARNED AFRAID
Each MP is different. Nothing is fixed
An attitude of on-going exploration is needed
Constant adaptation of services and products
Limits must be in place and enforced
