Bristol Business School meets leaders of industry

The fourth Address in the Autumn Distinguished Executive Address Series was given by Karen Dunnell, Chief Executive, Office for National Statistics (ONS) and National Statistician entitled ‘Providing Leadership and Strategic Direction for Statistics’.  

Karen outlined the role of the ONS and briefly described some of its major projects, for example, the national census and inputs to the National accounts such as GDP. The ONS is much more than just data gathering – it is also analysis and ‘picture painting’, using the data to understand what is happening. Therefore the work of the ONS is to add value.

The ONS has many diverse users and she stressed the need to provide statistics for the public good. She stated that statistical gathering and analysis are globally orientated where best practice is shared between users. In addition she referred to the role of international agencies such as OECD and the UN that set preparatory guidelines and parameters.

Dunnell then described the model used to provide leadership in the civil service and related the model to the ONS.  The model focuses on:

• Results delivery measured by

• output - often provided to a time line but always high quality
• Impact - where there is an awareness of the service to stakeholders
• leadership provided by an active role on international bodies such as Eurostat
• managing the media (reliance on the media to publicise reports)

• Integrity measured by a code of practice, confidentiality and freedom from the political process

• Capability measured by the cultivation of innovativeness and creativity, and by getting the best from every member of staff.

• Direction – all understand the goals of the ONS and the various large projects that are underway.

She explained how she saw the fit between the activities of the ONS and the model. The challenges inherent in the model were referred to as well as the constituent attributes of leadership in the Civil Service: pride, passion, pace and professionalism.

The Distinguished Executive Address Series, Autumn 2008