Critical data use roles in public health agencies

 Technical staff
o IT Professionals
o Application developers
 Analytic staff
o Subject matter experts
o Data experts
 Management staff
o Leadership
o Managers
Roles and competencies of analytic staff
Content experts are project team members whose insights on particular public
health issue(s) ensure that the information incorporated into the digital tool
accurately represents the issue. Data experts have deep knowledge about the
tool's main data sources (such as collection methods, structure, definitions,
strengths/weaknesses). Subject experts have an extensive background in
specific conditions/diseases that are used to ensure that the tool presents and
interprets data correctly

A Data Expert has detailed knowledge about the primary data sources that may
be presented through a digital tool. For each source, they know the specific data
indicators available and the process associated with generating those data. This
knowledge provides the Data Expert with insights on the quality (completeness,
reliability, timeliness, etc.) of each source, insights that are essential for
determining what data should be incorporated into a digital tool.

Responsibilities Data Experts (together with Subject Experts) have primary responsibility
for determining digital tool content. The Data Expert:

 Advises on the availability and quality of data sources that can be incorporated into
a digital tool
 Makes data sources accessible for use by other project team members to support
design of the digital tool
 Assists in the development of protocols that regularly extract and transform data to
keep the digital tool populated with the most current data

Capabilities An effective Data Expert will have the position and/or experience necessary
to:

 Describe the range and quality of available data sources

 Identify and remedy flawed data sources (ex. how to account for
missing/incomplete data)
 Explain the structure of different sources to guide efforts to manipulate and
analyze data

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A Subject Expert has detailed knowledge about specific public health topics. The
Subject Experts knows the precise meaning of different indicators in that topical
area, valid approaches for organizing and analyzing data on these indicators, and
appropriate conclusions that can be made from these analyses..

Responsibilities Subject Experts (together with Data Experts) have primary responsibility
for determining digital tool content. The Subject Expert:

 Prioritizes data that is most relevant for understanding the public health issue(s) on
which the tool is focused
 Advises tool developers on appropriate methods for organizing, presenting, and
explaining data in the digital tool

Capabilities An effective Subject Expert will have the position and/or experience
necessary to:

 Analyze and interpret data relevant to their subject area

 Explain insights from data in ways that will be understandable to intended users of
the digital tool

Core Skills in Public Health Data Analysis

Objective:
Data analysts and program/facility officers are equipped with core concepts and
fundamental skills in public health data analysis for data dissemination and
communication.

Concepts covered:
- Data quality assessment
- Indicator development and review
- Epidemiological methods for public health data analysis
- Data visualization
- Introduction to digital tools for data dissemination
- Telling data story

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Advanced analytic techniques
Objective:
National/Central level data analysts and program managers improve their competencies in
evaluative and predictive analysis for public health decision support.

Concepts covered:
- Data integration and composite indicators for multi-dimensional assessment and
evaluation
- Inferential Statistical Methods and Modelling for Predictive Analysis
- Forecasting and time series analysis
- Geospatial analysis
- Advanced use of digital tools for public health surveillance
- Machine learning and AI for Healthcare
- Health technology assessment and evaluation
- Data Communication

Data to policy translation

Objective:
Central/regional level MOH/IPH-Batut officers and program managers develop skills for
use of existing data for evidence-based decision making in public health
Concepts covered:
- Problem framing and root cause analysis
- Stakeholder identification and analysis
- Literature search and review
- Epidemiological methods for public health policy analysis
- Data visualization
- Framing health economic analysis
- Cost analysis and health impact assessment
- Public health policy analysis
- Writing and presentation a policy brief
- Policy advocacy and communication

Roles and competencies of technical staff

Technical experts are responsible for designing all aspects of the tool (solutions
for both front-end user interface and back-end data management, as well as
automated procedures to extract updated data from their sources). The
application developer role focuses on the design of the various components of the
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digital tool. The information technology (IT) professional knows the organizational
IT environment in which the developed tool will reside and provides guidance on
solutions that will best fit this environment.

The IT Professional helps the project team conceptualize and create new digital
tools that will work effectively within the current environment and then leads the
integration of these new tools into the existing IT environment.
Responsibilities The IT Professional (together with the Application Developer) has
primary responsibility for designing and deploying solutions. The IT Professional:

 Advises on platforms, software, etc. that will work effectively within the
organization's existing IT environment
 Adapt environment to support tool development (ex. acquiring/installing new
software, designing interfaces between new tool and existing data sources)
 Develop plan to maintain and enhance the new tool after its initial deployment

Capabilities An effective IT Professional will have the position and/or experience

necessary to:

 Manage critical IT environments (ex. administration of relevant databases)

 Evaluate options for software and hardware to support the new digital tool

The Application Developer leads the process to conceptualize, mock up,

prototype, and eventual design the new digital tools a technical person with
expertise in the selected platform for development.
Responsibilities The Application Developer (together with the IT Professional) has
primary responsibility for designing and deploying solutions. The Application Developer:

 Engages with users to clarify their needs

 Collaborates with content experts to understand available data
 Leads design of tool, from mockup to deployment
 Collaborates on creation of programs to train users to utilize tool
 If Developer is an external consultant, transfers responsibility for tool maintenance
and enhancement to organization by providing documentation and technical
training

Capabilities An effective Application Developer will have the position and/or experience
necessary to:

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  Use selected platforms and software effectively and efficiently
 Design solutions with user-friendly interfaces and functionality
 Be agile and interactive throughout the development process

Roles and competencies of management staff

Institutionalized data use culture and data centered leadership are critical for sustaining
evidence-based decision-making practices at organization level. Developing data use skills
for public health executives and decision makers are usually neglected and programs that
aim to fulfil their needs in skills can be tailored as followed.

Responsibilities

Project Sponsors (together with the Project Manager) have primary responsibility to
coordinate actions needed to implement a digital tools project. The Sponsor:

Approves project parameters (organizational objective to be advanced by the new digital

tool, timeframe for completion, personnel and financial resources dedicated to the
project)

Convenes personnel whose input and/or assistance are essential to project success

Champions the project with other organizational leaders and with key external
stakeholders

Oversees project implementation and, if needed, approves changes to original

parameters (ex. extending the timeframe for completion)

Capabilities

An effective Project Sponsor will have the position and/or experience necessary to:

Express broad organizational strategic priorities and define the intended role of the digital
tools in advancing those priorities

Ensure the cooperation of personnel across all organizational levels

Secure and sustain project funding

Address major problems that arise in the project that require organizational solutions (i.e,
issues that can not be resolved by the Project Manager)

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Responsibilities Project Managers (together with the Project Sponsor) have primary
responsibility to coordinate actions needed to implement a digital tools project. The
Manager:

 Coordinates input of all interested parties to establish consensus on project

parameters (organizational objective to be advanced by the new digital tool,
timeframe for completion, personnel and financial resources dedicated to the
project)
 Develops a project plan specifying the sequence of activities to develop and deploy
the digital tool
 Manages activities of team members to implement the project plan
 Monitors project implementation, keeps all interested parties informed about
project progress and, if needed, proposes changes to original project parameters

Capabilities An effective Project Manager will have the position and/or experience
necessary to:

 Plan activities and budgets for complex, multi-actor projects

 Administer activities plans and manage budgets for complex project
 Troubleshoot issues that arise during project implementation
 Communicate effectively with diverse audiences (senior leaders, subject area
experts, technology experts, all categories of users)

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Data Centered Leadership 1 – Using data to inform decisions
Objective: Public health executives improve mastery of competencies for data driven
decision-making.
Concepts covered:
- Logic models for public health improvement
- Best practices in public health data use
- Assessing population health and risks
- Framework of indicator dashboards for public health executives
- Use of operational data for decision making
- Building a data culture
- Data review process

Intended Audience and Prerequisites

- Public health executives and decision makers

Communicating data to non-technical audiences

Objective: Public health executives effectively use data communication strategies to
inform individuals and community decisions that enhance health.
Concepts covered:
- Role of data in communication
- Basic communication model
- Communication process in acute public health situations
- Communication process in advocacy situations
- Data Presentation

Intended Audience and Prerequisites

- Policy makers, public health executives, program managers and directors who
involve in advocacy process of organization/institution

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Poll 1
Assessing current competency levels of technical and analytic staff in Serbia

Poll 2
Assessing current competency levels of management staff

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