1. Business Performance group update
By the end of August all our initial releases for the 2005 data collections will be published. Some of these were delayed by up to 4 months due to delays experienced in the development of the new systems.
Post out has now commenced for the 2006 collections. This year’s work sees the development of one new part to the Business Operations survey for 2007 – the focus of this will be on exporting.
Over the coming year the group is looking to participate in more research and analytical projects. The first such project will be working with an OECD working group looking at innovation. By being part of this group the aim is to allow us to contribute to the work as well and ensuring the good benchmarks are developed between the New Zealand data in other countries.
As always we welcome feedback – what you have found useful, what we could be doing more of and what we could have done better.
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2. Information and communication technologies: development programme
Information and communication technology supply
The first annual ICT Supply Survey: 2004/2005 was published on 27 July 2006. It is the first release of the new survey that replaces the IT Survey (1993–2004). The new design surveys a wider range of industries involved in the production and selling of information and communication technology goods and services. The design brings this industry survey in line with current international best practice. Although the previous IT Survey measured some of the commodities included in the new ICT Supply Survey, they are not directly comparable.
The ICT Supply Survey’s wider industrial classifications now include businesses associated with the electronics and other ICT industries that were not in scope for the IT Survey. There is also a greater variety of commodities in the new ICT Supply Survey and existing commodity classifications have been redefined.
Results from the 2004/05 ICT Supply Survey were released on 27 July 2006.
The questionnaire for the 2006 ICT Supply Survey will be posted to businesses during August 2006 and results will be published in April 2007.
For further information, contact Peter McGinty (info@stats.govt.nz).
Internet service providers
The six-monthly Internet Service Provider (ISP) Survey measures Internet service provision in New Zealand. The survey looks at Internet subscriber information, Internet connection technology and speed, spam, virus and content filtering, and barriers to Internet service provider growth.
Results from the third survey which covers the six-month period to March 2006 were published in 16 August 2006. The results from the second survey (covering the six-month period to September 2005) were published in March 2006.
We are currently revising the questionnaire. We will continue to collect current information but we are very interested in hearing from users of the ISP data to discuss any additions or modifications to the survey which would make it more suited to users’ needs.
For further information, contact Anna Thorburn (info@stats.govt.nz).
Household use of ICT
The two-yearly Household Use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) survey is currently under development. The purpose of the survey is to measure the characteristics of the households and individuals that use ICT. This includes penetration and use of the Internet and commerce activities conducted via the Internet. The survey will cover other key components of ICT such as the use of mobile phones. A major aim of the survey is to provide internationally comparable statistics in this area.
A field test for the survey has just been completed. The purpose of this testing was to ascertain any alterations and improvements to the survey needed before going ‘live’ into the field. The questionnaire is now being finalised, incorporating feedback from this process.
The survey is due to go into the field at the beginning of October 2006 and will be a supplement to the Household Labour Force Survey (HLFS). Publication of results from the survey will be released in April 2007. The Household Use of ICT survey will then be conducted every 2 years.
For further information, contact Steve Riley or Gareth Meech (info@stats.govt.nz).
Business use of ICT
Data regarding New Zealand businesses’ use of ICT will be collected biennially, as one module of three within the annual Business Operations Survey (BOS). The first data for the business use of ICT module will be collected during BOS 2006, to be posted out in August 2006. Results will be published in the second quarter of 2007. Collecting this information as part of BOS will allow us to analyse any relationship between the use of ICT and firm performance, across a full range of industries and sectors. This survey module is being developed in collaboration with the Ministry of Economic Development and the State Services Commission.
BOS will provide information to benchmark New Zealand ICT use against use in other countries. When combined with the new household and government ICT use surveys, this information will establish a clear measure of the use of ICT in New Zealand.
For further information, contact Anna Thorburn (info@stats.govt.nz).
Government use of ICT
The two-yearly Government Use of ICT Survey has been designed to build a picture of the use of Information and Communications Technologies by government sector organisations in New Zealand and has been developed with the Ministry of Economic Development and the State Services Commission. Information from this survey will be used to inform government policy, create a benchmark from which international comparisons can be drawn, and provide data against which future ICT developments can be compared. When combined with the new household and business use surveys, this information on government organisations’ use of ICT will establish a clear measure of the use of ICT in New Zealand.
Specifically, the survey will collect information on:
- use of computers, networks, the Internet, and other ICTs
- data exchange via ICT
- ICT security
- websites
- ICT training, development and support
- purchases, procurement and receipts via ICT
- ICT investment and
- barriers to the uptake of new ICT.
It will also show how new technologies are changing the way government organisations carry out their roles.
The Government Use of ICT Survey is due to be posted out in August 2006, and biannually thereafter. Results from the 2006 survey are due to be released in the second quarter of 2007.
For further information, contact Irene Rix (info@stats.govt.nz).
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3. Business operations
The Business Operations Survey (BOS) is a modular survey, developed by Statistics NZ to give current and accurate information on how New Zealand businesses operate, and what is important to their success. The Business Performance Newsletter – August 2005 has more information on the background to this survey.
Results from BOS 2005, which has modules on innovation (planned to run every second year, on odd years) and business practices, were released on 22 August 2006. A full Innovation in New Zealand 2005 report will be published in the second half of 2006, and further reports examining the practices and performance data will follow.
The BOS 2006 questionnaire includes modules on businesses’ use of ICT (planned to run every second year, on even years) and employment practices. This questionnaire will be posted out in mid-August 2006 and results will be published in the second quarter of 2007.
For further information, contact Hamish Hill (info@stats.govt.nz).
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4. Screen industry
The annual screen industry survey will produce information to help government and other organisations to develop a better understanding of the screen industry in New Zealand. The survey is a census sent to businesses directly involved in the production and development of screen projects, to enhance understanding of the nature of the industry, its contribution to the economy and its potential for growth.
A published paper outlines the background to the screen production industry and justification for a survey of this nature. Results from the first survey were released on 31 August 2006. A detailed research report will be published in December 2006.
The 2006 post-out in mid-August went to a total population of 2,402 enterprises. The survey response rate is targeted to be reached by the 22nd of December for an information release at the beginning of May 2007.
For further information, contact Coral Aldridge (info@stats.govt.nz).
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5. Biotechnology
The complete results of the Biotechnology Survey 2005 were released in the Biotechnology in New Zealand 2005 research report in June 2006. The next Biotechnology Survey will be run in August 2007.
For further information, contact Nicholas Cox (info@stats.govt.nz).
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6. Research and development
The Research and Development (R&D) Survey is a joint collection conducted every two years by Statistics New Zealand and the Ministry of Research, Science and Technology (MoRST).
The R&D Survey 2006 will be posted out in August to private sector enterprises, government departments and government-owned trading entities. It collects information on R&D expenditure, R&D employment and R&D funding in New Zealand.
The Higher Education sector collection will be conducted in March 2005.
Results from the R&D Survey 2006 are expected to be released in May 2007 in an Hot Off The Press information release, followed by a full research report in August. A copy of the research report released in 2004.
For further information, contact Nicholas Cox (info@stats.govt.nz)
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7. Improved business understanding via longitudinal database development
The initial database build has been completed with the work on database coverage, business rules and linkages also being produced.
Metadata on the data sources has been produced and will continue to be enhanced over the coming months.
The first iteration of the summary statistical reports covering all data sources has been produced.
Initial thinking around the creation of a longitudinal enterprise has begun. This is being discussed with colleagues in Business Demography business unit and other linked areas in Statistics New Zealand, as well as with other agencies.
For further information, click here or contact Claire Powell (info@stats.govt.nz).
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8. Who’s who in business performance
Eileen Basher, Manager
Gareth Meech, Project Leader Surveys
Hamish Hill, Business Operations, Project Leader
Nicholas Cox, R&D and Biotechnology Project Leader
Anna Thorburn, Internet Service Providers and Business Use of ICT Project Leader
Peter McGinty ICT Supply Project Leader
Coral Aldridge, Screen Industry Project Leader
Irene Rix, Government Use of ICT Project Leader and Questionnaire Design
Daniel Martin, Statistical Analyst, R&D and Screen Industry
Carmel Tuya, Statistical Analyst, ICT Supply
Julia Gretton, Statistical Analyst, Business Operations
Steve Riley, Household Use of ICT Questionnaire Design
Meighan Ragg, Statistical Analyst, Questionnaire Design
Claire Powell, Project Manager, IBULDD
Antony Kennedy, Statistical Analyst, IBULDD
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