1. Business Performance group update
Greetings, and my name is Gary Dunnet, and I started as Manager of Business Performance and Agriculture on Monday 5 November. I have over 12 years experience in Statistics New Zealand, mainly as a methodologist, but also six years in national statistical offices in Ireland and Australia and believe my experience will be relevant to this work area. The first few months in the role has been spent coming to terms with the subject matter, survey life-cycles and working with the staff.
I hope you enjoy this quarterly newsletter, some of the highlights include reports in various subject areas, such as:
- Internet Service Providers
- Information and Communication Technology
- Screen Industry
- Research and Development
- Potential Outputs from the Longitudinal Business Database
Details of our surveys that are undergoing reviews over the next few months and how to provide feedback and of changes within the team are also detailed.
As I am new, I would really appreciate your views on this newsletter, the format, the information contained within it, frequency etc. I certainly do see this newsletter as an important communication vehicle, but would like to know of possible areas for improvement. Please email me gary.dunnet@stats.govt.nz.
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2. Information and communication technologies programme
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, email and web content filtering, and barriers to ISP growth.
Results covers the six-month period to March 2007 were published on 2 August 2007 –Internet Service Provider Survey: March 2007. Some of the highlights are Non-analog (broadband) users have increased 18.5 percent to 724,600 and 90 percent of broadband subscribers had a data allowance cap, down from 97.6 percent six months earlier.
The September 2007 ISP Survey is currently in the collection phase and the results will be published in March 2008
In the near future we will be revising the questionnaire. While we will continue to collect current information, we are interested in hearing from any users of the ISP data to discuss additions or modifications which would better suit their needs.
For further information, contact Guannan Miao (info@stats.govt.nz).
Information and communication technologies supply
The objectives of the Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) Supply Survey are to provide the value of the overall size of the ICT Supply market and to determine the value of ICT commodities.
The ICT Supply Survey 2006/2007 is currently in the data collection phase. About 2,900 questionnaires were posted out in August this year and the results will be published in April 2008
The previous information release was published on 17 April 2007 – (Information and Communications Technology Supply Survey: 2005/2006)
For further information, contact Guannan Miao (info@stats.govt.nz).
Household use of ICT
The ICT Survey 2006 report was published on 22 November 2007. This report combines data sourced from specific ICT surveys including the Household Use of ICT Survey and is supplemented with data from other Statistics NZ data sources
Being a bi-annual survey, the team is also looking at finalising the collection quarter for the next Household Use of ICT Survey due out in the field in 2008/2009.
For further information, contact Korena Cunnigham (info@stats.govt.nz).
Government use of ICT
The Government Use of ICT Survey is a bi-annual survey that collects information on the use of different ICTs by government organisations, and will give an indication of how new technologies are facilitating government activities.
The results from 2006 have been compared with household and business use of ICT in the ICT Survey 2006, mentioned above.
The survey will undergo a review before finalising the design of the 2008 Government Use of ICT Survey. Any comments or suggestions about the survey design or data uses would be greatly appreciated, with feedback being sought from now until the end of December.
For further information, contact Meighan Ragg (info@stats.govt.nz).
Business use of ICT
Data regarding New Zealand businesses’ use of ICT is collected biennially, as one of three modules within the annual Business Operations Survey (BOS). The initial BOS results were published in April. The ICT in New Zealand 2006 report has investigated the data further including comparison and contrast with government organisations from the Government Use of ICT Survey (2006). The team is also investigating the relationships between the business use of ICT data and the other general business performance data that is enabled by the modular design of the BOS survey.
For further information, contact Hamish Hill (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.
The BOS 2005 questionnaire had modules on innovation and business practices, while the 2006 questionnaire included modules on business use of ICT and employment practices. The BOS 2007 questionnaire includes modules on innovation and international engagement (exporting, importing and overseas operations). This is currently in the field and results will be published from April 2008.
The 2008 questionnaire is currently being developed and will include the existing module on business use of ICT, together with a new one to examine the impact of skills shortages on businesses
A range of outputs have been produced using BOS data. All are available on Statistics New Zealand’s website and can be accessed from here.
For further information, contact Hamish Hill (info@stats.govt.nz)
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4. Screen industry
The Statistics New Zealand Screen Industry report was released on 26 October - Screen Industry in New Zealand: 2006. This report provides additional analysis on the nature of screen activities in New Zealand comparing screen industry business revenue in the 2005 financial year with 2006. Seventy percent of businesses that earned between $1 million and $9.9 million also earned that in 2006, while earnings for 7 percent of those businesses decreased to between $0.5 million and $0.9 million. Furthermore, for 10 percent of businesses, revenue has increased to between $10 million and $49.9 million.
The Screen Industry Survey has completed two collections for 2005 and 2006, and the 2007 survey is currently in the field. To ensure the survey is delivering data to support the original objectives, Statistics NZ is reviewing the survey for potential changes to the 2008 financial year survey.
For further information, contact Deborah Harkin (info@stats.govt.nz).
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5. Research and development
Research and Development (R&D) in New Zealand 2006 survey report was released on 17 September 2007. This report provides detailed information on R&D activity for the 2006 reference year. The report and highlights can be found at www.stats.govt.nz.
Statistics New Zealand is currently working with other agencies to develop the next R&D survey, to be run in 2008. Aspects being examined are:
- Reviewing data collected in light of the tax credits to be introduced for business R&D from 2008/09. More information can be found at www.treasury.govt.nz.
- Alignment of data collected on research objectives with those from the revised Australian and New Zealand Standard Research Classification.
- The future scope of the higher education component of the collection.
- The feasibility of using survey data for a future R&D extension to National Accounts.
For further information, contact Ritesh Anand (info@stats.govt.nz).
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6. Biotechnology
The 2007 the Biotechnology Survey is in the field at the moment, with the collection phase due to close in December. Information from this collection is due to be released in April 2008. This iteration includes some new questions to collect regional data about the biotechnology industry, focusing on areas of application, expenditure and employees and a new question about partnerships and alliances. It is hoped that this will fill information gaps that were identified from previous collections.
For further information, contact Meighan Ragg (info@stats.govt.nz).
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7. Improved Business Understanding via Longitudinal Database Development
Statistics New Zealand published the report "Potential Outputs from the Longitudinal Business Database" on 12 December 2007, bringing the IBULDD project to a successful conclusion.
Statistics New Zealand wishes to thank everyone who provided input and financial support for this project both within New Zealand and abroad.
As the International Peer Group Reviewers pointed out, IBULDD is unique and world class. On the international front, we have been talking to colleagues in Statistics Canada about IBULDD as they are looking at the feasibility of running a similar project. Statistics New Zealand are happy to share experiences and lessons learnt from the IBULDD project with other National Statistical Offices attempting to build a longitudinal business database.
For further information, contact Claire Powell (info@stats.govt.nz).
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8. Research projects
Work continued a pace in the last quarter on the OECD Innovation Indicators Project which Statistics New Zealand, the Ministry of Economic Development (MED) and The Treasury are currently working on together. The objectives of this project are to investigate new innovation indicators and to use microdata to develop some international benchmarks. Outputs were presented in Paris at the "OECD Micro Innovation Conference" 12 to 16 November 2007.
Please contact Richard.Fabling@stats.govt.nz for further details
The other joint agency project that is currently being worked on is looking at government assistance to business and the impact that has. This project uses the IBULDD work as part of its data source. The agencies involved are MED; MoRST; New Zealand Trade and Enterprise; Te Puni Kōkiri; the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology; the Department of Labour; and the Ministry of Social Development. Input data has been assembled and the research report produced.
Please contact Philip.Stevens@med.govt.nz for further details
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9. Who’s who in Business Performance
Gary Dunnet, Manager Business Performance and Agriculture
Stephanie Cropp, ICT Project Manager
Korena Cunningham, ICT Project Leader
Guannan Miao, ISP and ICT Supply Project Leader
Deborah Harkin, Screen Industry Project Leader
Will Lu, Screen Industry Statistical Analyst
Hamish Hill, Science and Technology Project Manager
Meighan Ragg, Biotechnology and Government Use of ICT Project Leader
Ritesh Anand, Research and Development Project Leader
Catherine Li, Business Operations Statistical Analyst
Kathy Jackson, Business Operation Statistical Analyst
Elizabeth Chisholm, Questionnaire Design
Claire Powell, IBULDD Project Manager
Julia Gretton, IBULDD Statistical Analyst
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