“MEASURING THE INFORMATION SOCIETY” Geneva, February 7-9 2005

1. “MEASURING THE INFORMATION SOCIETY”Geneva, February 7-9 2005 METHODOLOGIES AND MODEL QUESTIONS: BUSINESS CORE ICT INDICATORS Sheridan Roberts OECD

2. Overview • Business ICT use indicators • collection methodologies for surveys of business ICT use • particular statistical issues associated • statistical unit • survey scope and coverage • classificatory variables • suggested question wording corresponding to the core indicators. • ICT sector indicators • defining the ICT sector • a classification for ICT goods.

3. Business ICT use indicators • Core indicators B-1 to B-12

4. Main basis for suggestions • previous WPIIS work leading to a model questionnaire for measuring ICT usage and electronic commerce in enterprises (2001) • current work on revising that model questionnaire (2005) • work done by Eurostat and individual OECD member countries • Suggestions made in the presentation and paper are likely to change: • with input from other countries • when the OECD model survey is finalised.

5. Suggestions - methodology • Some general suggestions are offered in the OECD paper... • but they are not comprehensive nor detailed – many participating countries will have surveys and procedures in place • economy-wide business surveys, or sector surveys for national accounts data. • Issues raised include: • collection methods (mail-out/mail-back and others) • units: enterprise used by most OECD countries • frequency and reference period/date.

6. Particular statistical issues • Measuring Internet commerce • Measuring broadband • Measuring interaction with government • Choice of denominator for indicators

7. Survey scope and coverage • Type of organisation • Industry (activity) scope • Question: should it include: Agriculture? Finance? Community and personal services? • Size scope • Question: what should it be? Should it include non-employers? small employers (<10)? • Geographic scope and coverage

8. Suggested output classifications • Industry • Manufacturing (ISIC D) • Construction (ISIC F) • Wholesale and retail trade (ISIC G) • Hotels and restaurants (ISIC H) • Transport, storage and communications (ISIC I) • Real estate, renting and business services (ISIC K). • Size (number of employees) • Could also base on income but this is not done by most OECD countries • Ranges: 0? 1-4? 5-9? 10-49, 50-249, 250 or more

9. Questions corresponding to core indicators • Did your business use computer/s during <period>? B1 • What proportion of persons employed in your business used a computer as part of their normal work routine during <period>? B2 • Did your business use the Internet during <period>? B3 • What proportion of persons employed in your business used the Internet as part of their normal work routine during <period>? B4 • How did your business connect to the Internet during <period>? B9 • Which of the following information technologies, if any, did your business have in place as at <reference date>? • Internet email, intranet, extranet, LAN • Did your business have a Web presence as at <reference date>? B5

10. Questions corresponding to core indicators • For which of the following activities did your business use the Internet during <period>? B12 • For getting information (on products, from government, other) • For Internet banking or other financial services • For dealing with government • For providing customer services • For delivering products on-line (digitised products, on-line services) • Did your business place orders for goods or services (that is, make purchases) via the Internet during <period>? B8 • Did your business receive orders (that is, make sales) via the Internet during <period>? B7

11. Other questions • Information is also needed for classification purposes • Suggested questions are: • Activity of the business • Number of employed persons at <date> • But these will often be available from another source (for instance, a business register) so may not need to be asked for.

12. ICT sector indicators • Core indicators ICT-1 to ICT-4

13. Definition of the ICT sector • Needed for indicators ICT-1 and ICT-2 • WPIIS agreed on a definition of the ICT sector in 1998 and revised it slightly in 2002. • The sector consists of manufacturing and services industries whose products capture, transmit or display data and information electronically.

14. ICT sector definition – based on ISIC Rev 3.1

15. ICT sector definition – based on ISIC Rev 3.1

16. ICT goods • Classification is needed for indicators ICT-3 and ICT-4 • OECD classification, 2003, guiding principles • ICT goods must either be intended to fulfil the function of information processing and communication by electronic means, including transmission and display, OR • Use electronic processing to detect, measure and/or record physical phenomena, or to control a physical process

17. ICT goods classification • Based on six-digit Harmonized System • Broad groupings are • telecommunications equipment • computer and related equipment • electronic components • audio and video equipment • other ICT goods • The complete classification is annexed to the OECD paper. • Question: Which ICT goods classification should be used?

18. Thank you • Please feel free to send me any comments e.g. on discussion issues raised in the paper or presentation