Statistical Clearing House

ABARE survey of businesses in Australia's mining technology services sector, 2002

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• Overview *** You are here ***
• Contact Information
  
• Summary
  
• Reference Period & Frequency
  
• Response Rates
  
• Clearance Information
• Quality Framework
• A. General Information
• B. User Requirements, Survey Objectives and Budget
• C. Alternative Sources of Data
• D. Data Outputs
• E. Questionnaire Design and Data Collection
• F. Respondent Load
• G. Population / Frame
• H. Sample Design
• I. Estimation and Analysis

Overview

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Contact Information

	Portfolio:	Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
	Agency:	ABARE - Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics
	Contact Person...	Name:	Leanna Tedesco
		Email:	leanna.tedesco@abare.gov.au
		Phone:	02 6272 2295 (International +61)

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Summary

On 6 June 2001, the Minister for Industry, Science and Resources announced the Mining Technology Services Action Agenda (MTSAA). This action agenda aims to define the Australian Mining Technology Services (MTS) sector, understand the current behaviour of the sector, its growth and export potential over the next five years. To address these issues the action agenda has identified five key areas that need to be targeted: Response to the globalisation challenge. Technology, R&D development and co-ordination. Improving industry market share and competitiveness. Education and training. Promotion and marketing. A team of industry and government representatives has been formed to provide co-ordinated responses to these five key areas. The Strategic Leaders Group (SLG) consists of MTS sector companies, representative industry organisations, research institutions, and Commonwealth government department members. More specific information on the MTSAA can be found at the website www.isr.gov.au/agendas/sectors/MiningTechnology.html. The MTS survey is a key mechanism that will provide important economic and policy information on the Australian MTS sector to the Commonwealth government, MTSAA team, and industry to enable informed strategic/policy decisions to be made. The survey results will be aggregated to produce industry-wide statistics, and then ultimately published as an ABARE research report. This report will be released by October 2002. The objective of the ABARE survey is to collect key information on MTS companies. In particular, the survey will collect information on: Defining the MTS sector. Identifying area(s) of application in the mining industry. Areas of Australian expertise that can be marketed both domestically and internationally. Past, present and future activity in the MTS sector regarding domestic and export sales revenue. Growth of the sector over a 10 year period. Australian and foreign ownership of companies. Location of business operations and reasons for choice of business location. Flow of sales (direct and indirect) to the mining industry. Main export markets. Size of company. Level of employee education and training and likely impediments. Availability and discipline of employees. Knowledge of current training programs. Research and development expenditure, collaboration possibilities and likely impediments. Protection and sources of competitive advantage. Use of the internet for business transactions (sales and purchases). Possible marketing mediums. Participants’ views are also collected on what are the most important issues the MTSAA should focus on, and whether their company is willing to participate in workshops that will work towards achieving the outcomes set by the MTSAA.. The questionnaire has been divided into five sections: Australian MTS production and exports. Employment, education and training. Research and development. Internet commerce, promotion and marketing. Competitiveness and other issues. These areas aim to provide a general overview of the Australian mining technology services sector. This includes defining the MTS sector, sales revenue, size and location of business, export earnings, export regions, employee education and training issues, availability and discipline of employees, research and development, protection and sources of competitive advantage, internet sales activity, marketing mediums, and MTSAA issues. The survey will be sent to respondents by e-mail or post, where e-mail is the preferred method of despatch.

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Reference Period & Frequency

	Reference Period:	2002
	Frequency:	Once only

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Response Rates

			As planned	Actual
	Number of businesses...
	Contacted:		487	490
	Live and in scope:		438	407
	Responding:		244	216
	Average time to complete questionnaire:		30 mins	38 mins
	Statistics...
	Response rate:		56%	53%

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Clearance Information

	Survey reviewed by
	Stat. Clearing House:	2002
	Status:	Approved
	Approval period:	Year ending December 2002
	For additional clearance information, please contact the Statistical Clearing House by phone, fax, post or email.

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ABARE survey of businesses in Australia's mining technology services sector, 2002

Quality Framework
This data quality framework has been published internationally (Brackstone G., Managing Data Quality in a Statistical Agency, (1999) Survey Methodology, Vol. 25, no. 2, Statistics Canada) and has been recommended by the ANAO as 'better practice' in specifying performance measures (ATO Performance Reporting under the Outcomes and Outputs Framework, Australian Taxation Office, Audit Report No.46 2000-01, pp63-64.) on advice from the ABS Statistical Consultancy Unit.

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Relevance

The relevance of statistical information reflects the degree to which it meets the needs of the clients. It is usually described in terms of key user needs, key concepts and classifications used, the scope of the collection and the reference period.

Why do you need to conduct a survey? (B1)

On 6 June 2001, the Minister for Industry, Science and Resources announced the Mining Technology Services Action Agenda (MTSAA). This action agenda aims to define the Australian Mining Technology Services (MTS) sector, understand the current behaviour of the sector, its growth and export potential over the next five years. To address these issues the action agenda has identified five key areas that need to be targeted:

• Response to the globalisation challenge.
• Technology, R&D development and co-ordination.
• Improving industry market share and competitiveness.
• Education and training.
• Promotion and marketing.

A team of industry and government representatives has been formed to provide co-ordinated responses to these five key areas. The Strategic Leaders Group (SLG) consists of MTS sector companies, representative industry organisations, research institutions, and Commonwealth government department members. More specific information on the MTSAA can be found at the website www.isr.gov.au/agendas/sectors/MiningTechnology.html.

The MTS survey is a key mechanism that will provide important economic and policy information on the Australian MTS sector to the Commonwealth government, MTSAA team, and industry to enable informed strategic/policy decisions to be made. The survey results will be aggregated to produce industry-wide statistics, and then ultimately published as an ABARE research report. This report will be released by October 2002.

The objective of the ABARE survey is to collect key information on MTS companies. In particular, the survey will collect information on:

• Defining the MTS sector.
• Identifying area(s) of application in the mining industry.
• Areas of Australian expertise that can be marketed both domestically and internationally.
• Past, present and future activity in the MTS sector regarding domestic and export sales revenue.
• Growth of the sector over a 10 year period.
• Australian and foreign ownership of companies.
• Location of business operations and reasons for choice of business location.
• Flow of sales (direct and indirect) to the mining industry.
• Main export markets.
• Size of company.
• Level of employee education and training and likely impediments.
• Availability and discipline of employees.
• Knowledge of current training programs.
• Research and development expenditure, collaboration possibilities and likely impediments.
• Protection and sources of competitive advantage.
• Use of the internet for business transactions (sales and purchases).
• Possible marketing mediums.

Participants’ views are also collected on what are the most important issues the MTSAA should focus on, and whether their company is willing to participate in workshops that will work towards achieving the outcomes set by the MTSAA..

How will the survey outputs meet the needs specified in B1? (B2)

The questionnaire has been divided into five sections:

• Australian MTS production and exports.
• Employment, education and training.
• Research and development.
• Internet commerce, promotion and marketing.
• Competitiveness and other issues.
  
  These areas aim to provide a general overview of the Australian mining technology services sector. This includes defining the MTS sector, sales revenue, size and location of business, export earnings, export regions, employee education and training issues, availability and discipline of employees, research and development, protection and sources of competitive advantage, internet sales activity, marketing mediums, and MTSAA issues.
  
  The survey will be sent to respondents by e-mail or post, where e-mail is the preferred method of despatch.
  
  
  

What are the principal outputs or data items to be produced? (D1)

The questionnaire has been divided into five sections:

§ Australian MTS production and exports
§ Employment, education and training
§ Research and development
§ Internet commerce, promotion and marketing
§ Competitiveness and other issues.

These areas aim to provide a general overview of the Australian mining technology services sector. This includes defining the MTS sector, sales revenue, size and location of business, export earnings, export regions, employee education and training issues, availability and discipline of employees, research and development, protection and sources of competitive advantage, internet sales activity, marketing mediums, and MTSAA issues.

For qualitative questions, responses will be summarised using histograms. For quantitative questions, responses will be summarised using histograms, descriptive statistics, economic indices, and possibly some basic statistical analyses will be performed. Results may be analysed according to different regions, type of MTS good/service, mining stage, mining resource, and size of business. For the questions that require brief responses, results will be summarised. Aggregated results will be presented in an ABARE research report to DITR.

The objective of the ABARE survey is to collect key information on MTS companies. In particular, the survey will collect information on:
§ Defining the MTS sector
§ Identifying area(s) of application in the mining industry
§ Areas of Australian expertise that can be marketed both domestically and internationally
§ Past, present and future activity in the MTS sector regarding domestic and export sales revenue
§ Growth of the sector over a 10 year period
§ Australian and foreign ownership of companies
§ Location of business operations and reasons for choice of business location
§ Flow of sales (direct and indirect) to the mining industry
§ Main export markets
§ Size of company
§ Level of employee education and training and likely impediments
§ Availability and discipline of employees
§ Knowledge of current training programs
§ Research and development expenditure, collaboration possibilities and likely impediments
§ Protection and sources of competitive advantage
§ Use of the internet for business transactions (sales and purchases)
§ Possible marketing mediums

Participants’ views are also collected on what are the most important issues the MTSAA should focus on, and whether their company is willing to participate in workshops that will work towards achieving the outcomes set by the MTSAA..

What statistical data analysis techniques will be performed? (I7)

The analysis may include the application of regression and econometric analyses. These techniques may be used to forecast domestic and export sales revenue based on the quantitative information obtained from the completed surveys.

What consideration has been given to the use of standards? Please specify. (D2)

The ABS does not publish MTS sector specific information. Instead the ABS uses defined ANZSIC industry codes. Currently the MTS sector is classified into several different ANZSIC codes. The MTS survey will attempt to link survey results to ABS ANZSIC codes to enable some ABS data, such as exports, to be used. This will be completed by classifying key industry segments using ANZSIC industry code definitions and then linking the obtained information to 3 digit ANZSIC codes.

What is the target population (scope) for the survey? (G1)

The target population includes companies with Australian operations that may be considered members of the Australian mining technology services sector.

How will you obtain the list of businesses (frame) from which the sample is to be selected? (G2)

A list has been compiled from information obtained from DITR, mining suppliers’ guides, membership lists of industry associations, industry publications, and supplementary information compiled by members of the MTSAA team.

What is the type of unit on the frame to be used for the survey? (G3)

An Australian mining technology services company.

What is (are) the method(s) of collecting the data (eg self-completion, telephone interviewing, face to face interviewing, etc)? Why was it (were they) chosen? (E3)

The only method available is self-completion given the questionnaire is straightforward.

To what reference period(s) does the survey refer? (A6)

Financial year.

Is the survey to be conducted once only or repeated? If repeated, with what frequency is the survey to be repeated? (A8)

Current funding suggests the survey will be conducted only once.


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Accessibility



The accessibility of statistical information refers to the ease with which it can be referenced by users. It includes the ease with which the existence of information can be ascertained, as well as the suitability of the form or medium through which the information can be accessed.

How will the results of the survey be explained / presented to the major users? (I8)

For qualitative questions, responses will be summarised using histograms. For quantitative questions, responses will be summarised using graphs such as histograms, descriptive statistics, economic indices, and some statistical/econometric analyses may be performed to derive an outlook for the sector. Results may be analysed according to different regions, type of MTS good/service, mining stage, mining resource, and size of business. For the questions that require brief responses, results will be summarised. Aggregated results will be presented in an ABARE research report to DITR.

Which agency and area is responsible for the survey? (A2)

ABARE
International Trade and Industries Directorate.

Who is the survey manager and principal contact person for survey clearance? (A3)

Leanna Tedesco
Telephone : (02) 6272 2295
E-mail: leanna.tedesco@abare.gov.au

What commitments have been made to preserve the confidentiality of respondents? How will these be implemented? (F3)

Access to details of respondents is restricted. There is no external (non ABARE) access to ABARE data. Information will only be used in an aggregated form in the ABARE research report.

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Timeliness



The timeliness of statistical information refers to the delay between the reference point to which it pertains and the date on which the information becomes available.

To what reference peiod(s) does the survey refer? (A6)

Financial year.

What is the timetable for the survey? (B3)

The survey will be sent to respondents as close to 28 February 2002 as possible. The completion date will be set at 3-4 weeks after the date the surveys are sent. Aggregated results will be presented in an ABARE research report due to DITR by October 2002.

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Accuracy



The accuracy of statistical information is the degree to which the information correctly describes the phenomena it was designed to measure. It includes measures of both sampling and non-sampling error.

What is the expected total number of businesses you will attempt to contact (ie total sample size initially drawn)? How has this been set? (H4)

Since the survey is a census, the total number of mining technology services companies that will be sent a survey is 487, which is the same number as in question G4.

What allowances will be made for potential sources of non-sampling error in estimation? (I6)

N/A

Of the number of businesses reported in H5, how many businesses are expected to respond (ie the responding sample size)? (H6)

It is hoped that all units will respond to the survey. A target response rate of 50% - 75% has been set.

What allowances have been made for expected non-response and frame deficiencies in the sample design? (H8)

N/A

In what ways does the coverage provided by the frame differ from the target population? (G6)

There may be a proportion of companies on the frame that may not belong to the MTS sector, may be out of business or may have been merged/acquired. The completed MTS surveys will provide the necessary details to update our MTS company database.

What quality control procedures will there be for data entry and coding? (I3)

Information on completed questionnaires will be checked for accuracy when the data is entered.

What testing of the questionnaire(s) has (have) taken place? (E5)

Officers at DITR have provided feedback and ABARE field staff have provided advice on the survey design. The survey was also sent to four test companies on 21 February 2002. These test companies returned the completed surveys within a couple of days and ABARE then made a follow-up telephone call to obtain feedback on survey design. As a result of this feedback some minor changes have been made to the survey. These changes include clarifying the description of some questions, incorporating additional question responses such as “not applicable” and “uncertain”, removing misleading information such as ANZSIC codes, and incorporating additional (sub) questions that target key areas.

Overall respondents were able to efficiently answer the questionnaire. They also provided positive feedback on the survey design, the question structure and the Action Agenda process.

What consultations have taken place, other than testing, with businesses or business associations regarding availability of data items and data collection methods? (E6)

The MTS survey has been discussed with members of the MTSAA team. This group includes representative MTS sector companies, industry organisations and government representatives. They have provided comments on the survey design and the survey process, and their feedback has been incorporated appropriately. Again positive feedback has been received.

Members of the MTSAA team have also provided input into compiling the list of MTS sector companies that will receive the survey.

How many units are there on the frame? (G4)

There are 487 mining technology services companies on the frame.

What actions have been taken to overcome known frame deficiencies? (G7)

A review process has been employed to make sure company details are correct and up to date and to minimise company misclassification. This process includes the removal of duplicate companies, the removal of companies not considered part of the MTS sector, and a procedure to check that company details are correct and relevant.

Of the total number of businesses reported in H4, how many businesses are expected to be live and in scope? (H5)

Greater than or equal to 90% of companies are expected to be live and in scope. This estimate has allowed for a 10% error for companies that were included in the MTS sector but should not have been, companies that may no longer be in business, and companies that may have been merged/acquired.

What evidence is there that the expected respondents will be representative of non-respondents? (H7)

There is no evidence available at this stage. However, by completing a census of the MTS sector we are hoping to capture a diverse cross-section of companies that will cover the complete good/service range. Also, we are aiming for a fairly high response rate which should minimise non-response bias as much as possible.

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Interpretability



The interpretability of statistical information reflects the availability of the supplementary information and metadata necessary to interpret and utilise it appropriately. It includes appropriate presentation of data such that it aids correction interpretation.

How will the results of the survey be explained / presented to the major users? (I8)

For qualitative questions, responses will be summarised using histograms. For quantitative questions, responses will be summarised using graphs such as histograms, descriptive statistics, economic indices, and some statistical/econometric analyses may be performed to derive an outlook for the sector. Results may be analysed according to different regions, type of MTS good/service, mining stage, mining resource, and size of business. For the questions that require brief responses, results will be summarised. Aggregated results will be presented in an ABARE research report to DITR.

What sample design will be used, eg, census, stratified simple random sample? (H1)

The collection is aiming to be a census of companies belonging to the Australian mining technology services sector. The MTS sector is small with the potential for a more lucrative export market. It is also vastly diverse in its good/service range. In order to guarantee sufficient representation of each good/service range a census needs to be collected.

What stratification has been used in the sample design? (H2)

N/A

What allowances have been made for expected non-response and frame deficiencies in the sample design? (H8)

N/A

Will outliers be identified, and, if so, how will they be handled? (I4)

If the questionnaire information is correct then the data will be entered. If it is obvious that the questionnaire information is incorrect then the data will be amended before it is entered. Amendments will only be made after responses have been checked with respondents.

Will data be aggregated into statistical tables, and if so what are the estimation formulae for the principal output data items? (I5)

Some aggregated statistics may be tabulated to provide information on the whole MTS sector. In particular, the quantitative information collected: domestic and export sales revenue, research and development expenditure. This is possible as the survey is aiming to be a census of the MTS sector.

What allowances will be made for potential sources of non-sampling error in estimation? (I6)

N/A

What statistical data analysis techniques will be performed? (I7)

The analysis may include the application of regression and econometric analyses. These techniques may be used to forecast domestic and export sales revenue based on the quantitative information obtained from the completed surveys.

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Coherence



The coherence of statistical information reflects the degree to which it can be successfully brought together with other statistical information within a broad analytical framework and over time. The use of concepts, classifications and target populations promotes coherence, as does the use of common methodology across surveys.

Is the survey a new survey or a cycle of an existing repeated survey? (A7)

New survey.

Is the survey to be conducted once only or repeated? If repeated, with what frequency is the survey to be repeated? (A8)

Current funding suggests the survey will be conducted only once.

How will the frame be updated for future survey cycles? (G8)

N/A

What consideration has been given to making data item definitions consistent between repeats of this survey or across other surveys? (D3)

The MTS survey will collect some similarly themed information to the 2000 Austmine member survey. For comparison purposes, MTS survey results from Austmine respondents will be extracted and compared to the results obtained from the 2000 Austmine member survey.

What alternative sources of data are available and what use is made of them? (C1)

Austmine, an industry supported marketing agent for the mining industry, conducts related surveys of their members. Last member survey completed was in 2000 for the financial year 1998-99. Austmine member details have been obtained and will be incorporated into the ABARE mailing list of survey respondents.

The ABS does not publish MTS sector specific information. Instead the ABS uses defined ANZSIC industry codes. Currently the MTS sector is classified into several different ANZSIC codes. The MTS survey will attempt to link survey results to ABS ANZSIC codes to enable some ABS data, such as exports, to be used. This will be completed by classifying key industry segments using ANZSIC industry code definitions and then linking the obtained information to 3 digit ANZSIC codes.

In what respects are these alternative sources insufficient? (C2)

Coverage of the Austmine member survey is limited to current Austmine membership. The number of MTS companies is significantly higher than the number of current Austmine members.

There is no specific ABS ANZSIC industry code to represent the entire MTS sector.

What consideration has been given to the use of standards? Please specify. (D2)

The ABS does not publish MTS sector specific information. Instead the ABS uses defined ANZSIC industry codes. Currently the MTS sector is classified into several different ANZSIC codes. The MTS survey will attempt to link survey results to ABS ANZSIC codes to enable some ABS data, such as exports, to be used. This will be completed by classifying key industry segments using ANZSIC industry code definitions and then linking the obtained information to 3 digit ANZSIC codes.

What consideration has been given to working with other agencies to make their data more suited to your needs? (C3)

N/A

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