2. BUSINESS CHARACTERISTICS STATISTICS
2.1 INTEGRATED BUSINESS CHARACTERISTICS STRATEGY
2.2 BUSINESS LONGITUDINAL DATABASE (BLD)
2.3 RECENTLY RELEASED BUSINESS CHARACTERISTICS STATISTICS
2.1 INTEGRATED BUSINESS CHARACTERISTICS STRATEGY
The ABS Integrated Business Characteristics Strategy (IBCS) was first implemented for the collection of 2005-06 data. The strategy integrates the collection and quality assurance of data required for input into the ABS Business Longitudinal Database (BLD) and the production of point in time estimates for: business use of information technology (BUIT); business innovation in Australia; and a broad range of other non-financial business characteristics. The annual Business Characteristics Survey (BCS) is the survey vehicle which achieves this.
A key output of the IBCS is the production of a core set of annual BUIT and Business Innovation indicators, with a more detailed set of items for each of these topics collected every second year (i.e. in alternating years). Previously, these IT and innovation indicators were produced from the separate annual Business Use of IT and biennial Innovation surveys, respectively.
As a result of implementing the IBCS, there has been some impact on comparability of the BUIT and Business Innovation data sourced from the BCS with that obtained from the previous separate collections. Some of this arises as a result of the integration of the three previous surveys, including changes to scope and the composition of the sample. Additionally, more fundamental changes such as expanded and enhanced measures of innovation have had a significant impact on comparability of those data. As more data is collected using the BCS vehicle, the ABS will publish data across time periods.
2.2 BUSINESS LONGITUDINAL DATABASE (BLD)
A key aspect of the Integrated Business Characteristics Strategy is the collection of statistics to populate the Business Longitudinal Database. These directly collected data along with a range of information from administrative sources such as the Australian Taxation Office and the Australian Customs Service are used to create the BLD. The scope of the BLD is restricted to small and medium businesses.
The main output from the BLD will be a Confidentialised Unit Record File (CURF). The first release of which is currently in development and is expected to be released in late July 2009. For more information about the BLD CURF, please contact Diane Braskic, Innovation and Technology Business Statistics Centre, ABS on (08) 9360 5241.
2.3 RECENTLY RELEASED BUSINESS CHARACTERISTICS STATISTICS
The latest issue of the publication, Selected Characteristics of Australian Businesses, 2006-07 (cat. no. 8167.0), was released on 19 September 2008. Key findings of the 2006-07 Business Characteristics Survey showed that lack of skilled persons, at 18%, was the most commonly reported barrier to general business activities or performance and that 73% of businesses reported having three or more competitors.
For more information about business characteristics outputs (including BUIT, Innovation and general business characteristics), please contact Peter Hodgson, Innovation and Technology Business Statistics Centre, ABS on (08) 9360 5367.
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