INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SURVEY - BUSINESS ENTERPRISES
PURPOSE
To measure the use of information technology by businesses, including those mainly engaged in culture or leisure activities. This use includes the Internet in general and web presence in particular. Internet service provision and web presence creation are both cultural business activities as defined in the Australian Culture and Leisure Classifications.
DESCRIPTION
This survey collects information from a sample of private sector employing businesses. Some industries are excluded from the scope. These are Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing; Education; and Religious Organisations. For 1999-2000, the sample comprised 15,500 businesses. The survey was conducted by mail-out questionnaire.
GEOGRAPHIC COVERAGE
Australia
FREQUENCY OF COLLECTION
Annual
DATA ITEMS
Use of computer
Indicates, for all businesses, whether or not they were using a computer at the end of the reference period (i.e. at 30 June).
Intention to acquire, by businesses not using a computer
Records the intentions of non-computer-using businesses with regard to acquiring information technology. The technology categories are:
Computer
Internet access
Web site
The timing categories are:
Within six months of reference period
Within twelve months of reference period
More than twelve months after reference period
No intention to acquire
Access to Internet
Indicates, for businesses using computers, whether or not they had access to the Internet at the end of the reference period.
Reasons for not having access to Internet
Records the reasons for computer-using businesses not having access to the Internet. Reasons include costs being too high, security concerns and lack of interest.
Intention to acquire Internet access
Records, for businesses not having access to the Internet, the timing of their intention to acquire access. The timing categories are:
Within six months of reference period
Within twelve months of reference period
More than twelve months after reference period
No intention to acquire Internet access
Use of Internet
Records, for businesses with access to the Internet, the purposes for which they use it. Examples of these purposes are receiving orders from customers, delivering products in digital form, ordering products from other organisations, and undertaking marketing and promotion.
Type of Internet connection
Records, for businesses with access to the Internet, the type of connection. The categories are:
Analog dial-up
ISDN
Broadband
Main type of broadband connection
Records, for businesses accessing the Internet via broadband, the main type of connection. The categories are:
Digital subscriber line
Cable
Wireless (including fixed, mobile and satellite)
Frame relay
Other
Reasons for not using broadband as the main type of Internet connection
Records, for businesses accessing the Internet other than via broadband, the reasons for not using broadband. The categories are:
Unavailable at the business location
Start up connection costs too high
Ongoing connection and usage costs too high
Business's hardware incompatible
Lack of perceived benefit
Other
Not considered
Web presence
Indicates, for businesses using computers, whether or not they had a web presence at the end of the reference period.
Reasons for not having a web presence
Records the reasons for computer using businesses not having a web presence. Reasons include no Internet access, costs being too high and security concerns.
Intention to establish a web presence
Records, for businesses not having a web presence, the timing of their intention to establish a presence. The timing categories are:
Within six months of reference period
Within twelve months of reference period
More than twelve months after reference period
No intention to establish a web presence
Location of web presence host
Indicates, for businesses having a web presence, whether it was hosted in Australia or overseas.
Nature of web presence
Records the nature of a business's web presence. The categories are:
Own web site on own server
Represented on parent or related entity's web site
Own web site on other server
Represented on portal, online shopping mall or virtual community
Other
Facilities available through web presence
Records the facilities and services which can be accessed through a business's web presence. Examples of these facilities and services are online ordering, recruitment information, capability for secure access or transactions, and live chat for customer queries.
Limitations to further development of web presence
Identifies the factors which are limiting further development of a business's web presence. Limitations include cost, security concerns and lack of skills.
Industry
Allocates the main activity undertaken by the business to the 1-digit (division) level of the Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC). There are 14 in-scope industry divisions including Division P Cultural and Recreational Services. Note that, although Division Q Personal and Other Services is in scope, one of its component groups (961 Religious Organisations) is out of scope. See Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification, 1993 Edition (Cat. no. 1292.0).
Employment
The survey classifies employment into two categories. These are:
Persons predominantly employed in information technology and web activities
All other persons
Employment size
Businesses can be allocated employment size ranges such as:
1-4 persons
5-19 persons
20-99 persons
100 or more persons
Value of annual sales/orders
A number of categories can be derived from the survey for the value of annual sales/orders. These categories are:
Sale/orders received, over the Internet, on behalf of other businesses (i.e. as an agent)
Sale/orders received, over the Internet, other than those on behalf of other businesses
Sale/orders received, other than over the Internet, on behalf of other businesses
Sale/orders received, other than over the Internet, other than on behalf of other businesses (including orders received by an agent on behalf of the business)
Size range of value of annual sales/orders
Businesses can be allocated size ranges for value of annual sales/orders such as:
Less than $100,000
$100.000-$999,999
$1.0m-$4.9m
$5m or more
Geographic area
Data are available for Australia, States and Territories, and capital cities/other areas.
HISTORICAL DATA
Surveys were conducted in respect of 1993-94 and 1997-98, and then annually from 1999-2000.
DISSEMINATION
Publications
Australian Bureau of Statistics, Business Use of Information Technology, Australia, Cat. no. 8129.0, ABS, Canberra. Price $26.00.
CONTACT
In the first instance, refer to To obtain data or further information in the Introduction to this directory.
Manager
Science and Technology Statistics
Australian Bureau of Statistics
Locked Bag 10
BELCONNEN ACT 2616
Telephone: Canberra 02 6252 5189
Facsimile: Canberra 02 6252 7004
Email: client.services@abs.gov.au
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