QCEW Green Goods and Services Sector Industry Pre-Testing - Feasibility Interviews

Script for green goods and services Feasibility interview

CONSTRUCTION

Typographical conventions: italics for programmer notes, all caps for items not read or instructions to the interviewer.

Introduction

Intro1. Hello. My name is ______________. I am calling on behalf of the Bureau of Labor Statistics. I'm calling in reference to a new data initiative being undertaken by BLS. It would be very helpful to us if we could talk to you about your firm’s various construction projects. Would you be able to answer questions about your firm’s revenues and employment for your construction projects?

• Yes → GO TO INTRO2.

• No → Do you know who at your firm would be able to answer those questions for us?

Name:_______________________________________

Position/Department:___________________________

Phone:_______________________________________

Fax:_________________________________________

Thank you for your time. (hang up and contact name given).

Continue with correct respondent

Intro2. BLS routinely asks businesses questions that help collect the best data possible, so we are contacting a small sample of respondents to discuss an important new data initiative that we are very excited about. We recently mailed you a letter about this. Did you receive our letter?

• Yes

• No → Can I can fax or email you a copy of that letter now?

What is your fax number/email address?

Would you like me to call you back once I’ve sent you the fax/email or would you rather schedule for another time?

 CALL ME RIGHT BAck → CONFIRM NAME AND PHONE NUMBER, HANG UP

 RESCHEDULE

When would be a good time to call you back?

Appointment Information:

APPT DAY: _________________ TIME OF DAY: _________________

NAME:______________________ PHONE #:________________________

Intro3. I realize you are very busy, but would you have some time now to answer a few questions? The questions usually take about 20 minutes.

• Yes, have time

• No → When would be a good time to call you back?

Appointment Information:

APPT DAY: _________________ TIME OF DAY: _________________

Intro4. I called [Phone number]. Is this the best phone number to use to reach you?

• Yes

• No → Correct the information here: ____________________

Questionnaire Script

BLS has been asked to produce measures of employment in U.S. industries that produce green goods and services. Before we can do this, we need to better understand how businesses track information regarding their range of services or projects. The questions I will ask you today will help BLS collect the most accurate and reliable data possible.

Before we begin, let me assure you that the purpose of this call is strictly for informational and statistical purposes. The information you provide will help BLS better understand business record-keeping and will aid in designing a new survey. Your participation is completely voluntary and you can decline to answer any question at any time. Information related to this study is confidential and will not be released to the public in any way that would allow identification of individuals or establishments except as prescribed under the conditions of the Privacy Act Notice. This interview is approved by the Office of Management and Budget, number 1220-0181, which expires on September 30, 2010.

NAICS index item mapping questions

1. Do you have the introductory letter that we sent to you available, so you can refer to it?

• Yes

• No

2. Are you familiar with the concept of NAICS, which is the North American Industry Classification System?

• Yes

• No → Briefly, the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) was

developed and is used by the US, Canada, and Mexico. NAICS is the standard in classifying business establishments based on their production process for the collection, tabulation, presentation, and analysis of data describing the North American economy. Use of the standard provides uniformity and comparability in the presentation of these statistical data.

3. Please look at the list of major activities at the end of the letter. This list reflects the NAICS code that BLS has assigned to your worksite (READ WORKSITE NAME AND ADDRESS) listed on the same sheet. Does this list provide an accurate description of your primary business activity at that worksite? If you do not have the list, I can read these items for you. (it might be on the back side – if respondent doesn’t have letter read off ACTIVITIES to them).

• Yes → Go to Question 4

• No

3a. Can you tell me about your primary business activities at that location?

JUST GET A BASIC DESCRIPTION (CONSTRUCTION OF NEW HOMES, ENGINEERING, ETC.)

Construction project questions

4. As I said, we are interested in information about the different types of construction projects <NAME OF FIRM> is engaged in. How many different types of projects do you typically engage in over a year? By different types of projects I mean housing construction, commercial building construction, remodeling, weatherization, etc. I am not asking about individual projects.

   • one→ Go to Question 23

   • more than one →

What are some of those different projects?

LIST:___________________________________

GO TO QUESTION 5

Revenue by project

5. Do you track revenue by different types of construction projects? For example, could you provide total annual revenues for all the different types of housing projects, remodels, commercial building projects, etc. you undertook?

• Yes →

What about for each individual project (for example, each house, building or renovation)?

• Yes → GO TO QUESTION 6

• No → GO TO QUESTION 6

• NO→

What about for each individual project (for example, each house, building or renovation)?

• Yes → GO TO QUESTION 6

• No → GO TO QUESTION 8

6. Does your firm have multiple office locations?

• Yes → Go to question 7 FLAG THIS RESPONSE FOR REFERRAL

• No → Go to Question 9 FLAG THIS RESPONSE FOR REFERRAL

7. BLS does not intend to publish information about projects or revenue. Would you be able to provide revenue by project type or the individual projects for your individual office locations?

• Yes for both→ Go to question 9

• yes only for a PROJECT TYPE→ Go to question 9

• YES ONLY FOR INDIVIDUAL PROJECTS → Go to question 9

• No → Why not? ____________Go to Question 9

8. How do you track revenue? _______________________________________________

GO TO QUESTION 13a

Time period

9. a. Do you track revenue for your project types or the individual projects by different time periods?

• Yes → Go to question 9b

• NO → How do you track revenue?______________________

→ Go to question 10

9b. If yes, by what time periods?

• Fiscal year→ How long after the fiscal year is this information available? _____

When is this information available?______________

• calendar year→ When is this information available?______________

• other:(specify)__________________________________________________

When is this information available?______________

10. If you were asked to provide information about revenue on a survey form for a given reference period, for example, fiscal year, calendar year, most recent 4 quarters, how long do you think it would take you to compile the information about the amount of revenues generated by:

10a. different types of construction projects (for example, housing projects, commercial building projects)?

 DON’T KNOW

 REFUSE

 Time estimate given: __________________

 OTHER/COMMENT: __________________

10b. each individual project (for example, each house, building or renovation)?

 DON’T KNOW

 REFUSE

 Time estimate given: __________________

 Other/COMMENT: __________________

11. If you were asked what percentage of your total revenue comes from different projects or different individual projects for a given reference period, how long do you think it would take you to compile the information:

11a. different types of construction projects (housing projects, commercial building projects?

 DON’T KNOW

 REFUSE

 Time estimate given: __________________

 Other/COMMENT: __________________

11b. individual project (for example, each house, building or renovation)?

 DON’T KNOW

 REFUSE

 Time estimate given: __________________

 Other/COMMENT: __________________

11c. How exact would your percentage be? (VERY, JUST AN ESTIMATE, ETC.)

 VERY EXACT

 just an estimate

 don’t know __________________

12. a. Which would be easier for you, providing the actual annual revenue from a project or the percentage of your total revenue generated by that project?

    • actual annual revenue

    • percentage of total revenue

12b. Please explain why you answered this way_________________________________

GO TO QUESTION 14

Revenue compile

13. a. If you don’t track the revenue associated with a project type or individual project, would you would be able to compile that information if asked?

• Yes

• No → Go to question 13c

• comment __________________

13b. On a scale of 1 to 5 (with 1 being the easiest and 5 being the most difficult), how difficult would it be to compile this information?

1 2 3 4 5

    

Easiest Most Difficult

Go to question 14

13c. Why not? _________________________________________________

13d. Is there anyone else who would be able to compile that information?

IF YES: Name:________________________________________

Position/Department:____________________________

Phone:________________________________________

Employment

14. a. BLS is considering using revenues by project type or individual project to estimate the number of employees associated with that project. We want this employment estimate to account for all employee types at the worksite, including construction employees, administrative employees, sales and marketing employees, etc.

Do you think the amount of revenue could reasonably represent employment associated with a particular project type? (FOR EXAMPLE, MY FIRM BUILDS NEW HOUSES AND REMODELS HOUSES. 70% OF THE REVENUE IS FROM NEW HOUSING, SO 70% OF THE FIRM’S TOTAL EMPLOYMENT IS ASSOCIATED WITH NEW HOUSING CONSTRUCTION.)

• Yes

• No

• Don’t know

14b. Please explain why you answered this way____________________________

15. a. Would revenue for a particular project also reasonably represent employment associated with that project?

• Yes

• NO

• Don’t know

15b. Please explain why you answered this way____________________________

16. a. (IF QUESTION 6 IS YES, OTHERWISE GO TO 17) Would revenue by project also be available for each office location?

    • Yes

    • No

    • Don’t know

16b. Please explain why you answered this way____________________________

17. BLS does not intend to publish information about projects or revenue. If BLS asked you to provide the amount of total revenues accounted for by a project, would you share this information?

• Yes

• No → Would you be willing to tell us why not? ____________________

• DON’T KNOW/NOT SURE→ Would you be willing to explain?________

Number of jobs by timeframe

18. a. If you were asked to estimate the percentage of your employees, including sales, marketing, administrative employees associated with a project type (NEW HOUSING, NEW BUILDING, REMODELING) for a given reference period such as your fiscal year or the calendar year, would you be able to provide that information?

• Yes → In what month of the year would that information be available? ______________

(FISCAL YEAR ONLY) How long after the reference period is that?

______________

• No → Why not? ________________________GO TO QUESTION 22a

18b. Could you do this for each individual project?

• Yes → In what month of the year would that information be available? ______________

• No → Why not? ________________________

19. a. (IF QUESTION 6 AND 18A OR 18B IS YES OTHERWISE SKIP TO 20) Would you be able to do this for each office location?

    • Yes

    • No Don’t know

19b. Why is that so?___________________________________________________________

20. How long do you think it would take you to compile this information if asked in a survey?

 DON’T KNOW

 REFUSE

 Time estimate given: __________________

21. a. Which of the following would be easier for you, providing the annual revenue generated by different projects or providing the employment associated with each project?

 REVENUE

 Employment

 both easy

 Both difficult:

21b. Why is that so?___________________________________________________________

SKIP TO QUESTION 27

Job compile

22. (ONLY IF 18A IS NO) a. If you don’t track the percentage of employees, including sales, marketing, administrative employees, associated with a project, would that information be something you would be able to compile if asked?

• Yes

• No → go to QUESTION 22c.

22b. On a scale of 1 to 5 (with 1 being the easiest and 5 being the most difficult), how difficult would it be to compile this information?

1 2 3 4 5

    

Easiest Most Difficult

SKIP TO QUESTION 27

22c. Why not? _________________________________________________

22d. Is there anyone else who would be able to compile that information?

IF YES: Name:________________________________________

Position/Department:____________________________

Phone:________________________________________

SKIP TO QUESTION 27

One Project Type

23. Do you track exact revenue generated by your individual projects?

• Yes → go to question 24

• No → go to QUESTION 33

24. BLS is considering using the revenue generated by individual projects, along with total revenues, to estimate the number of employees involved in that project. Do you think this approach is reasonable for your business?

• Yes

• No

• Don’t know

24b. Why is that so?_________________________________________________

25. BLS does not intend to publish information on revenue or projects. Would you be willing to provide revenue shares by project to BLS on a survey form?

• Yes

• No → go to QUESTION 27

• don’t know

26. a. Which of the following would be easier for you, providing the amount of annual revenue generated by different projects or providing the percentage of your total revenue generated by that project?

    • actual annual revenue

    • Percentage of total revenue

26b. Why is that so?_________________________________________________

Environmental information

27. Do any of your projects meet any environmental standards, such as EnergyStar or LEED?

• Yes → A. Do all of your projects or just certain projects meet these standards?

• All

• JUST CERTAIN PROJECTS

• No → go to question 30

• DON’T KNOW → go to question 30

28. a. What are those environmental standards (CHECK ALL THAT APPLY)?

• Energystar→ Go to Question 29

• LEED→ Go to Question 29

• other:_________________________________ → Go to Question 28b

• Other:_________________________________ → Go to Question 28b

28b. Are these national, state, or local area specific standards?

29. If BLS were to ask for revenue shares for projects that met one of those environmental standards, would you be able to provide that information? For example, what percent of revenue is represented by EnergyStar-rated projects?

 Yes

 No

 don’t know

30. Do you do any weatherization or retrofitting projects that make a home or building more energy efficient?

 Yes → Please describe one__________________________

 No→ Go to Question 33

 don’t know→ Go to Question 33

31. If BLS were to ask for revenue shares for those particular projects, would you be able to provide that information?

 Yes

 No

 don’t know

32. If BLS were to ask for employment shares for those particular projects meeting environmental standards or improving energy efficiency, would you be able to provide that information?

 Yes

 No

 don’t know

33. I’m done with my questions. As I’ve mentioned before, BLS is trying to find the best approach to measure the number of jobs involved in green goods and services. Do you have any suggestions as to how BLS can best capture this information in your firm or your industry?

IF ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT GREEN DEFINITION, PLEASE DIRECT THEM TO www.bls.gov/green WEBSITE.

Closing

Those are all the questions I have for you. Thank you for your time, the information you have provided is very useful.

10