Official Statistics on ICT in Japan

Taking into account the developments of ICT in recent years, a lot of countries are dealing with the preparation of statistics on ICT. In Japan, the Basic Law on Formation of an Advanced Information and Telecommunications Network Society (Basic Law on IT) was enforced on January 6, 2001, in which the Government is obliged to prepare official statistics related to ICT. In Japan, at least 41 kinds of official statistical surveys, including questions related to ICT, have been conducted in the past five years. Their main purpose, survey items and survey methods are various and different from each other. To grasp the new development in IT as a whole, “IT Indicators in Japan”, which is a new compendium on ICT, was compiled in 2001. Also, “Information and Communications in Japan”, which is a white paper published in 2001, presented basic data on the extent to which IT has permeated the economic activity and people's lives. In addition, the 11th revision of the Japan Standard Industrial Classification (JSIC) was published by the Statistical Standards Department, Statistics Bureau, Ministry of Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications (MPHPT) in March 2002 in response to the change of economy and society including the development of ICT. The Working Group on Indicators for the Information Society of OECD has been working for several years in order to prepare internationally comparable and statistically measurable ICT indicators and related ICT statistics. In this paper, an overview of the present situation of Japanese official statistics related to ICT is given with some analysis. In addition, some problems are raised which should be considered from the viewpoint of the necessity and measurability and so on for the appropriate preparation of ICT indicators and e‐commerce‐related statistics. “IT; Information Technology” and “ICT; Information and Communications Technology” are often used without any distinction. “ICT” is used in this paper except where “IT” is used as a proper noun, as it is considered almost the same as “IT”. The views expressed herein are those of the author, and are not necessarily those of the Statistical Standards Department or any other Japanese government authorities.     

Measuring Knowledge Development and Developing Official Statistics for the Information Age

Measuring knowledge development is a new statistical activity that warrants urgent attention in the light of the current Internet explosion. The Internet creates virtual networks by connecting information nodes, knowledge nexus, people and institutions. The Internet has resulted in an unprecedented proliferation of Information, Communication, Knowledge and Entertainment (ICKE), which has in turn brought about structural changes in all aspects of social, economic and political governance. For public policy formulators, including the statistical community, it is imperative that the knowledge development aspect of ICKE be measured. Being abstract, knowledge is difficult to quantify. However, the manifestations of attributes and variables of any knowledge development activity are measurable. The paper outlines a conceptual framework for achieving this. This proposed framework adopts a socio-technological approach, premised on contemporary information and knowledge development as an integral of the people and technology dimensions. To illustrate the workability of the proposed model, the paper identifies some parameters and variables in the current statistical system, and highlights some new data generated via the Internet Subscriber Study and ICT Exposition Visitor Study. All illustrations refer to Malaysian data. Finally, the paper outlines 'way forward' initiatives for establishing a full-fledged set of information and knowledge development indicators.     

Why are Statistics Pre‐eminent in the Efficient Operation of Financial Markets?

Efficient financial markets require accurate and trusted statistical information. Otherwise they will rely on anecdotes, rumour and possibly information that is deliberately distributed to distort markets. This will lead to markets being volatile and/or inefficient.
In this paper, I will focus on what the ABS does to provide accurate, trusted information. It complements the work the IMF has been promoting for the last six years through its Special Data Dissemination Standard (SSDS).     

The Citizens' Right to Information and the Duties of a Democratic State in Modern IT Environment in the Light of the UN Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics and the ISI Declaration on Statistical Ethics

Modern information technologies, particularly the technology of very large data bases, Internet and modern mass media, have changed the processes of production, storage and dissemination of information. These technologies have a direct impact on the practical realization of citizens' rights to information. In democratic societies, in modern IT environment, information is produced and disseminated by many social and economic entities. Many producers and disseminators of information do not know or do not obey the criteria which should be met by any information delivered to the public. In this paper the advantages and the threats for the citizens' rights to information generated by the distribution and globalization of information processes in modern IT environment are discussed.
It seems that for the protection of the citizens' rights to information, there is the need for specification and codification of quality criteria and standards for information produced and disseminated with the use of modern IT. Official statistics may and should play an important and active role in defining those criteria and standards. Professional ethics of statisticians and of official statistics seems to be the proper basis for that. Ethical principles of statistics are formulated in two basic documents: The fundamental principles of official statistics adopted by the UN Statistical Commission in 1994 and the ISI Declaration on statistical ethics adopted by the ISI in 1985.     

Measuring the Diffusion of Information and Communication Technology in Society and its Effects: Canadian Experience

Statistics Canada has measured the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) for close to 15 years in industry and more recently in households and it has developed a body of knowledge on the effects of the use of these technologies. While ICTs have long been used in manufacturing processes, the use of computers and networks, and a growing number of ways of accessing networks, are changing the way business is done and lives are led. This paper provides examples of ICT use in private and public institutions, in households, and by individuals. It goes on to illustrate the consequent development of electronic commerce and of other uses of the Internet and concludes with some implications for the development of official statistics in light of policy requirements.     

Roles of Statistics in the Life Sciences

Quantitative methodologies have always been central in the life sciences, and some of these belong to the general area of statistics. Other methods of data analysis have their part to play, and it is of ongoing importance for the field of statistics to adapt to these developments.
Besides the role of statistical methods in generating new knowledge, there are also regulatory uses of statistics, particularly in drug registration and in environmental standard setting. These dual roles of statistical methods should not be confused.
Statistical data from official sources and elsewhere play important roles in the life sciences, and often necessitate very careful adherence to confidentiality.
The historical role of the ISI towards life sciences has been modulated by the existence of other international organizations in the area.     

Autonomy of participation and ICT literacy in a self-directed learning environment (SDLE)

As web technologies gradually become versatile and more powerful, more flexible paths and opportunities are revealed for self-directed learning and online assessment. It is hoped officials and advocates recognize IT related certification programs (NSSB Recognizes First IT Certification Program 2002). The Internet and Computing Core Certification (IC^3®) certification program is designed for individuals to develop digital literacy skills, including fundamental computer and Internet use. The particular interest of the study is to explore the relative contributions of the Certification Recognition Program (CRP) and associated autonomy of participation and achieved literacy for internet computing & technology (ICT), as well as the interactive influences of the degree programs and grade levels. Five hundred and ninety six male undergraduates majoring in IT were invited to participate in the Certification Recognition Program for a calendar year. The certification recognition program covers a set of three standardized tests based on the IC^3® by Certiport^TM. The study found ICT literacy is predicated by the students’ autonomy of participation (AP) in the Certification Recognition Program (CRP), and SP was related to the grade level (GL) and the enrolled degree program (DP), indirectly affecting ICT literacy as a result of the transiting effect of AP.     

Estimation Methods and Related Systems at Statistics Canada

This paper provides an overview of research in estimation techniques, their application, and the development of generalized estimation systems at Statistics Canada. In Canada, the demand for more detailed and better quality cross-sectional data related to various sodo-economic issues has increased significantly in recent years. Also, there has been increasing interest in longitudinal data to better understand and interpret the relationships among variables, necessitating the implementation of a number of large scale panel surveys by Statistics Canada. The paper briefly discusses estimation for longitudinal data and a weighting approach developed for cross-sectional data Prom these surveys. For cross-sectional household and business surveys, as well as the census of population, appropriate dibration estimators developed for each situation are briefly discussed. In addition, regression composite estimation, a method developed to improve the quality of cross-sectional estimates from rotating panel surveys such as the Canadian Labour Force Survey, is presented. With regard to more detailed cross-sectional estimates at sub-provincial levels, different approaches to small area estimation developed for various programs are also presented. We SUmmarize the various modules developed lor the GeneraIiized Ektimation System. important new developments within the system include two-phase estimation as well as the estimation of variance for a number of imputation procedures. We briefly review the status of current estimation research on selected topics as well as the direction of future research.     

物联网产业发展评价——以S市为例

近年来,在各级政府的大力推进下,我国物联网的发展进入了新纪元,物联网不仅成为牵动多个行业的产业焦点,更成为民众普遍接触和关注的社会热点。然而,我们也必须看到,物联网产业在蓬勃发展的同时也逐渐暴露出了一些问题,如社会各方更多地将注意力集中于物联网概念而轻视其实际应用。本文试图借助模糊数学方法,评价区域物联网产业现状,为区域物联网产业找准定位提供参考。     

Big Data,Official Statistics and Some Initiatives by the Australian Bureau of Statistics

Official statisticians have been dealing with a diversity of data sources for decades. However, new sources of data in the Big Data domain provide an opportunity to deliver a more efficient and effective statistical service. This paper outlines a number of considerations for the official statistician when deciding whether to embrace a particular new data source in the regular production of official statistics. The principal considerations are relevance, business benefit, and the validity of using the source for official statistics in finite population inferences or analytic inferences. The paper also describes the Big Data Flagship Project of the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), which has been established to provide the opportunity for the ABS to gain practical experience in assessing the business, statistical, technical, computational and other issues in using Big Data. In addition, ABS participation in national and international activities in this area will help it share experience and knowledge, while collaboration with academics will enable ABS to better acquire the capability to address business problems using the new sources of data as part of the solution.     

Applications of Statistics in the Field of General Insurance: An Overview

This is an expository paper on applications of statistics in the field of general insurance, also called non‐life insurance. Unlike life insurance where advanced statistical techniques have long been part of financial mathematics and actuarial applications, their use is only relatively recent in non‐life insurance. The business model of insurance companies, especially those active in non‐life insurance, has seen dramatic changes over the last 15 years. The aim of this paper is to convince the readers that especially today non‐life insurance is not only an exciting ground to apply existing modern statistical tools but also a fertile environment for new and challenging statistical developments. The activities of an insurance company can be viewed as an industrial process where data management and data analysis play a key role. That is why a fundamental understanding of data‐related issues (such as data quality, variability, analysis and correct interpretation) is so essential to the insurance business. These are exactly the tasks where professional statisticians excel. Also, a better understanding of the field of general insurance by statisticians will promote fruitful exchanges between actuaries and statisticians, thereby helping to bring actuarial and statistical professional societies closer to each other. Selected examples are used to cover the essential aspects of general insurance, and all of them are based on the author's experience. The paper concludes with some remarks on the role of statisticians working in general insurance.     

ICT Statistics at the New Millennium—Developing Official Statistics—Measuring the Diffusion of ICT and its Impact

The paper gives a short and very rough overview of the ongoing work in the field of statistics relating to the development of information and communication technology (ICT) and its impacts on the economies and on the society as a whole. It introduces three slightly different approaches with different emphasis on describing the emergence and diffusion of ICT and the respective economic and social change. These are termed the indicators approach, the new economy approach and the intellectual capital approach. The paper also discusses the basic requirements for the establishment of a new statistical system, as well as the present obstacles and problems of this work. Finally, some remarks are presented regarding further statistical co-operation in this field.     

The study of behavioral intention for mobile commerce: via integrated model of TAM and TTF

Mobile commerce systems allow customers to purchase products over the Internet without using a pc. It also creates a new mobile business model and change e-commerce paradigms, having an especially significant effect on the medical and insurance industries. Furthermore, the real estate industry is increasing in the booming market, but tends to become overheated. Thus, some innovative techniques (such as mobile commerce) were adopted by estate agent to enhance their competitive advantage. Consequently, identifying the match between mobile commerce technique and individual performance is a valuable focus of research. In fact, technology acceptance model (TAM) is a well-known theory regarding the adoption of information technology (IT), but ignores the focus on evaluating IT; meanwhile, the task-technology fit (TTF) model takes a directly rational approach by assuming that users choose to use IT that provides benefits but does not consider about users’ beliefs and attitude towards IT. Therefore, this study examined an integrated model of TAM and TTF that provided additional explanatory power via structural equation modeling. Analytical results confirm that the integrated model provides greater explanatory power than either TAM or TTF alone. Furthermore, several practical implications and recommendations are also discussed below.     

Developments in Survey Research over the Past 60 Years: A Personal Perspective

Many developments have occurred in the practice of survey sampling and survey methodology in the past 60 years or so. These developments have been partly driven by the emergence of computers and the continuous growth in computer power over the years and partly by the increasingly sophisticated demands from the users of survey data. The paper reviews these developments with a main emphasis on survey sampling issues for the design and analysis of social surveys. Design‐based inference based on probability samples was the predominant approach in the early years, but over time, that predominance has been eroded by the need to employ model‐dependent methods to deal with missing data and to satisfy analysts' demands for survey estimates that cannot be met with design‐based methods. With the continuous decline in response rates that has occurred in recent years, much current research has focused on the use of non‐probability samples and data collected from administrative records and web surveys.     

Are Scottish firms meeting the ICT challenge? Results from a National Survey of Enterprise

This paper examines the diffusion of Information Communication Technology (ICT) into firms in Scotland and northern England. Data concerning the adoption of micro-computers, e-mail, the Internet, ISDN, in-house website, and the automation of business functions is analysed by industry, firm size, firm age, rate of growth, export involvement, and innovation activity. The results from a sample of 1347 firms found an overall increase in the adoption of ICT in firms between 1998 and 2001. The increase is led by older and larger firms in comparison to younger and smaller firms. In addition, the diffusion of the automation of business functions was found to be sequential, from generic to specific applications. Further increases in the diffusion of ICT are likely to come from upgrading existing equipment and increases in the range of business functions that can be automated. Finally, although use of the Internet and web-based trading has increased in the sample firms, this has not replaced traditional marketing and sales. The results support the view that more firms are taking up the challenge of using ICT in-house, with older and larger firms leading the way ahead of younger and smaller firms.     

Discussion: Statistics Research in Business and Industry ‐ The General Electric Experience

For over 60 years, the statistics group at General Electric (GE) has used statistical methods to successfully address key company issues, both reactively and in recent years more and more proactively and holistically. Much of this work invariably calls for some degree of statistics research, including what we now call statistical engineering. We briefly review the history of research at GE, describe the accomplishments, research, and evolution of the GE statistics group over time, and present our views on the state of statistics research in business and industry.     

The Current Position of Statistics: A Personal View

Some current aspects of statistical work are reviewed under three broad headings, applied probability modelling, design of investigations and statistical analysis and interpretation of data. The emphasis is on applications in science and science-based technology, although some incidental comments are made about statistics in public affairs. While no technical details are given, there is some discussion of potential fields for development. The choice of topics reflects the author's personal interests.     

物联网中的关键技术

物联网已成为IT业界的新兴领域,其所具有的特点,使其具有非常广阔的应用前景。本文对实现物联网中所要用到的一些关键技术与架构进行了研究,包括智能感知技术、数据传输技术、数据处理分析技术以及安全控制等方面。     

Information technology and supply chain management: a study of the food industry

This paper's topic is the use of information technology (IT) for the development of supply chain management (SCM). In today's business environment, both in academics and industry, the term SCM has become a popular paradigm. In particular, the use of IT to facilitate the development of supply chain partners is gaining interest within industry. This paper develops the topic of SCM and further develops the relationship between the use of IT, in the form of electronic data interchange, and the development of supply chain integration. The goal of using SCM along with IT is to develop a supply chain that is capable of responding more quickly and efficiently in the meeting of consumer's requirements.