Script for green goods and services Feasibility interview
Project based companies (consulting, engineering, etc.)
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 BLS if we could talk to you about your firm’s various projects. Would you be able to answer questions about your firm’s revenues and employment for your 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 variety 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
Do you have the introductory letter that we sent to you available, so you can refer to it?
Yes
No
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.
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 (IT, ENGINEERING, ETC.)
Consulting/engineering/etc. project questions
As I said, we are interested in information about the different types of projects <NAME OF FIRM> is involved in. How many different types of projects do you typically engage during the course of a year? By different types of projects I mean project categories such as IT consulting, landscape design, environmental engineering, 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
Do you track revenue by different types of projects? For example, could you provide total annual revenues for all the different types of IT consulting, landscape design, environmental engineering, etc. projects you undertook?
Yes →
What about for each individual project (for example, each engagement)?
Yes → GO TO QUESTION 6
No → GO TO QUESTION 6
NO→
What about for each individual project (for example, each engagement)?
Yes → GO TO QUESTION 6
No → GO TO QUESTION 8
Does your firm have multiple worksites?
Yes → Go to question 7 FLAG THIS RESPONSE FOR REFERRAL
No → Go to Question 9 FLAG THIS RESPONSE FOR REFERRAL
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 Engagements → Go to question 9
No → Why not? ____________Go to Question 9
How do you track revenue?_________________________________________________________
GO TO QUESTION 13a
Time period
a. Do you track revenue for your projects or engagements 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?______________
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 categories of projects (for example, IT consulting, landscape engineering, commercial architecture)?
DON’T KNOW
REFUSE
Time estimate given: __________________
OTHER/COMMENT: __________________
10b. each individual engagement?
DON’T KNOW
REFUSE
Time estimate given: __________________
OTHER/COMMENT: __________________
If you were asked what percentage of your total revenue comes from different projects or individual engagements for a given reference period, how long do you think it would take you to compile the information for:
11a. different categories of projects (for example, IT consulting, landscape engineering, commercial architecture)?
DON’T KNOW
REFUSE
Time estimate given: __________________
OTHER/COMMENT: __________________
11b. each individual engagement?
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
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
a. If you don’t track the revenue associated with project categories or individual engagements, 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
a. BLS is considering using revenue by project type or individual engagement to estimate the number of employees associated with that project. We want this employment estimate to account for all employee types, including consulting employees, engineers, administrative employees, sales and marketing employees, etc.
Do you think the amount of revenue could reasonably represent the employment associated with a particular project type? (FOR EXAMPLE, MY FIRM DOES BOTH IT AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTING. 70% OF THE REVENUE IS FROM ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTING PROJECTS, SO 70% OF THE FIRM’S TOTAL EMPLOYMENT IS ASSOCIATED WITH ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTING.)
Yes
No
Don’t know
14b. Please explain why you answered this way
a. Would revenue for a particular engagement reasonably represent employment associated with that project?
Yes
No
Don’t know
15b. Please explain why you answered this way
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
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 category or individual engagement, 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
a. If you were asked to estimate the percentage of your employees, including sales, marketing, administrative employees associated with each project category (IT CONSULTING, ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING) 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 engagement?
Yes → In what month of the year would that information be available?_____________
No → Why not? ________________________
a. (IF QUESTION 6 AND 18A OR 18B IS YES) Would you be able to do this for each office location?
Yes
No
Don’t know
19b. Why is that so?
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: __________________
a. Which of the following would be easier for you, providing the annual revenue generated by different projects or providing the employment associated with a project?
REVENUE
Employment
Both easy
both difficult
21a. Why is that so?
SKIP TO QUESTION 27
Job compile
a. If you don’t track the percentage of employees associated with a project, including sales, marketing, administrative employees, 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
Do you track exact revenue by your individual projects or engagements?
Yes → GO TO QUESTION 24
No → go to QUESTION 33
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?_________________________________________________
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
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. Please explain why you answered this way
Environmental information
Do any of your projects help clients meet any environmental standards, such as EnergyStar or LEED?
Yes → A. Do all of your projects or just certain projects help clients meet these standards?
All
JUST CERTAIN PROJECTS
No → go to question 30
DON’T KNOW → go to question 30
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?
If BLS were to ask for revenue shares for projects that dealt with one of those environmental standards, would you be able to provide that information? For example, what percent of revenue is represented by EnergyStar-related projects?
Yes
No
don’t know
Do you do any projects that make a home or business more energy efficient or reduce pollution?
Yes → Would you describe one of those projects? ______________________
No→ Go to Question 33
don’t know→ Go to Question 33
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
If BLS were to ask for employment shares for projects meeting environmental standards or promoting energy efficiency, would you be able to provide that information?
Yes
No
don’t know
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 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.
| File Type | application/msword |
| File Title | SCRIPT FOR GREEN FEASIBILITY/RAS INTERVIEW |
| Author | BLS User |
| Last Modified By | viegas_r |
| File Modified | 2010-03-31 |
| File Created | 2010-03-31 |