Enhancing Statistical Culture: The Unused Potential of Croatian Enterprises Professor Ksenija Dumičić, PhD Senior Assistant Berislav Žmuk, PhD Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Zagreb, Croatia

INTRODUCTION The research questions are: Do Croatian enterprises recognize the usefulness of statistical methods use, using them for the right purpose in a right way? Why they use them? Do they use them only because these methods are used by their competitors and because their use is obligatory according to certain business standards? Why they dont’use them? If they don’t use them, is it because of the lack of knowledge or …? …. Conference of European Statistics Stakeholders, Budapest, October 2016

DATA AND METHODS In order to inspect and get answers to the research questions a web survey on a sample of Croatian enterprises was conducted. Survey period: October 2012 – February 2013 Sampling frame: Croatian Company Directory of the Croatian Chamber of Economy Population size: N= enterprises Sample size: n=667 enterprises Response rate 1 (AAPOR definition): 2.55% (the number of eligible sample units that cooperate in a survey ) Questionnaire design: overall 6 groups of questions with 32 questions in total Conference of European Statistics Stakeholders, Budapest, October 2016

DATA AND METHODS Enterprises which use statistical methods: – Overall 5 groups of questions with 28 questions – Approximated time needed to complete the questionnaire: minutes – Number of enterprises: 237 Enterprises which do not use statistical methods: – Overall 3 groups of questions with 11 questions – Approximated time needed to complete the questionnaire: 5-10 minutes – Number of enterprises: 430 Conference of European Statistics Stakeholders, Budapest, October 2016

SURVEY RESEARCH FINDINGS Source: survey. Distribution of enterprises whether they use or do not use statistical methods in their business processes, n=667 Conference of European Statistics Stakeholders, Budapest, October 2016

SURVEY RESEARCH FINDINGS Source: survey. Attitude towards statistical methods use level in their business processes by enterprises which use statistical methods, n=237 Conference of European Statistics Stakeholders, Budapest, October 2016

SURVEY RESEARCH FINDINGS Source: survey. Frequency of statistical methods use in enterprises, n=237 Statistical methods Frequency of statistical methods use (how often) MonthlyYearly Once in 3 years Rarely than once in 3 years The statistical method is not used No.% % % % % Descriptive statistics Outlier detection methods Inferential methods Sampling methods Clustering methods Design of experiments Statistical process control Acceptance sampling Indicators of dynamics Naive forecasting models Smoothing forecast. models Trend forecasting models Regression models

SURVEY RESEARCH FINDINGS Source: survey. Attitudes toward reasons for initial statistical methods use, n=237 Reason Agree Do not agree Do not know No.% % % Statistical methods facilitate the business decision- making process Statistical methods usage improves business results Statistical methods application leads to cost efficiency The management demands statistical methods usage Statistical methods use has been a prerequisite for business certification Statistical methods have been used by competitors

SURVEY RESEARCH FINDINGS Source: survey. Attitudes toward reasons for not using statistical methods, n=430 Reason AgreeDo not agreeDo not know No.% % % The existing overloaded of employees with other jobs and assignments The nature of products/services Lack of financial resources Lack of statistical methods use knowledge Statistical methods usage would not have significant impact on business results Lack of educated employees

SURVEY RESEARCH FINDINGS Source: survey. Average grade of employees’ statistical methods use knowledge, n=237 GradeNo.% A94 B3816 C7833 D5824 E208 I cannot evaluate3414 Total Conference of European Statistics Stakeholders, Budapest, October 2016

SURVEY RESEARCH FINDINGS Source: survey. Investments into employees’ education in the field of statistical methods use, n=237 Conference of European Statistics Stakeholders, Budapest, October 2016

SURVEY RESEARCH FINDINGS Source: survey. Satisfaction with statistical education possibilities available on the Croatian market, n=237 Conference of European Statistics Stakeholders, Budapest, October 2016

CONCLUSIONS 65% Croatian enterprises do not use stat. methods 10% enterprises outsource stat. methods application partially; 2% outsource them completely 1/2 use descriptive stat. methods; 1/5 use dynamics indicators Reasons for stat. methods use: they facilitate decision-making process, improve business results Enterprises which use stat. methods, do not use their full potential, with the main reason: current overload of employees with other jobs and assignments Low average grade of stat. knowledge of employees Low investment level in employees’ additional stat. education Recommendation: increase of Croatian enterprises’ awareness of stat. methods usefulness and motivate them to use stat. education for employees

ENHANCING STATISTICAL CULTURE – THE UNUSED POTENTIAL OF CROATIAN ENTERPRISES Professor Ksenija Dumičić, PhD Assistant Berislav Žmuk, PhD Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Zagreb, J. F. Kennedy Sq. 6, HR Zagreb, Croatia Thank you for your attention! Conference of European Statistics Stakeholders, Budapest, October 2016