Appendix 3: Dataset descriptions

This appendix describes the datasets used in the analysis provided in this report, which includes data from NZ agencies and comparator data from organisations around the world. Note that not all comparator datasets have results for the same metrics used by NZ agencies.

The report makes reference to six datasets, some of which are narrowed into one or more smaller datasets to facilitate comparison as described below:

• New Zealand full cohort (NZ full cohort): a database of results for all measured agencies in New Zealand
  • New Zealand cohorts one, two, and three: three subsets of the NZ full cohort contain agencies grouped based on their operational similarities
• UK Audit Agencies (UKAA): a database of results for agencies from across the UK (England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland) benchmarked on a voluntary and anonymous basis
• UK operational efficiency programme (UKOEP) cohort:[52] a database of results for all UK central government agencies with greater than 250 FTEs
• American Productivity & Quality Center full cohort (APQC full cohort): a database of results for public and private sector organisations from around the world
  • APQC similar industries: a subset of the APQC full cohort with results from organisations suitable for comparison with public sector organisations
• The Hackett Group (Hackett) full cohort: a database of public and private sector organisations from around the world
  • Hackett peer group: a subset of the Hackett database with results from organisations suitable for comparison with public sector organisations
• Office of Government Commerce (OGC) Property Database: a database of property management results for UK central agencies.

Below is a more detailed description of each of dataset.

New Zealand full cohort (NZ full cohort)

The NZ cohort comprises all agencies measured in a specific reporting period. For FY 2008/09, the NZ full cohort is made up of 14 Public Service Departments, Non-Public Service Departments and Crown Agents as listed in Appendix Six. For FY 2009/10, the NZ full cohort is made up of 33 Public Service Departments, Non-Public Service Departments and Crown Agents as listed in Appendix Eight.

Eleven agencies are included in the NZ full cohort for both reporting periods:

• Department of Internal Affairs
• Housing Corporation New Zealand
• Inland Revenue
• Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
• Ministry of Education
• Ministry of Social Development
• New Zealand Fire Service
• New Zealand Police
• New Zealand Defence Force
• New Zealand Transport Authority
• The Treasury

NZ cohorts one, two and three

To support comparison among agencies with the greatest operational similarities, the NZ full cohort for FY 2009/10 is divided into three subsets, or cohorts, using the following criteria:

• Size of operating budget
• Number of organisational FTEs
• Agency type by primary function
• Distribution of people/service.

Agencies with common features for at least three of the four criteria are grouped into three cohorts as outlined in the table below.