[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 80 (Wednesday, April 25, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24685-24686]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-9967]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Client Focus 
Groups and Qualitative Interviews

AGENCY: International Trade Administration (ITA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort 
to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public 
and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on 
proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before June 25, 2012.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Jennifer Jessup, Departmental 
Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6616, 14th 
and Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet 
at [email protected]).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should 
be directed to Suzan Winters, (202) 482-6042, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The International Trade Administration's U.S. Commercial Service 
(CS) is mandated by Congress to help U.S. businesses, particularly 
small and medium-sized companies, export their products and services to 
global markets.
    As part of its mission, the CS uses ``Quality Assurance Surveys'' 
to collect feedback from the U.S. business clients it serves. These 
surveys ask the client to evaluate the U.S. Commercial Service on its 
customer service provision. Results from the surveys are used to make 
improvements to the agency's business processes in order to provide 
better and more effective export assistance to U.S. companies. In 
addition to collecting client feedback through Quality Assurance 
Surveys, the CS uses client focus groups as a mechanism to obtain 
further client feedback and substantiate customer service trends seen 
in the Surveys. Qualitative client focus group data will enrich the 
quantitative survey data by providing insights and a descriptive 
context to explain the trends that emerge in the quantitative data.
    The CS uses the focus group questions to address quality 
improvement issues. The focus group discussion guide will enable CS to 
obtain a better understanding of actions that can be taken to improve 
the export-related services that CS provide to U.S. firms. In providing 
these services, the CS promotes the goods and services of small and 
medium-sized U.S. businesses in foreign markets.

II. Method of Collection

    U.S. firms will be recruited via telephone to participate in focus 
group discussions. Firms may be current Commercial Service clients or 
potential clients. Data will be collected through either face-to-face 
focus group discussion forums (6-8 participants per focus group) and 
conference calls, or through one-on-one qualitative interviews either 
in person or via phone. A moderator will facilitate the discussions and 
notes will be transcribed via computer. All comments from participants 
will be anonymous.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0625-0254.
    Form Number(s): None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission (extension of a currently 
approved information collection).
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations.

[[Page 24686]]

    Estimated Number of Respondents: 96.
    Estimated Time per Response: Surveys, 30-45 minutes; Focus Groups, 
1 hour and 15 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 74.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0.

IV. Request for Comments

    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the agency, including whether the information shall have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden 
(including hours and cost) of the proposed collection of information; 
(c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the 
collection of information on respondents, including through the use of 
automated collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for OMB approval of this information 
collection; they also will become a matter of public record.

    Dated: April 20, 2012.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2012-9967 Filed 4-24-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-FP-P