Participation in a statistical reporting program must be:

Participation in a statistical reporting program being voluntary and open to all members encourages widespread engagement and data collection from a diverse range of participants. This inclusivity enhances the quality and accuracy of the data, as more members contribute their insights and experiences. When participation is voluntary, it allows organizations to gather a comprehensive view of trends and behaviors within the industry.

A voluntary program also facilitates the participation of members who may be hesitant or lack the resources to join a mandatory program, thus promoting a more representative dataset. This can ultimately lead to better-informed decisions and strategies within the industry, benefiting all members.

In contrast, making participation mandatory could lead to reluctance, non-compliance, or even skewed data if participants are coerced into contributing. Limiting participants or geographic areas would reduce the dataset’s comprehensiveness and potentially neglect important variables that influence industry trends.