Survey shows top execs missing indicators

Just 34% of board members and executives polled say their companies are proficient at monitoring critical non-financial indicators of corporate performance, according to a new survey.

The survey was conducted on behalf of Deloitte by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU).

The majority of board directors and senior executives surveyed for the study - called "In the Dark: What Boards and Executives Don't Know about the Health of Their Businesses" - said that factors such as customer satisfaction, innovation, supplier relations and employee commitment are critical to corporate success.

But they admitted that there were difficulties in monitoring these drivers of organisational performance.

By contrast, the study indicates that 86% of executives believe their companies are excellent or good at measuring and tracking the performance indicators necessary for financial reporting purposes.

The cross-industry survey of 249 executives worldwide included large companies with 71% having annual revenue of more than $500m.

Deloitte provides audit, tax, consulting and financial advisory services through nearly 800 people in Dublin, Cork and Limerick.