Inside INdiana Business, in cooperation with Ice Miller and Butler University, have conducted a survey of chief executive officers statewide to get their thoughts on the economy, education, economic development and other issues affecting their companies. The study found that corporate reputation and customer loyalty and retention are the most important issues to their companies.
Global competition and growing their companies internationally was the least most important item affecting their businesses.
Compared to neighboring states, respondents say that cost of living is a strong advantage for Indiana, while the education system is seen as being a strong disadvantage. Universities were looked at as being particularly strong and public education was looked at as weak. Butler University Associate Professor of Marketing Bob Mackoy talks about the education results.
Leaders believe the state's initiatives in life sciences and information technology are working, but say they would like to see more being done with healthcare and mass transit.
As for diversity, respondents feel that it is lacking among CEOs from Indiana companies.
The study shows that nearly two-thirds of respondents say their companies have formal policies regarding the Internet at work, but less than one-third report having a policy concerning employee blogs. Fewer than half of the respondents say they feel confident in evaluating or monitoring their IT leadership or staff.
The CEOs participating in the study showed a positive outlook toward job growth saying that they expect to add jobs over the next 18 months. Mackoy says CEOs seem optimistic.
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