Excellence of Execution is Top Concern for CEOs Worldwide, Says Survey

Execution is taking precedence over profit and top-line growth as a focus for CEOs around the world, according to a global survey of chief executives released by The Conference Board.

The survey of 769 global CEOs from 40 countries is from The Conference Board report, CEO Challenge 2007: Top 10 Challenges. When asked to rate their greatest concerns from among 121 different challenges, chief executives participating in this year's survey chose excellence of execution as their top challenge and keeping consistent execution of strategy by top management as their third greatest concern.

Top 10 Challenges Overall*

Relative Ranking   Cite Challenge as Being “Greatest Concern”

1.)  Excellence in Execution   38.4%
2.)  Sustained and steady top-line growth 36.8
3.)  Consistent execution of strategy by top management 31.8
4.)  Profit growth    28.4
5.)  Finding qualified managerial talent  27.2
6.)  Customer loyalty/retention   26.3
7.) Speed, flexibility, adaptability to change 25.4
8.) Corporate reputation   23.7
9.)  Stimulating innovation/creativity/enabling entrepreneurship 18.7
10.) Speed to market     18.2

* Weighted by regional representation in global GDP (Asia, 21.7 percent; Europe, 35.1 percent; the United States, 28 percent; and other, 15.2 percent). GDP data from the International Monetary Fund,World Economic Outlook Database, September 2006.

Source: The Conference Board