ROI Institute Conducts a Major Study of Fortune 500 CEOs

Birmingham, AL – Perhaps the most extensive study of Fortune 500 CEOs has been conducted by the ROI Institute to gain insight into the executive’s view of the investment in learning and development and the measures of success of that investment. A summary of results was just released in T + D Magazine published by The American Society for Training and Development (ASTD). The study was conducted to support a new book for ASTD to be released October 1, 2009.

“This is one of our most significant studies as we attempted to gain insight into a group that’s hard to pin down,” says Jack Phillips, chairman of ROI Institute. “We used our most effective techniques to solicit responses, including a few new twists and turns to obtain 96 responses from these high profile executives. We are so pleased not only with the response rate of 22%, but that the CEOs took the time to provide many helpful comments as well.”

“The study brings to light a disconnect between what executives wants to see about the learning investment and what they are provided. For example, 96% of executives want to see the business impact of learning; yet only 8% receive it now. Similarly, 74% of executives want to see ROI data, but only 4% have it now,” Jack continues. “The new book, our 35th with ASTD Press, will present the insights into this survey plus additional data from executive interviews and other inputs from executive briefings. This new book will be devoted to the executive view of learning and development and what L&D can and should do about it.”

“Although the results mirrored what some professionals thought would be the executive response,” says Patti Phillips, president and CEO of ROI Institute, “there is much new information. We’ve been told this is the most significant study of large company CEOs ever conducted about the success of learning and development. When combined with other executive data, it provides important prescriptions of what we need to do to make sure learning and development are connected to the business.”

For information regarding the study, see T + D Magazine, ASTD August 2009 or contact the ROI Institute for an executive summary of the study at 205-678-8101 or roiinstitute.net.