High Performance Workforce Research Findings

Key Findings:

1. Approximately 2/3 of the Executives indicated their organization is Underperforming (primarily due to Economic and Competitive Pressures).
   
   
2. 90% believe that Sales and Customer Retention/Satisfaction is directly linked to financial success.
   
   
3. 75% indicated they do not have the necessary skills and expertise to accomplish their goals and objectives. 
   1. The top people issues that executives do not feel comfortable addressing are:
      • 45% Responding to Changing Trends
      • 40% Coaching, Training, and Development
      • 35% Alignment of People to Strategy
      • 25% Shortage of Effective Management and Supervisors
   2. Executives do not feel comfortable or proficient in outsourcing the following areas:
      • Human Resources Management (Strategic aspect only); 33% do not believe that Human Resources contributes directly to financial success.
      • Training, Development, & Coaching; 1 in 5 do not believe that Organizational Environment and Workplace Culture contribute to their success.
      • Operational Process Development (Measurement and Metrics)
      • Strategy Development and Management

This new economy for small businesses demands effective strategy, efficient and scalable processes including outsourcing, increased management science, and enhanced workforce management to maintain and create wealth.

Ephor Survey Methodology
This twice-yearly survey is conducted every spring and fall.  The preliminary results detailed in the following brief are based on one hundred (100) surveys completed during August 2009 by small business owners.  Respondents were C-level executives from small and mid-market, for-profit, private employers with greater than $1M in annual revenues.

The respondents ranged in size:  with approximately 3.5% having more than 1,000 employees, 7% between 100 and 999 employees and the remainder from enterprises with less than 100 employees.  59 percent of respondents are under $5M in annual revenues, 4 percent more than $100M in annual revenues. 

Industries represented include: Insurance, Benefits, Human Resources, Financial, Hospitality, Healthcare, Healthcare Business Services, Distribution, Logistics, ENC, IT Service Providers, Consulting, Professional Services, Accounting, FAO (Financial and Accounting Outsourcing), BPO (Business Process Outsourcing), HRO (Human Resources Outsourcing), Software and Technology (including SaaS providers, Advertising and Marketing Services Providers,

The respondents were from the United States, with twelve states represented (TX, CA, MA, CO, IL, NC, FL, AR, NV, LA, GA, NY). 

Download the preliminary findings report: High Performance Workforce

Ephor Group Resources