IBR 2007 - Survey methodology

Size Of Businesses Surveyed

IBR is conducted among medium-large privately held businesses. Definitions of the size of a medium and large business are determined by local government classifications as shown in the table below.

Survey Respondents

IBR surveys the opinions and expectations of chief executive officers, managing directors, chairmen or other senior executives from over 7,800 privately held businesses across 34 economies (title dependent on what is most appropriate for the individual country).

Interview Technique

The research is carried out primarily by telephone interview lasting approximately 15-20 minutes with the exception of Japan (postal), Philippines and Armenia (face to face), mainland China and India (mixture of face-to-face and telephone) where cultural differences dictated a different approach. Telephone interviews enable Grant Thornton International to conduct the exact number of recommended interviews and to be certain that the most appropriate individuals are interviewed in an organisation which meets the profile criteria.

Data collection is managed by Grant Thornton International's core research partner -Experian Business Strategies. Questionnaires are translated into local languages with each participating country asking a small number of country specific questions as well as the core questionnaire.

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Participating Countries

In 2008 the IBR survey was conducted in 34 economies and now covers over 7,800 respondents following the addition of Belgium, Denmark and Vietnam. The table below shows the countries that participated in the survey along with the number of respondents interviewed and the definition of "medium to large sized" businesses used to screen the respondents.

Balance Statistic

A balance statistic reports the percentage of respondents who reported a figure rising less the percentage who reported it falling. It not only provides a useful summary statistic, but numerous studies have shown it is well correlated with economic time series data and that it performs as well as highly complex methods of analysing survey data to predicting economic outcomes.

Sample Validity

In deciding upon the number of respondents to interview in each country, consideration was given not only to the size of the country but also to the statistical reliability of the data. In line with this we have placed a minimum of 100 interviews in each country as this is the accepted minimum for statistical reliability. In order to increase the reliability of the data we have exceeded this minimum in the majority of countries. Indeed in some of the larger economies we have interviewed 500 or more. This also allows us to look at various sub-sets such as industry type and regional comparisons.

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Charitable Donation

Grant Thornton International donate US$5 to UNICEF for every completed IBR questionnaire. In 2008 this will result in a donation of over US$39,000.

Country	Number of respondents	Medium definition (employees)	Geographical Split
Argentina	150	50-499	Buenos Aries, Rosario & Cordoba
Armenia	100	50-499	Random sampling
Australia	250	20-299	New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Victoria & Western Australia.
Botswana	250	25-199	Gaborone, Francistown, Lobatse, Selebi-Phikwe, Jwaneng, Maun, Ghanzi
Belgium	100	40-499	Random sampling
Brazil	150	40-499	Sao Palolo, Rio de Janeiro & Salvador
Canada	300	$5-$500 million dollars	Western Canada, Ontario, Quebec, Atlantic Canada.
China	300	100-1000+	Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou
Denmark	150	50-499	Random sampling
France	400	100-499	Ile-de-France, Rhone-Alpes, Provence-Alpes-Cote d’Azur.
Germany	350	100-499	Minimum of 25% in eastern Germany
Greece	200	100-499	Random sampling
Hong Kong	250	100-449	Random sampling
India	500	$12.5-$250 million US	Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore, Calcutta, Pune, Ahmadabad.
Ireland	150	50-499	Random sampling
Italy	250	100-499	North, Centre, South.
Japan	300	100-750	Random sampling
Malaysia	150	100-499	Random sampling
Mexico	150	50-499	Mexico City, Guadalajara, Monterrey
Netherlands	150	50-499	Random sampling
New Zealand	150	10-149	Random sampling
Philippines	150	100-499	Random sampling
Poland	250	100-499	Random sampling
Russia	250	100-499	Moscow, N. Novgorod, Perm.
Singapore	150	50-399	Random sampling
South Africa	300	100–399	Gauteng, Cape Town, Durban/Pmb, East London/PE.
Spain	150	100-499	Random sampling.
Sweden	400	50-499	Stockholm, Gothenburg, Malmo.
Taiwan	150	20-299	Random sampling
Thailand	150	20-599	Random sampling
Turkey	150	100-499	Random sampling
United Kingdom	600	50-499	North east, North West and North, Midlands, East, London and South, South West, Wales and West, Scotland, Northern Ireland.
United States	250	Revenue defined (US$50m - US$2bn)	Central, Mid-Atlantic/South East, Mid West, North East, West
Vietnam	150	20-499	Random sampling

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

Neil Bird, International Business Report project manager
T: +44 (0) 20 7391 9516
E: neil.bird@gtuk.com