Learning Executive Confidence Index (LXCI)

What is the LXCI?

LXCI Highlights - Q3 2009:

• The confidence of learning executives (LXs) continued to increase in the third quarter of 2009, after significantly rebounding earlier in the year.
• The overall LXCI for Q3 2009 was 60.7, up from Q2 (59.4), demonstrating that collectively LXs expect their learning functions to remain the same over the next six months.
• Each of the four major indices (impact on corporate performance, ability to meet learning needs, availability of resources, and status as a key strategic component) was on the upswing in Q3, with all but one of them reaching their highest value on record.
• A growing number of LXs expect outsourcing on external services that aid in the learning function to increase or remain at comparable levels.
• A majority of LXs who anticipated a decrease in their learning expenditures over the next six months did not predict an improvement in their organization’s WLP expenditure until 2011 or later.

Learning executives (LXs) revealed more optimism in key areas in the third quarter; continuing the sentiment of improved confidence from Q2. After the drops at the end of 2008, executive confidence began to stabilize in Q1 2009, with increases being seen across the board in Q2 2009. In the latest quarter, the positive outlook on the performance of the learning function continued, as confidence levels for most indices reached their highest values on record. The overall Learning Executives Confidence Index (LXCI) increased 1.3 points in Q3, from 59.4 to 60.7. Outsourcing is anticipated to increase, with 24.2% of LXs reporting that their utilization of external providers would increase, compared to 17.0% in Q2 and 12.4% in Q1. Despite the renewed optimism, the effects of the uncertain economy still continue to be evident among LXs, as the majority indicates the current economic conditions will greatly affect the learning function. Conversely, an increasing proportion (12.4%) of LXs indicates the economy will have no impact on the learning function in the next six months.

Downloads

LXCI - Q3 2009 Report
LXCI - Q2 2009 Report
LXCI - Q1 2009 Report

The next LXCI will be distributed in October 2009. Please be sure to check this page in October for the next edition of this report. If you are a learning executive interested in participating in the survey, please send an email to astdresearch@astd.org.

What is the LXCI?

ASTD has created the ASTD Learning Executive Confidence Index (LXCI) to assess the outlooks and expectations of learning executives for the next six months on a 100-point scale, modeled after the CEO Confidence Indices reported by Chief Executive Magazine and The Conference Board.

The LXCI provides a snapshot of learning executive confidence in the future and factors in expectations of their learning functions' abilities to meet learning needs and to show impact in the following areas:

1. corporate productivity
2. the status of learning as a key strategic
   component within the organization, and
3. the availability of resources for learning

Learning executives with low scores (0 to 49 on the scale) anticipate that in six months impact on these three areas will be moderately or substantially worse. Those with higher scores (51 to 100 on the scale) expect these areas to moderately or substantially improve.

The quarterly Learning Executive Confidence Index is a composite score for all learning executives included in the survey and reflects the expectations these senior executives have for learning in the next six months. Higher indices (above 50) reflect a more positive outlook and lower indices a more negative.