Learning Executive Confidence Index (LXCI)

What is the LXCI?

LXCI Highlights - Q4 2009:

• The confidence of learning executives (LXs) stabilized in the fourth quarter of 2009, after rebounding earlier in the year.
• The overall LXCI for Q4 2009 was 60.2, essentially even with Q3 (60.7), demonstrating that collectively LXs expect their learning functions to remain the same over the next six months.
• Two of the four major indices (impact on corporate performance and status as a key strategic component) decreased slightly in Q4, while the other two (ability to meet learning needs and availability of resources) registered only minor increases. This pattern highlights that expectations are stabilizing after reaching their highest on record in Q3.
• Expectations for outsourcing on external services that aid in the learning function showed minor changes in Q4, with an increasing number of LXs foreseeing a continuation of the status quo or an increase in outsourcing.
• Nearly three-quarters of LXs anticipated WLP funding to increase or remain the same in the next six months, an increase from Q3.
• A majority of LXs who anticipated a decrease in their learning expenditures over the next six months predicted an improvement in their organization’s WLP expenditure from Q3 2011 onwards.

Learning executives (LXs) revealed plateauing scores in key indices in the fourth quarter, suggesting a continued sense of optimism in most key areas. 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 and Q3. In the latest quarter, the positive outlook on the performance of the learning function stabilized after confidence levels reached their highest on record in Q3. The overall Learning Executives Confidence Index (LXCI) decreased only 0.5 points in Q4, from 60.7 to 60.2. Outsourcing is anticipated to increase, with 25.1% of LXs reporting that their utilization of external providers would increase, compared to 24.2% in Q3 and 17.0% in Q2. The effects of the economy continue to be evident among LXs, as a significant majority indicates the current economic conditions will impact the learning function. Conversely, only a small proportion (9.9%) of LXs indicates it will have no impact on the learning function in the next six months.

Downloads

LXCI - Q4 2009 Report
LXCI - Q3 2009 Report
LXCI - Q2 2009 Report
LXCI - Q1 2009 Report

The next LXCI will be distributed in April 2010. Please be sure to check this page in April 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.