GUEST COLUMNS FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE High Priority   QUALITY CONSCIOUSNESS Final Analysis MANAGEMENT PROFILE Gut Feeling   HONESTY Honesty Forbids INNOVATION Challenging Convention DYNAMISM Bucking the Trend WORK ENVIRONMENT Shaping Culture CSR Behavioural Journey VISION Leadership Test NATION-MINDEDNESS Call to Arms
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NOTES: The scoring system this year is as follows – five points for rank-one votes; four for rank two, three for rank three, two for rank four and one for rank five (analysis in SCORECARD). Prior-year rankings and scores are stated in brackets. Last year’s scores were based on three (rather than five) ranks and have been restated to facilitate comparison, as follows – five points for rank one, three for rank two and one for rank three. Sample size – 800 in both years. Margin of error at 95% confidence level is +/- 3.5%.

SURVEY METHODOLOGY
The Nielsen Company’s modus operandi in a nutshell.

he exclusive survey covered a sample of 800 businesspeople attached to organisations within the limits of Greater Colombo. A random sample was drawn from and weighted on the basis of population proportions of business entities, so as to best represent the mix of entities operating in Sri Lanka. The systematic random-sampling technique was used to select entities from lists of organisations operating in this country.

Interviews were conducted among business leaders, managers, senior executives and executives of organisations located in Greater Colombo in March and April 2009, via telephone.

Telephone interviews were deemed to be the most effective, given the busy work schedules of respondents. To this end, the questionnaire was designed with simplicity and conciseness in mind.

Data pertaining to the number of different types of business entities was obtained mainly from the Registrar of Companies. In addition, business directories of Greater Colombo were used in finalising our findings.

Commissioned and conceptualised by LMD, and conducted by The Nielsen Company, the survey was designed to rank the Most Respected entities in Sri Lanka – and to find out why they are perceived as being amongst the most respected by the business community in the commercial capital.

 – The Nielsen Company Sri Lanka