Infosys, HLL, RIL most respected Indian firms

ENS ECONOMIC BUREAU

MUMBAI, SEPTEMBER 18: INFOSYS, Hindustan Lever Ltd. (HLL) and Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) are India’s top three most respected companies, according to a latest Business World-Indian Market Research Bureau (IMRB) survey. Other companies in the top 10 include - Wipro, ICICI, ITC , Larsen & Toubro (L&T), Dr Reddy’s, Ranbaxy Laboratories and Nestle respectively in order of rank.

Infosys, ranked overall number one, was also ranked number one on 13 of the 18 parameters judged. It stood number two, behind RIL, on two parameters - dynamic organisation and speedy response in marketplace. On track record of management, Infosys took the third spot - behind HLL and RIL. HLL, ranked overall number two, while claiming second spot in most parameters.RIL, ranked overall number three, was ranked number one on parameters like dynamic organisation, speedy response in marketplace and consistent performance. Interestingly, the Tata Group companies Tisco and Telco, which ranked consistently among the top 10 in the first four surveys, have not found a place in the top ten of the last two surveys.

Incidentally, in an unprompted survey in which the same 307 respondents were asked to name their choice of the most respected companies across any sector, and not on specific parameters, the results were somewhat different.

RIL was chosen by 31 per cent as their choice of India’s Most Respected Company while 21 per cent chose Infosys and 16 per cent chose HLL.

Respondents said they favoured RIL for its good growth rate, its ability to generate profits and reward shareholders.As many as 6 companies from 1999’s top ten have dropped out this year. This year’s survey, the sixth since 1987, queried 307 respondents from a cross section of India’s corporate world. Almost all the respondents belonged to the upper echelons of management and included presidents, managing directors and CEOs.