SSI QuickPoll Reveals Business Optimism for 2015

SHELTON, Conn., Jan. 12, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- A new SSI QuickPoll™ of information technology managers and small business owners found that 71% of those interviewed expect their business to do better in 2015 than in 2014, and only 7% believe it will do worse.  IT managers were even more optimistic than small business owners that 2015 will be "much better than 2014" (37% vs. 29% respectively). 

Optimism about prospects for the coming year was even greater than the optimism these business managers reported feeling at this time last year.  Again, IT managers were even more optimistic than small business owners on this point.

"This SSI QuickPoll revealed positive attitudes about business growth for 2015 from people across the United States.  Using our B2B inSSItes solution, we were able to target 1,000 SBOs and IT professionals based on their demographic, geographic and professional data," said Jackie Lorch, SSI's vice president of global knowledge management. 

"We polled these segments because small business constitutes a major force in the U.S. economy," explained Lorch.  "There are more than 28 million small businesses in this country and they generate about 50 percent of our gross domestic product.  In fact, as the digital revolution broadens and deepens, tech has emerged as an important force in creating jobs, spurring redevelopment and giving cities an economic and cultural jolt."

When asked why they felt the way they did about business prospects in 2015 "general economic outlook" was the main factor, regardless of whether they thought their prospects were going to be better or worse.  This shows the importance of the economy's health in the minds of employees and small business owners when anticipating year-over-year growth.  However, those who felt more negative about their prospects were even more likely to blame the economy.  

The majority of those interviewed (nearly half) expect sales revenue for their companies to be up slightly more in 2015 than 2014, and more than 20% expect revenues to be up significantly.  IT managers are more likely to expect increases in sales revenue than small business owners, which continues the trend of optimism among these employees.

-- Research Methodology --

Five hundred IT managers (those who work in IT/software development and are either an owner/partner, senior manager, middle manager, or front line manager) and 501 small business owners from the SSI B2B inSSItes™ online panel were interviewed between Dec. 12 and Dec. 20, 2014.

The SSI QuickPoll regularly surveys people about business, technology, sports, the economy and current events.  For this survey, SSI's B2B inSSItes solution generated a sample of about 1,000 adults in the U.S. who were interviewed between Dec. 12 and Dec. 20, 2014.  SSI B2B inSSItes members include decision-makers and influencers in areas such as IT, HR and advertising; senior executives, small business owners and professionals of all types.  Participants are selectable by revenue, employee size, geography and vertical market.

SSI is the premier global provider of data solutions and technology for consumer and business-to-business survey research, reaching respondents in 86 countries via Internet, telephone, mobile/wireless and mixed-access offerings.  SSI staff operates from 25 offices in 18 countries, offering sample, data collection, CATI, questionnaire design consultation, programming and hosting, online custom reporting and data processing.  SSI's 3,300 employees serve more than 3,000 clients worldwide.  Visit SSI at www.surveysampling.com.

SSI QuickPolls and SSI B2B inSSItes are trademarks of Survey Sampling International

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SOURCE SSI (Survey Sampling International)