Dubai Knowledge Village (DKV), a member of Tecom Investments, said its corporate research centre has launched three surveys, in alliance with its business partners, to study how organisations are coping with the economic downturn.

The initiative is part of the DKV Corporate Research Centre’s continuing endeavour to offer economic and market data for the benefit of UAE-based businesses.

DKV’s business partners Third Eye, Dynamic Learning and Hewitt Associates will organise surveys on 'Keeping your Customers...When it Matters!,' 'Total Compensation Measurement' and 'Emotional Intelligence Survey' in the Middle East, said an official.

“For many organisations in the GCC, this is probably their first experience of a severe business downturn. We would like to know how the managements of these organizations have reacted to the financial crisis from diverse perspectives,' remarked Dr Ayoub Kazim, executive director, DKV and Dubai International Academic City.

'The key findings of the research will help the region’s senior management from the corporate sector to take effective measures for tackling some of the challenges thrown up by the current economic scenario,' he stated.

The ‘Keeping your Customers...When it Matters!’ survey focuses on customer retention. Analysing how well companies in the region are addressing challenges for retaining profitable customers, the survey explores whether organizations recognize the value of customers and have put in place initiatives that will identify profitable accounts in their customer base.

It will additionally determine the exact value of their profitable customers, and how well companies are aligning their resources to deliver better value to these customers.

Total Compensation Measurement is one of Hewitt's most comprehensive worldwide compensation research programmes. With nearly 30 years of experience, it serves more than 7,000 organizations in over 40 international markets.

The study has been launched in the UAE for the first time this year and has already seen an overwhelming response from organizations including some of the biggest conglomerates and key players across sectors. It has registered more than 120 participants so far in the UAE, he pointed out.

The Emotional Intelligence Survey in the Middle East focuses on how business leaders in the Middle East match up to the global population in terms of emotional intelligence. An online questionnaire has been submitted to more than 5,000 leaders in the region to find the answer to this question.

The DKV Corporate Research Centre is an initiative by DKV Partner Development Management, focusing on research in the areas of business and corporate related issues whilst offering market data to serve the UAE business community.

Hasan Makansi, head of Partner Development for DKV and Dubai International Academic City, said: 'DKV Corporate Research Centre is a joint effort with its own pool of talent in addition to business partners’ wealth of knowledge and expertise in research and consultancy.'

'Dubai Knowledge Village supports and nurtures the business community by providing significant data analysis and a corporate research bank.'

Previous studies by DKV Corporate Research Centre include ‘Business Leadership in the UAE’ conducted in partnership with The Core Group; ‘CEO Mobility’ in partnership with Stanton Chase, and the ‘Best Employer Survey’ in partnership with Hewitt.-TradeArabia News Service