We would be more than happy to help you however we can.  Our experience with our Mexican Corporate Reputation Index might be of some use in providing local NGOs in India with insight into initiatives that have been successful in Mexico.  

 In 2004 and 2006, we carried out the Mexican Corporate Reputation Index (MECRI), a public opinion tool designed to help evaluate major corporations´ relations with clients, providers and shareholders and gauge their commitment to the legality and development of the country.  The index is based on the results of a questionnaire administered to qualified participants in a direct interview setting.  In the construction of the 2006 Index, at least three individuals were interviewed from executive- and managerial- level positions in each of the following categories:  academics, stockbrokers, financial risk analysts, economic analysts, external auditors, certifiers, consultants, entrepreneurs, civil servants and publicists.

Informants had to be well acquainted with the industries and corporations included in the Index, and were not allowed to evaluate corporations to which they had personal or professional ties. 

 The results of the MECRI are aimed to foster a measurable idea among public opinion about the standing of the major corporations operating in the country and to enable corporations to measure their achievements based on the changes in their reputation year after year.

 We have conducted the MECRI both years in collaboration with Consulta-Mitofsky, a public opinion research firm.  

 The MECRI surveys participants on corporations´ reputations in regards to eight specific variables:

1.      Its concern for the stake owned by shareholders, investors, and partners;

2.      Compliance with laws and regulations;

3.      Services offered to customers and suppliers;

4.      Environmental responsibility;

5.      Respect for workers’ rights;

6.      Community involvement;

7.      Relationship with competitors; and

8.      Its commitment to the development of Mexico

 The corporations evaluated were chosen based on the following criteria: 

·         Ranks among the 500 largest Mexican corporations based on sales.

·         Operates within one of the following industries: food and non-alcoholic beverages, higher education, automotives, pharmaceuticals, alcohol and tobacco, self-service and department stores, public works and construction, financial services, information technology and telecommunications, mass media, tourism and transportation and energy.  In the Index, a maximum of 11 corporations were chosen per industry.   

 By only publishing the results for corporations that scored well, we hoped to spare the corporations that did not rate well the negative exposure, while providing them with incentives and opportunities to identify problem areas and improve their reputations.  The complete results of the Index are made available to the governing bodies and high-level executives of the corporations evaluated and are not released to the public.

Whatever related information has been publicly released is available at the following webpage: http://www.tm.org.mx/imre/.  Unfortunately, the website is only available in Spanish at the moment, although we hope to have an English version online in the near future.  If you require any additional information – be it general or specific info regarding the Index’s methodology -- please let us know how we can be of further assistance.  

Jeremy Biddle

Consultor de Proyecto

Transparencia Mexicana A.C.

Capítulo México de Transparencia Internacional

www.tm.org.mx

www.transparency.org

52.55 5659 4714 Ext. 12