Businesses not taking advantage of information.

• Position: SURVEY

According to a new survey from PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) and Iron Mountain, all businesses want to maximize the value of their information, but most lack the skills, technology, and culture necessary to do so.

In fact, the survey, "Seizing the Information Advantage," reveals that two-thirds of businesses are unable to extract value from their information, and one-quarter derive no benefit at all. Only 4% of businesses can extract full value from the information they hold; more than one-third (36%) lack the tools and skills to do so. As a result, 43% obtain little tangible benefit from their information, and 23% derive no benefit whatsoever, according to the survey.

The survey also found a consistent lack of focus when it comes to organizational investment in the right analytical talent, tools, information-led solutions, and value-driven information strategies.

Surveys were completed by 1,800 senior business leaders in Canada, the United States, France, Germany, Spain, the Netherlands, and the UK. Each was assigned an "Information Value Index," a score from 1 to 100 measuring the business's information usage and governance framework. On average, the study reveals, businesses scored a 50.1, which the study authors called "disappointing, though perhaps not unexpected." According to the index, European businesses scored 47.3%; North America (NA) businesses fared a little better, at 52.9%.

The index confirms that the vast majority of businesses, regardless of geography or sector, have a long way to go before they...