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Executives are out of touch with the health of their companies because they lack detailed information about the non-financial side of their business, a global survey showed Tuesday.

Moreover, business performance and financial results would likely improve with a more balanced mix of financial and non-financial objectives, according to the Deloitte Touche study.

Eight in 10 CEOs said financial indicators alone do not fully capture their company's strengths and weaknesses. While they need information on non-financial performance indicators, such as employee commitment, their ability to monitor those indicators remains “inadequate.”

“The survey reveals a critical disconnect between rhetoric and reality in the boardrooms and management circles of some of the world's leading companies,” said Deloitte's chief executive, William Parrett, in a release.

“The majority of companies said they are under increasing pressure to measure these indicators, but the quality of non-financial performance information they receive is inadequate to meet their needs.”

Board members and executives said the most important non-financial drivers of performance are risk to reputation, customer influence, global competition and regulatory emphasis on non-financial measures. They also identified greater scrutiny by the media and increasing power of lobbyists and organizations.

More than a third of respondents said their company's performance is determined more by intangible assets and capabilities than by hard assets.

Mr. Parrett said the use of non-financial indicators will improve.

“This will help them identify their edge over their competitors, improve performance, and ultimately contribute to an improved bottom line. It is a matter of understanding that a more balanced mix of financial and non-financial objectives can improve performance and even financial results.”