"We also found that local CEOs view corporate social responsibility as a key business opportunity, and plan on dramatically increasing their focus and investment in this area."
Global integration was another significant factor in the study's findings revealing fundamental shifts in expectations from these more demanding customers.
The increased purchasing power of these customers in emerging markets is driving major changes in the business models of organisations worldwide.
CEOs plan bold moves around business designs that facilitate faster and more extensive collaboration on a worldwide scale, and rapid reconfiguration when new opportunities appear.
An estimated 86 per cent of respondents plan substantial changes in the capabilities that distinguish leading organisations - their knowledge and asset mix.
CEOs expect to carefully calibrate business model designs based on principles of global integration, which includes global searches for sources of expertise, resources and assets that can help it differentiate.
Moreover, to take advantage of global integration opportunities, 75 per cent intend to actively enter new markets and 85 per cent plan to partner to capitalise on global integration opportunities.
IBM's 'enterprise of the future' study was conducted in conjunction with the Economist Intelligence Unit with interviews conducted in late 2007 and early 2008.
Participants represent private and public sector organisations with 19 per cent of companies employing more than 50,000 employees while 22 per cent have less than 1,000 employees.