Its company motto is “Don't Be Evil,” and it looks like Google's hard work to appear a company with a conscience has paid off. Google has the best reputation of any company in the U.S., according to a new study from research group Harris Interactive.
According to the study, Google secured a reputation quotient (RQ) of 84.05, topping the second-place company, Johnson & Johnson. The conglomerate 3M and conglomerate holding company Berkshire Hathaway came in third place and fourth place, respectively. Apple took the fifth spot in the study with an 82.05 RQ, reported CNet.
Harris Interactive's reputation quotient is determined by surveying more than 30,000 Americans on their opinions of the top 60 “most visible companies” in the U.S. Harris Interactive groups the responses into six categories that matter most to a firm's reputation, including emotional appeal, products and services, social responsibility, vision and leadership, workplace environment, and financial performance.
In addition to having best reputation among the American public, Google secured the top spot in financial performance and workplace environment. Intel earned top honors in products and services.
Outside of the top five, the technology industry performed exceptionally well in Harris Interactive's study. Intel, Amazon, Sony, and Microsoft all made it into the top 16. For the first time, Facebook made a showing in the list, securing the 31st spot. All told, the technology sector was viewed most favorably by Americans – 75 percent of respondents gave the industry a "positive rating," Harris said today.
So who is at the bottom of the list? Unsurprisingly, insurance and financial services giant AIG was the lowest-ranked corporation, followed closely by oil and giant company BP and investment banking and securities firm Goldman Sachs. The bottom club was rounded out by Citigroup, Chrysler, Bank of America, General Motors, ExxonMobil, JPMorgan Chase and Delta Airlines.
Tracey Schelmetic is a contributing editor for TechZone360. To read more of Tracey's articles, please visit her columnist page.Edited by
Tammy Wolf