Study Data · Part 1 · Indicator Deep-Dive Analysis

Engagement indicator mean

Indicator MEASURE:engagement_indicator_mean · By Phil Hatch · Akholi · October 9, 2026

Indicator Specification

Table 1. Indicator specificationTable
FieldValue
Indicator codeNone, a study measure
Question as askedEngagement indicator mean
Failure categoryNot one of the 100 rated indicators
Place in the surveyNot a survey item
Indicator classEngagement attribute
Indicator typeStudy measure
Response scale1 to 10, the mean of the 100 rated indicators
Answering base150 engagements
Non-answersNone, the value is recorded for every engagement
Identity with a study measureEngagement indicator mean

Summary of Findings

Table 2. Key results: association of the indicator with the four study measuresTable
MeasureFormnr95% CIp
Cancellation rateDescriptive contrast150 engagements−0.72−0.79 to −0.63< 0.001
Customer satisfactionClean estimate94 engagements0.840.77 to 0.89< 0.001
Engagement indicator meanIdentity with this measure, not tested
Intent to leaveRespondent level, clustered798 respondents−0.78−0.82 to −0.74< 0.001

The engagement indicator mean across the study set was just above its median (mean 4.0, median 3.8, n = 150 engagements). Canceled engagements carried a lower engagement indicator mean (r = −0.72, 95% CI −0.79 to −0.63, p < 0.001, n = 150 engagements). A higher engagement indicator mean came with higher customer satisfaction on active engagements (r = 0.84, 95% CI 0.77 to 0.89, p < 0.001, n = 94 active engagements). This block is the engagement indicator mean itself, so its own cell was an identity by construction (r = 1.00). Respondents on engagements with a lower engagement indicator mean reported higher intent to leave (r = −0.78, cluster bootstrap 95% CI −0.82 to −0.74, p < 0.001, n = 798 respondents). The engagement indicator mean differed after Holm control by engagement status and lifecycle stage (Welch F 70.90, Holm p < 0.001, omega squared 0.509).

Distribution of Recorded Values

Table 3. Distribution of recorded valuesTable
ValueEngagementsShare of engagements aCumulative share
1.2 to 1.821.33%1.33%
1.8 to 2.42214.67%16.00%
2.4 to 3.02315.33%31.33%
3.0 to 3.62114.00%45.33%
3.6 to 4.21711.33%56.67%
4.2 to 4.81812.00%68.67%
4.8 to 5.41510.00%78.67%
5.4 to 6.11812.00%90.67%
6.1 to 6.774.67%95.33%
6.7 to 7.374.67%100.00%
Total150100.00%
Note: a Share of engagements (base 150).
Table 4. Recorded values, engagement level summaryTable
Engagement level summaryEngagementsMeanSDMinMedianMaxEngagements with a distressed valueShare of engagements distressed
Values as recorded1504.01.51.23.87.3Not applicableNot applicable

The value was recorded once per engagement, so every figure in this section counts out of 150 engagements. The mean was 4.0 and the median was 3.8, on 150 engagements.

Descriptive Statistics by Segment

Table 5a. Descriptive statistics by segment, part 1 of 2Table
SegmentBaseAnsweredAnswer rateEngagementsMean95% CISD
Study set150150100.00% of 1501504.03.8 to 4.31.5
Outsourcing model
CXM4242100.00% of 42424.23.7 to 4.81.6
ITO4040100.00% of 40404.13.7 to 4.51.3
BPO3737100.00% of 37373.73.3 to 4.21.3
KPO3131100.00% of 31314.03.4 to 4.61.6
Institution type
Asset management2424100.00% of 24243.9†1.6
Wealth management and private banking2323100.00% of 23234.1†1.5
Investment banking (advisory and capital-markets origination)1919100.00% of 19193.4†1.1
Insurance (life, property and casualty, health)1414100.00% of 14144.0†1.6
Commercial and business banking1313100.00% of 13134.5†1.5
Payments and merchant acquiring (networks, acquiring, processing)1313100.00% of 13134.2†1.6
Credit card and payments issuing1212100.00% of 12123.7†1.3
Retail and consumer banking1212100.00% of 12124.4†1.6
Markets and trading (sales and trading, global markets)1111100.00% of 11114.4†1.5
Private equity and private capital999 of 99‡
Process family
Corporate and back-office functions4747100.00% of 47473.93.5 to 4.41.6
Technology engineering and operations3535100.00% of 35354.33.9 to 4.81.3
Client servicing and communications1616100.00% of 16163.7†1.6
Trade, settlement and reconciliation1515100.00% of 15153.6†1.4
Payments, cards and disputes1212100.00% of 12124.4†1.3
Credit, underwriting and suitability999 of 99‡
Regulatory, audit, tax and legal999 of 99‡
Financial crime and client onboarding777 of 77‡
Class of work
LOB Operational7676100.00% of 76764.03.6 to 4.31.5
Corporate Functional7474100.00% of 74744.03.7 to 4.41.5
Engagement status and lifecycle stage
Active, Build-Out3131100.00% of 31314.84.4 to 5.21.1
Active, Transition/Cut-Over4343100.00% of 43434.94.5 to 5.21.2
Active, Production2020100.00% of 20204.8†1.4
Canceled5656100.00% of 56562.62.5 to 2.80.6
Note: † Base under 30. No interval is reported. ‡ Base under 10. No statistic is reported.
Table 5b. Descriptive statistics by segment, part 2 of 2Table
SegmentMinQ1MedianQ3MaxDistressed nDistressed %
Study set1.22.73.85.27.3Not applicableNot applicable
Outsourcing model
CXM1.23.04.15.27.3Not applicableNot applicable
ITO1.93.13.85.06.5Not applicableNot applicable
BPO1.82.53.54.95.8Not applicableNot applicable
KPO1.82.63.75.47.2Not applicableNot applicable
Institution type
Asset management1.92.83.35.37.3Not applicableNot applicable
Wealth management and private banking1.92.64.44.97.0Not applicableNot applicable
Investment banking (advisory and capital-markets origination)1.82.63.44.25.8Not applicableNot applicable
Insurance (life, property and casualty, health)1.22.74.15.26.5Not applicableNot applicable
Commercial and business banking2.23.34.65.17.2Not applicableNot applicable
Payments and merchant acquiring (networks, acquiring, processing)2.03.04.04.87.1Not applicableNot applicable
Credit card and payments issuing2.32.63.64.06.4Not applicableNot applicable
Retail and consumer banking1.83.34.85.76.9Not applicableNot applicable
Markets and trading (sales and trading, global markets)2.43.05.25.76.1Not applicableNot applicable
Private equity and private capital‡ n = 9
Process family
Corporate and back-office functions1.22.63.45.67.1Not applicableNot applicable
Technology engineering and operations1.93.44.35.47.0Not applicableNot applicable
Client servicing and communications2.02.43.14.97.3Not applicableNot applicable
Trade, settlement and reconciliation1.92.53.44.55.8Not applicableNot applicable
Payments, cards and disputes2.43.44.55.07.1Not applicableNot applicable
Credit, underwriting and suitability‡ n = 9
Regulatory, audit, tax and legal‡ n = 9
Financial crime and client onboarding‡ n = 7
Class of work
LOB Operational1.82.73.84.97.3Not applicableNot applicable
Corporate Functional1.22.83.85.47.0Not applicableNot applicable
Engagement status and lifecycle stage
Active, Build-Out3.33.84.85.47.2Not applicableNot applicable
Active, Transition/Cut-Over2.23.94.95.87.1Not applicableNot applicable
Active, Production2.03.94.65.77.3Not applicableNot applicable
Canceled1.22.32.53.04.3Not applicableNot applicable
Note: ‡ Base under 10. No statistic is reported.

Figures are engagement level. Means are on the scale as recorded. A level under 30 prints no interval and a level under 10 prints counts only.

Tests of Difference Between Segments

Table 6a. Tests of difference between segments, part 1 of 2Table
Segment familyWelch FdfpHolm pOmega squared90% CI
Outsourcing model0.903, 78.20.4441.000−0.0030.000 to 0.049
Institution type1.038, 49.10.4251.000−0.0070.000 to 0.063
Process family1.204, 39.70.3251.0000.0030.000 to 0.074
Class of work0.071, 148.00.7951.000−0.0060.000 to 0.019
Engagement status and lifecycle stage70.903, 54.0< 0.001< 0.0010.5090.421 to 0.585
Table 6b. Tests of difference between segments, part 2 of 2Table
Segment familyKruskal-Wallis HpDistressed chi-squaredfpCramer’s VLevels left out
Outsourcing model2.360.502Not applicableNot applicableNone
Institution type6.720.567Not applicableNot applicablea
Process family5.330.255Not applicableNot applicableb
Class of work0.160.693Not applicableNot applicableNone
Engagement status and lifecycle stage83.87< 0.001Not applicableNot applicableNone
Note: a Private equity and private capital, n = 9. b Credit, underwriting and suitability, n = 9, Regulatory, audit, tax and legal, n = 9, Financial crime and client onboarding, n = 7.

Engagement families were tested on engagement means, and respondent role and vendor type were tested on respondents. A distressed p marked exact is a Fisher exact test for a two by two table, and one marked simulated is a Monte Carlo test run until its p is stable to the third decimal, both used where an expected count is under 5. Engagement status and lifecycle stage differed after Holm control (Welch F 70.90, Holm p < 0.001, tested on engagement means). In Descriptive Statistics by Segment, Active, Transition/Cut-Over had the highest mean, 4.9 (n = 43 engagements), and Canceled the lowest, 2.6 (n = 56 engagements). No difference held after Holm control for outsourcing model, institution type, process family and class of work.

Association with Cancellation Rate

The share of engagements canceled on the study date, measured at engagement level (base 150 engagements, 56 canceled). The association is a descriptive contrast, inflated because canceled engagements were rated after cancellation, and is not predictive.

Table 7a. Association with cancellation rate by segment, part 1 of 2Table
SegmentEngagementsCanceledCancellation ratePoint-biserial r95% CIpHolm p
Study set1505637.33% of 150−0.72−0.79 to −0.63< 0.001< 0.001
Outsourcing model
CXM421535.71% of 42−0.71−0.83 to −0.52< 0.001< 0.001
ITO401537.50% of 40−0.71−0.84 to −0.51< 0.001< 0.001
BPO371437.84% of 37−0.80−0.89 to −0.64< 0.001< 0.001
KPO311238.71% of 31−0.71−0.85 to −0.48< 0.001< 0.001
Institution type
Asset management241354.17% of 24−0.82†< 0.001< 0.001
Wealth management and private banking23834.78% of 23−0.72†< 0.0010.001
Investment banking (advisory and capital-markets origination)19947.37% of 19−0.70†< 0.0010.006
Insurance (life, property and casualty, health)14535.71% of 14−0.81†< 0.0010.004
Commercial and business banking13430.77% of 13−0.64†0.0190.058
Payments and merchant acquiring (networks, acquiring, processing)13323.08% of 13−0.56†0.0470.058
Credit card and payments issuing12541.67% of 12−0.77†0.0030.014
Retail and consumer banking12433.33% of 12−0.88†< 0.0010.002
Markets and trading (sales and trading, global markets)11327.27% of 11−0.80†0.0030.014
Private equity and private capital922 of 9‡
Process family
Corporate and back-office functions471940.43% of 47−0.73−0.84 to −0.56< 0.001< 0.001
Technology engineering and operations351028.57% of 35−0.71−0.84 to −0.50< 0.001< 0.001
Client servicing and communications16956.25% of 16−0.73†0.0010.009
Trade, settlement and reconciliation15853.33% of 15−0.73†0.0020.012
Payments, cards and disputes12216.67% of 12−0.66†0.0200.058
Credit, underwriting and suitability911 of 9‡
Regulatory, audit, tax and legal944 of 9‡
Financial crime and client onboarding733 of 7‡
Class of work
LOB Operational763039.47% of 76−0.69−0.79 to −0.54< 0.001< 0.001
Corporate Functional742635.14% of 74−0.76−0.84 to −0.64< 0.001< 0.001
Engagement status and lifecycle stage
Active, Build-Out3100.00% of 31Not computable, no variation in cancellation
Active, Transition/Cut-Over4300.00% of 43Not computable, no variation in cancellation
Active, Production2000.00% of 20Not computable, no variation in cancellation
Canceled5656100.00% of 56Not computable, no variation in cancellation
Note: † Base under 30. No interval is reported. ‡ Base under 10. No statistic is reported.
Table 7b. Association with cancellation rate by segment, part 2 of 2Table
SegmentOdds ratio per point95% CIAUCRate, distressed engagementsRate, other engagementsFisher pTOST p
Study set0.070.03 to 0.180.95Not applicableNot applicableNot applicable1.000
Outsourcing model
CXM0.100.02 to 0.430.95Not applicableNot applicableNot applicable1.000
ITO0.050.01 to 0.400.94Not applicableNot applicableNot applicable1.000
BPO0.01a0.98Not applicableNot applicableNot applicable1.000
KPO0.100.02 to 0.550.93Not applicableNot applicableNot applicable0.999
Institution type
Asset management0.00† n = 240.99Not applicableNot applicableNot applicable1.000
Wealth management and private banking0.13† n = 230.94Not applicableNot applicableNot applicable0.997
Investment banking (advisory and capital-markets origination)0.08† n = 190.91Not applicableNot applicableNot applicable0.988
Insurance (life, property and casualty, health)0.01† n = 140.98Not applicableNot applicableNot applicable0.996
Commercial and business banking0.15† n = 130.94Not applicableNot applicableNot applicable0.919
Payments and merchant acquiring (networks, acquiring, processing)0.06† n = 130.93Not applicableNot applicableNot applicable0.845
Credit card and payments issuing0.02† n = 121.00Not applicableNot applicableNot applicable0.984
Retail and consumer banking0.17† n = 121.00Not applicableNot applicableNot applicable0.999
Markets and trading (sales and trading, global markets)0.22† n = 111.00Not applicableNot applicableNot applicable0.988
Private equity and private capital‡ n = 9
Process family
Corporate and back-office functions0.090.02 to 0.400.94Not applicableNot applicableNot applicable1.000
Technology engineering and operations0.00a0.98Not applicableNot applicableNot applicable1.000
Client servicing and communications0.19† n = 160.86Not applicableNot applicableNot applicable0.987
Trade, settlement and reconciliation0.15† n = 150.93Not applicableNot applicableNot applicable0.984
Payments, cards and disputes0.15† n = 121.00Not applicableNot applicableNot applicable0.924
Credit, underwriting and suitability‡ n = 9
Regulatory, audit, tax and legal‡ n = 9
Financial crime and client onboarding‡ n = 7
Class of work
LOB Operational0.120.05 to 0.310.92Not applicableNot applicableNot applicable1.000
Corporate Functional0.020.00 to 0.190.97Not applicableNot applicableNot applicable1.000
Engagement status and lifecycle stage
Active, Build-OutNot computable, no variation in cancellation
Active, Transition/Cut-OverNot computable, no variation in cancellation
Active, ProductionNot computable, no variation in cancellation
CanceledNot computable, no variation in cancellation
Note: † Base under 30. No interval is reported. ‡ Base under 10. No statistic is reported. a Not estimable, too few events in one group.

The study set r was −0.72 (95% CI −0.79 to −0.63, Holm p < 0.001, n = 150 engagements). Of the 20 tested segment levels, 17 held after Holm control.

Association with Customer Satisfaction

The satisfaction score recorded against each engagement on a 100-point scale. The primary estimate uses the 94 active engagements. A descriptive contrast uses all 150 engagements.

Table 8a. Association with customer satisfaction by segment, part 1 of 2Table
SegmentActive engagementsClean r95% CIpHolm pSpearman rhop
Study set940.840.77 to 0.89< 0.001< 0.0010.84< 0.001
Outsourcing model
CXM270.90†< 0.001< 0.0010.89< 0.001
ITO250.83†< 0.001< 0.0010.86< 0.001
BPO230.93†< 0.001< 0.0010.94< 0.001
KPO190.88†< 0.001< 0.0010.85< 0.001
Institution type
Asset management110.88†< 0.0010.0010.840.001
Wealth management and private banking150.78†< 0.0010.0010.76< 0.001
Investment banking (advisory and capital-markets origination)100.76†0.0100.0100.600.069
Insurance (life, property and casualty, health)9‡
Commercial and business banking9‡
Payments and merchant acquiring (networks, acquiring, processing)100.97†< 0.001< 0.0010.95< 0.001
Credit card and payments issuing7‡
Retail and consumer banking8‡
Markets and trading (sales and trading, global markets)8‡
Private equity and private capital7‡
Process family
Corporate and back-office functions280.87†< 0.001< 0.0010.85< 0.001
Technology engineering and operations250.83†< 0.001< 0.0010.85< 0.001
Client servicing and communications7‡
Trade, settlement and reconciliation7‡
Payments, cards and disputes100.90†< 0.0010.0010.780.008
Credit, underwriting and suitability8‡
Regulatory, audit, tax and legal5‡
Financial crime and client onboarding4‡
Class of work
LOB Operational460.860.76 to 0.92< 0.001< 0.0010.84< 0.001
Corporate Functional480.810.69 to 0.89< 0.001< 0.0010.81< 0.001
Engagement status and lifecycle stage
Active, Build-Out310.830.67 to 0.92< 0.001< 0.0010.83< 0.001
Active, Transition/Cut-Over430.870.78 to 0.93< 0.001< 0.0010.86< 0.001
Active, Production200.83†< 0.001< 0.0010.81< 0.001
Canceled0a
Note: † Base under 30. No interval is reported. ‡ Base under 10. No statistic is reported. a No clean estimate, canceled engagements fall outside the active population.
Table 8b. Association with customer satisfaction by segment, part 2 of 2Table
SegmentSlope, points per rating point95% CIR squaredTOST pAll engagementsDescriptive rp
Study set8.157.07 to 9.230.711.0001500.85< 0.001
Outsourcing model
CXM8.56† n = 270.811.000420.88< 0.001
ITO8.12† n = 250.681.000400.81< 0.001
BPO10.15† n = 230.871.000370.91< 0.001
KPO8.03† n = 190.771.000310.88< 0.001
Institution type
Asset management7.10† n = 110.770.999240.87< 0.001
Wealth management and private banking6.27† n = 150.600.994230.82< 0.001
Investment banking (advisory and capital-markets origination)10.65† n = 100.580.967190.81< 0.001
Insurance (life, property and casualty, health)‡ n = 9
Commercial and business banking‡ n = 9
Payments and merchant acquiring (networks, acquiring, processing)9.28† n = 100.941.000130.86< 0.001
Credit card and payments issuing‡ n = 7
Retail and consumer banking‡ n = 8
Markets and trading (sales and trading, global markets)‡ n = 8
Private equity and private capital‡ n = 7
Process family
Corporate and back-office functions8.33† n = 280.761.000470.88< 0.001
Technology engineering and operations8.69† n = 250.691.000350.85< 0.001
Client servicing and communications‡ n = 7
Trade, settlement and reconciliation‡ n = 7
Payments, cards and disputes9.41† n = 100.820.999120.88< 0.001
Credit, underwriting and suitability‡ n = 8
Regulatory, audit, tax and legal‡ n = 5
Financial crime and client onboarding‡ n = 4
Class of work
LOB Operational8.416.90 to 9.920.741.000760.84< 0.001
Corporate Functional7.766.11 to 9.410.661.000740.87< 0.001
Engagement status and lifecycle stage
Active, Build-Out7.545.62 to 9.470.691.000310.83< 0.001
Active, Transition/Cut-Over9.197.59 to 10.800.771.000430.87< 0.001
Active, Production6.99†0.681.000200.83< 0.001
Canceledno clean estimate, canceled engagements fall outside the active population
Note: † Base under 30. No interval is reported. ‡ Base under 10. No statistic is reported.

The study set r was 0.84 (95% CI 0.77 to 0.89, Holm p < 0.001, n = 94 engagements). Of the 16 tested segment levels, 16 held after Holm control.

Association with the Engagement Indicator Mean

The mean of an engagement’s 100 indicator ratings, measured at engagement level (base 150 engagements). Where this indicator is one of the 100, the mean is recomputed without it.

This block is the measure itself, so its association with the measure is an identity, 1.00 by construction, in every segment, and not a finding.

Association with Intent to Leave

The respondent’s stated likelihood of leaving the current job within 12 months, rated 1 to 10 (C019). Measured at respondent level on up to 798 respondents, with the engagement-level form reported alongside.

Table 9a. Association with intent to leave by segment, part 1 of 2Table
SegmentRespondentsr95% CICluster bootstrap 95% CIpHolm p
Study set798−0.78−0.81 to −0.75−0.82 to −0.74< 0.001< 0.001
Outsourcing model
CXM215−0.78−0.83 to −0.72−0.87 to −0.66< 0.001< 0.001
ITO233−0.75−0.80 to −0.69−0.82 to −0.65< 0.001< 0.001
BPO196−0.86−0.89 to −0.82−0.91 to −0.80< 0.001< 0.001
KPO154−0.79−0.84 to −0.72−0.86 to −0.68< 0.001< 0.001
Institution type
Asset management122−0.83−0.88 to −0.77−0.91 to −0.70< 0.001< 0.001
Wealth management and private banking132−0.75−0.82 to −0.67−0.86 to −0.60< 0.001< 0.001
Investment banking (advisory and capital-markets origination)98−0.65−0.75 to −0.52−0.80 to −0.43< 0.001< 0.001
Insurance (life, property and casualty, health)71−0.86−0.91 to −0.78−0.92 to −0.75< 0.001< 0.001
Commercial and business banking76−0.73−0.82 to −0.61−0.86 to −0.53< 0.001< 0.001
Payments and merchant acquiring (networks, acquiring, processing)69−0.79−0.86 to −0.68−0.91 to −0.62< 0.001< 0.001
Credit card and payments issuing70−0.85−0.91 to −0.77−0.94 to −0.71< 0.001< 0.001
Retail and consumer banking67−0.83−0.89 to −0.73−0.91 to −0.64< 0.001< 0.001
Markets and trading (sales and trading, global markets)55−0.82−0.89 to −0.71−0.93 to −0.62< 0.001< 0.001
Private equity and private capital38−0.74−0.85 to −0.54§ n = 9< 0.001< 0.001
Process family
Corporate and back-office functions226−0.81−0.85 to −0.77−0.87 to −0.74< 0.001< 0.001
Technology engineering and operations194−0.73−0.79 to −0.66−0.81 to −0.61< 0.001< 0.001
Client servicing and communications89−0.82−0.88 to −0.74−0.94 to −0.50< 0.001< 0.001
Trade, settlement and reconciliation75−0.79−0.86 to −0.69−0.91 to −0.52< 0.001< 0.001
Payments, cards and disputes70−0.78−0.86 to −0.67−0.91 to −0.41< 0.001< 0.001
Credit, underwriting and suitability53−0.69−0.81 to −0.51§ n = 9< 0.001< 0.001
Regulatory, audit, tax and legal49−0.81−0.89 to −0.68§ n = 9< 0.001< 0.001
Financial crime and client onboarding42−0.88−0.93 to −0.78§ n = 7< 0.001< 0.001
Class of work
LOB Operational424−0.76−0.80 to −0.72−0.82 to −0.69< 0.001< 0.001
Corporate Functional374−0.81−0.84 to −0.77−0.85 to −0.74< 0.001< 0.001
Engagement status and lifecycle stage
Active, Build-Out166−0.61−0.70 to −0.51−0.75 to −0.41< 0.001< 0.001
Active, Transition/Cut-Over237−0.59−0.66 to −0.50−0.69 to −0.44< 0.001< 0.001
Active, Production95−0.59−0.71 to −0.44−0.78 to −0.28< 0.001< 0.001
Canceled3000.07−0.04 to 0.18−0.09 to 0.220.2250.225
Note: § Too few engagements for a cluster bootstrap interval.
Table 9b. Association with intent to leave by segment, part 2 of 2Table
SegmentSpearman rhopShare at 7 or above, distressedShare at 7 or above, otherEngagementsEngagement level r95% CITOST p
Study set−0.78< 0.001Not applicableNot applicable150−0.84−0.88 to −0.781.000
Outsourcing model
CXM−0.77< 0.001Not applicableNot applicable42−0.85−0.92 to −0.741.000
ITO−0.75< 0.001Not applicableNot applicable40−0.79−0.89 to −0.641.000
BPO−0.82< 0.001Not applicableNot applicable37−0.91−0.95 to −0.831.000
KPO−0.76< 0.001Not applicableNot applicable31−0.84−0.92 to −0.701.000
Institution type
Asset management−0.78< 0.001Not applicableNot applicable24−0.86†1.000
Wealth management and private banking−0.76< 0.001Not applicableNot applicable23−0.80†1.000
Investment banking (advisory and capital-markets origination)−0.67< 0.001Not applicableNot applicable19−0.68†0.982
Insurance (life, property and casualty, health)−0.88< 0.001Not applicableNot applicable14−0.92†1.000
Commercial and business banking−0.74< 0.001Not applicableNot applicable13−0.78†0.989
Payments and merchant acquiring (networks, acquiring, processing)−0.81< 0.001Not applicableNot applicable13−0.88†1.000
Credit card and payments issuing−0.82< 0.001Not applicableNot applicable12−0.92†1.000
Retail and consumer banking−0.84< 0.001Not applicableNot applicable12−0.88†0.999
Markets and trading (sales and trading, global markets)−0.76< 0.001Not applicableNot applicable11−0.94†1.000
Private equity and private capital−0.69< 0.001Not applicableNot applicable9‡‡
Process family
Corporate and back-office functions−0.79< 0.001Not applicableNot applicable47−0.87−0.93 to −0.781.000
Technology engineering and operations−0.76< 0.001Not applicableNot applicable35−0.79−0.89 to −0.611.000
Client servicing and communications−0.61< 0.001Not applicableNot applicable16−0.86†1.000
Trade, settlement and reconciliation−0.68< 0.001Not applicableNot applicable15−0.80†0.997
Payments, cards and disputes−0.67< 0.001Not applicableNot applicable12−0.84†0.997
Credit, underwriting and suitability−0.71< 0.001Not applicableNot applicable9‡‡
Regulatory, audit, tax and legal−0.76< 0.001Not applicableNot applicable9‡‡
Financial crime and client onboarding−0.80< 0.001Not applicableNot applicable7‡‡
Class of work
LOB Operational−0.74< 0.001Not applicableNot applicable76−0.81−0.88 to −0.721.000
Corporate Functional−0.81< 0.001Not applicableNot applicable74−0.87−0.91 to −0.791.000
Engagement status and lifecycle stage
Active, Build-Out−0.59< 0.001Not applicableNot applicable31−0.73−0.86 to −0.511.000
Active, Transition/Cut-Over−0.58< 0.001Not applicableNot applicable43−0.70−0.83 to −0.511.000
Active, Production−0.58< 0.001Not applicableNot applicable20−0.65†0.973
Canceled0.060.305Not applicableNot applicable560.11−0.15 to 0.370.078
Note: † Base under 30. No interval is reported. ‡ Base under 10. No statistic is reported.

The study set r was −0.78 (95% CI −0.81 to −0.75, Holm p < 0.001, n = 798 respondents). Of the 28 tested segment levels, 27 held after Holm control.

Comparison of Associations Across the Four Measures

Table 10. Associations across the four measuresTable
MeasureFormUnitnr95% CIpEquivalent to zeroRank among the four
Cancellation rateDescriptive contrastEngagement150−0.72−0.79 to −0.63< 0.001No3
Customer satisfactionClean estimateEngagement940.840.77 to 0.89< 0.001No1
Engagement indicator meanIdentity, 1.00 by construction, the block is this measure
Intent to leaveRespondent level, clusteredRespondent798−0.78−0.82 to −0.74< 0.001No2
Table 11. Pairwise comparison of associationsTable
Pair comparedDifference in rSteiger zpHolm pReading
Cancellation rate and customer satisfaction−0.13−7.89< 0.001< 0.001Differ
Cancellation rate and engagement indicator meanIdentity, not compared
Cancellation rate and intent to leave−0.12−3.98< 0.001< 0.001Differ
Customer satisfaction and engagement indicator meanIdentity, not compared
Customer satisfaction and intent to leave0.020.880.3810.381Do not differ
Engagement indicator mean and intent to leaveIdentity, not compared

Pairs were compared on the engagement level form of every measure, each turned so that a higher value was the better outcome, on the 150 engagements where the indicator and all four measures existed. Of the 3 pairs, 2 differed after Holm control.

Clustering and Effective Sample Size

Table 12. Clustering and effective sample sizeTable
StatisticValueReading
Clusters (engagements)150Engagements with at least one answer.
Mean respondents per engagement5.7Answers per engagement with at least one answer.
ICC(1)0.69Share of variance between engagements.
Design effect4.231 plus (mean cluster size minus 1) times ICC.
Nominal respondent n850Respondents who answered.
Effective n201Nominal n divided by the design effect.
Cluster bootstrap appliedYesApplied to every respondent level CI where the ICC is 0.05 or above.

Clustering reduced the 850 respondent answers to about 201 independent answers. Respondent level intervals therefore used the cluster bootstrap, and respondent level tests on intent to leave used cluster-robust errors.

Equivalence Tests of Null Results

Table 13. Equivalence tests of null resultsTable
MeasurenrEquivalence boundTOST p, lowerTOST p, upperEquivalent to zeroAchieved powerMDE at power 0.80Detection floor for this n
Cancellation rate150−0.72|r| < 0.301.000< 0.001No0.960.230.23
Customer satisfaction940.84|r| < 0.30< 0.0011.000No0.840.290.23
Engagement indicator meanIdentity, not a finding
Intent to leave798−0.78|r| < 0.301.000< 0.001No1.000.100.23

No measure showed a tested null. No result was inconclusive. The detection floor column is the study floor at 150 engagements.

Robustness Checks

Table 14. Robustness checksTable
CheckMeasurePrimary rCheck r95% CIChangeConclusion holds
Rank correlation in place of PearsonCancellation rate−0.72−0.75a−0.03Yes
Rank correlation in place of PearsonCustomer satisfaction0.840.84a0.00Yes
Rank correlation in place of PearsonIntent to leave−0.78−0.78a0.01Yes
Active engagements onlyIntent to leave−0.78−0.59−0.65 to −0.530.19Yes
Most influential engagement removed (largest Cook’s distance)Cancellation rate−0.72−0.73−0.80 to −0.65−0.01Yes
Most influential engagement removed (largest Cook’s distance)Customer satisfaction0.840.840.77 to 0.890.00Yes
Most influential engagement removed (largest Cook’s distance)Intent to leave−0.78−0.79−0.82 to −0.76−0.01Yes
Engagements weighted by respondent countCancellation rate−0.72−0.72a0.00Yes
Engagements weighted by respondent countCustomer satisfaction0.840.84a0.00Yes
Bootstrap of engagementsCancellation rate−0.72−0.72−0.79 to −0.650.00Yes
Bootstrap of engagementsCustomer satisfaction0.840.840.78 to 0.890.00Yes
Bootstrap of engagementsIntent to leave−0.78−0.78−0.82 to −0.740.00Yes
Thin-base segments removedCancellation rate−0.72−0.73−0.82 to −0.61−0.01Yes
Thin-base segments removedCustomer satisfaction0.840.850.76 to 0.910.01Yes
Thin-base segments removedIntent to leave−0.78−0.79−0.82 to −0.750.00Yes
Note: a No interval for this check.

Each change was computed before rounding, so it can differ by 0.01 from the difference of the two printed values.

Rows for engagement indicator mean are left out because this indicator is that measure (V15-R21). Every check held. A check holds when its test lands on the same side of 0.05 as the primary test and, where the primary test is below 0.05, its r keeps the primary sign. Thin-base rule: engagements in any level under 30 engagements of outsourcing model or process family removed. Institution type is not used, because every one of its levels is under 30.

Measure Independence and Part-Whole Correction

The measure against itself is 1 by construction and is not a finding. The other three were computed from other data.

Comparison with the Study Norm

Not applicable. A measure has no profile against itself.

Interpretation of the Data

Active, Transition/Cut-Over had the highest engagement indicator mean (mean 4.9, n = 43 engagements), and Canceled had the lowest (mean 2.6, n = 56 engagements). The measure did not differ by outsourcing model, institution type, process family, or class of work (Holm p 1.000 in every family). The associations with the other study measures held under every robustness check run on this measure (15 of 15 checks).

Limitations

The evidence is reported experience: what the delivery team said about its own engagement, gathered in one cross-section. The figures showed associations, not causes. Indicators about the financial institution were reported at second hand by vendor staff. Cancellation is a descriptive contrast, because canceled engagements were rated after they ended.

Segment levels at anecdote strength were Private equity and private capital, Credit, underwriting and suitability, Regulatory, audit, tax and legal, and Financial crime and client onboarding (n = 9, n = 9, n = 9, n = 7). Answers clustered within engagements, which reduced the effective number of independent answers (ICC 0.69, 850 answers worth about 201 independent answers).

Definitions

Table 15. DefinitionsTable
TermDefinition
Response scaleAs recorded, shown in Table 1. The indicator is not a rating, so no distressed range is defined.
Answering baseThe engagements on which the value is recorded.
Non-answersNone. The value is recorded for every engagement.
Indicator classEngagement attribute: a property of the engagement rather than of the respondent.
Failure categoryOne of the five failure categories of the Study Taxonomy, section 3. Only the 100 rated indicators carry one, and the indicator is not among them.
Engagement indicator meanThe mean of an engagement’s 100 indicator ratings.

Sources and Provenance

Table 16. Sources and provenanceTable
ItemValue
Study dataStudy Data.xlsx, Engagements sheet, sha256 219eba0457274d04
Statistics enginecompute_statistics.py, sha256 738319eef764602b
Statistics recordComputed Statistics.json, record MEASURE:engagement_indicator_mean, sha256 e405f65a43e37a6e
ComputedOctober 8, 2026, 01:38 UTC
TemplateIndicator Statistical Analysis Template, version 1.1 of 2026-10-06
Figures placed by script1,395 of 1,395

Continue the report

Executive summary →
Overview

Executive Summary

Four findings from 150 engagements

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Introduction

Introduction

Scope, evidence, and how the report is organized

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Part 1

Engagement Outcomes

Poor results on every measure, and what separates them

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Part 2

The Five Failure Categories

Where failure concentrates, category by category

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Part 3

Governance, Oversight, and Control

Controls that existed in name only

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Part 4

The Delivery Workforce

Early in their careers, dissatisfied, and many intending to leave

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Part 5

Manual Alteration

How the delivery team altered the work to sustain it

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Part 6

Executive Action Plan

Seven immediate actions and a first-year plan

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Appendices

Appendices

Definitions, indicator inventory, method, and disclosures

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Data

Study Data

Deep-dive analyses of the study indicators, published in stages

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