Companies are still struggling to get their heads around important non-financial metrics like reputation risk, global competition, and increased scrutiny from the media and NGOs.

A new Deloitte report In The Dark found that most companies are confident about their ability to track financial performance. According to the report, 87 percent describe their record as either excellent (43 percent) or good (44 percent). Compare that with the 29 percent who describe their ability to track non-financial performance as either excellent (5 percent) or good (24 percent). And with the 34 percent who describe their non-financial records as merely fair (21 percent) or poor (13 percent).

So there's the problem. Variables like customer satisfaction and employee commitment are ranked as big drivers of performance. Trouble is most companies don't have a clue how to measure the stuff.

Although the study shows board members are aware of the potential of non-financials, the reports suggests most will be struggling for some time to come.