The IBS provides input for the ifo Business Climate Index, which is the most recognized leading indicator for the German business cycle, the ifo Employment Barometer, and the ifo Export Expectations, see Becker and Wohlrabe (2008) for details. According to a meta-study by Sauer and Wohlrabe (2019), the survey is usually answered by senior management such as firm owers, members of the executive board, or department heads.