Business Week published a top 20 done by BCG and which is a result of a poll among 948 executives from 68 countries. Below are the first 10:
1. Apple rated by approx. 25% of the respondents
2. 3M by 12%
3. Microsoft by 9%
4. GE by 9%
5. Sony by 6%
6. Dell by 6%
7. IBM by 5%
8. Google by 5%
9. P&G by 4%
10. Nokia by 4%
Some quick comments: Apple is obviously leading the pack with more than the sum of the next two. Microsoft is on the 3rd spot, perhaps somewhat surprinsingly for some and this actually supports very well Jeff's point that due to the constant bashing of its "fans", media or analysts Microsoft's success stories are not spread out in a proper way. (I guess that's Robert's job :))
Then the usual suspects, I am surprised that Google is lower perceived than Dell for example, though Dell's innovation in the supply chain management cannot be overseen. It may also have something to do with the business model and industries as Dell plays the low cost provider role.
Dell is about as innovative as a CNA inspector. They have great execution as far as the supply chain goes -- they are good at making things suck so much that you can rest assured you've paid the cheapest -- but nothing original comes out of Texas. I was hopping Amazon would make it on the list.