Factors affecting companies' readiness to implement workplace training were identified through a survey completed by 50 selected partner companies of the 44 National Workplace Literacy grantees during 1995-1996. Selection of the business partners to whom the survey was administered was left to the grantees' discretion. A 25-item questionnaire called the Critical Linkages survey was used to collect information regarding the following: companies' products and services; the time from businesses' first contact with the workplace literacy organization to the beginning of their first literacy training; and factors associated with the early implementation of workplace literacy programs. Of the companies surveyed, 67% began initial workplace literacy training within 10 months of their initial contact with a workplace literacy organization. The following factors were associated with earlier implementation of workplace literacy training: large company; increasing work force (in the case of product manufacturers but not service deliverers); recent increase or decrease in profits or level of service; restructuring and new technology; previous experience with workplace education programs; and company that values flexibility and worker autonomy. (Appended are the survey instrument, survey-related correspondence, a frequency distribution, and a data analysis.) (MN)