The survey, conducted in January, found that 77 percent of the CFOs expect corporate revenue to increase in 2011, compared to 69 percent last year. This represents a marked difference from fiscal troubles of 2009 when only 30 percent of those polled projected a revenue increase. The executives predicted a 10.4 percent increase in revenue compared to last year.

"There is a sense of optimism compared to 2009, 2010," said Aftab Jamil, partner and national leader of the technology and life sciences practice at BDO USA. "This is consistent with other data points we've been hearing about what has been going on in the economy."

Last week's from tech heavyweights gave credence to the sentiments of the 100 CFOs interviewed. Microsoft reported a record revenue of US$19.95 billion for the second quarter and SAP recorded a 27 percent increase in its fourth-quarter revenue compared to the year-ago period. EMC's consolidated revenue, which includes its VMware virtualization division, for its fourth quarter came in at a record $4.9 billion.

Despite the recession, technology firms have capital, said Jamil, partly because they trimmed research and development budgets to match the lean economy.

"They're sitting on a large amount of cash that is readily accessible," he said. "They have the means to execute. There is motivation to come out of their shell and preserve the market."