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Global Senior Executive Summary Report 2011

Prepared for Senior Executive Contributors

INTRODUCTION

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INTRODUCTION
This document summarises some key findings from BPRIs recent senior executive global studies.

In a world where technology is facilitating ever higher expectations of what is possible, where new markets are harder and riskier to develop and wherepreviously stable economies have been subject to financial crises of unexpected proportions it is interesting to understand how business leaders are responding.

This report explores each of these themes in more detail. It can be read as an integrated whole or in standalone sections.
1. The Connected World How business is responding to new technologies and mobile solutions 2. The New Worlds Howdifferent geographies are the new focus for business expansion, despite a myriad of risks

3. The Financial World
How the economic problems, especially in the Eurozone are impacting business decisions

EUROPE ASIA

AUSTRALIA

BPRI Group conducts a global survey every year amongst the most senior executives from top corporates in global markets. (US, China, Japan, UK, Germany, France,Italy, Spain and Australia)

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Last year we found that over 60% of global executives believed the business environment would be significantly different over the next 12 months.

Our results this year show that senior executives in top corporate and government roles are dealing with changes resulting from the increasing connectedness facilitated by new andadapting technologies. Social and business networking portals, e-tablets and readers and cloud computing are changing the way companies and their consumers interact and behave. Huge opportunities exist for those that harness the technology in innovative ways. It is now prudent to consider the impact that viral consumer campaigns can have on the reputation of a business or government.

The worldhas changed with new markets in new geographies becoming the focus for investment. Large centres of population and resource-rich locations in Africa, Asia and Latin America are increasingly viewed as worth the inherent risk previously associated with operating there.
The financial crisis and global recession – felt to some extent in all the markets we surveyed – created particular problems forEuro-zone economies where executives have changed the way they prioritise important business issues on a market by market basis.

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1 THE CONNECTED WORLD

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KEY TECHNOLOGY TRENDS LIKELY TO SHAPE THE FUTURE

Executives believe that aspects of technology will be integral to the growth of their businesses. The chart below illustrates our findings in thisarea. On the following pages we explore some of these drivers in more detail…

Key Drivers of Future Growth

Using analytics to derive insight Using mobile technology solutions Implementing cyber security Managing and optimizing digital investments Sustainability solutions

61% 52% 52% 47% 46% 25% 25% 22%

Using cloud computing
Implementing and using open source technology

Using SmartGrid technology

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TECHNOLOGY & MOBILE SOLUTIONS WILL HELP SHAPE THE BUSINESS OF THE FUTURE
Globally, we found that the introduction of mobile technology solutions remains a preeminent concern amongst senior executives, on par with the effective implementation of cyber security measures. Executives believe that technology is going to have as profound an impact upon thebusiness world as it is having in the social sphere. As ever, corporate reputation continues to be a concern for executives, as control of a business’ image becomes more contested. Arcadia Group and Vodafone suffered not only damage to property, but less tangible damage to their reputations as a result of protest movements organised through social media in the UK.

The integrative power of social...