Crowe Executive Outlook Study
Forward-thinking leaders are finding value in volatility by focusing on talent, technology (particularly artificial intelligence [AI]), and their financial fundamentals. Discover further findings from the latest Crowe Executive Outlook Study, conducted in collaboration with Forbes.
Revealing new frontiers for enterprise growth
In collaboration with Forbes, Crowe surveyed executives to uncover new leadership strategies in the face of market uncertainty.
At Crowe, we believe that the most successful business leaders are those who embrace volatility and use it as a catalyst for finding opportunities. Thanks to the Crowe Executive Outlook Study, we now have timely research that supports this perspective.
Banking: Forging resilience from disruption
Read our report to see how forward-thinking banking leaders invest in innovation in both stable and volatile conditions – and drive business value.
Private equity: Seeking value from volatility
Read our report to see how private equity leaders who invest in innovation in both stable and volatile conditions drive more business value.
See the latest Crowe Executive Outlook Study insights
Today, leaders of all types of organizations face volatility in the form of market turbulence, changing consumer trends, emerging technologies, and other areas. What sets truly innovative leaders apart, though, is their proactive and even positive attitude toward these shifts. Read our report on the findings from the latest Crowe Executive Outlook Study and learn more about how innovative leaders pull their organizations forward faster during volatile times.
Seeing the benefits of volatility
Crowe, in collaboration with Forbes, surveyed 500 industry executives of companies with $500 million or more in yearly revenues. The results reinforce findings first established in the preceding study that attitude toward volatility remains a key indicator of enterprise success across several metrics – even as most respondents view uncertainty as less of a threat. Using their respective views on volatility as a litmus test, three groups are represented in proportions nearly identical to the first study.
Leaders
Followers
62% of those surveyed reported that their organizations are less likely to view volatility favorably, but might see avenues of opportunity.
Laggards
13% of those surveyed do not think their organizations view volatility as an opportunity.
Leaders
Followers
62% of those surveyed reported that their organizations are less likely to view volatility favorably, but might see avenues of opportunity.
Laggards
13% of those surveyed do not think their organizations view volatility as an opportunity.
This new analysis explores how embracing volatility and seeking opportunities to innovate in the face of risk can make organizations more responsive, more capable, and more likely to meet or exceed revenue growth targets.
As in the previous study, executives in the Leaders category report greater tangible enterprise successes than their peers, with higher revenue growth rates as well as greater success in both reducing risks and deriving value from volatility. Leaders, who generally are in the banking, insurance, and technology, media, and telecommunications industries, say they are more likely to invest in workforce skills and workplace diversity. They also report that their organizations are well equipped to benefit from volatility.
Key data points from the Crowe Executive Outlook Study
Findings from our recent research, conducted in collaboration with Forbes, revealed differences between leaders and laggards in terms of business benefit. Within our framework, Leaders are defined as those who see volatility as an opportunity for their organization, while Laggards do not.
- Half of the Leaders group realized at least 10% revenue growth in their organization over the most recent fiscal year, compared to only 24% of Laggards
- Leaders are seven times more likely than Laggards to say that they see organizational benefits in market disruptions and volatility
- 53% of Laggards believe uncertainty about the future is impeding their organization's efforts to benefit from volatility, while just 36% of Leaders say the same
- Leaders are four times more likely than Laggards to report they are taking extensive steps to address volatility via technology
- 50% of leaders report they are extensively expanding employees' skills and applying emerging technologies versus 18% of laggards
Additional findings
From AI to talent management, find out how forward-thinking leaders are approaching changes ahead.
“The best companies and leaders are the ones who can truly balance the now while also maintaining a vision for what the future holds. It’s not about predicting the future; it’s about a relentless commitment to building and enabling an agile organization that is willing to reimagine and disrupt itself.”
– Mark Baer, CEO, Crowe LLPLeaders act on disruptive innovation
Leaders look for new opportunities in volatility
Leaders collaborate with knowledgeable external teams
Leaders invest more in preparing their workforce
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Volatility is the sound of opportunity knocking
We can help you open the door to new opportunities.
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