Most companies are confident they have the resilience to weather a crisis.
88%
Leaders expect to transform their business, with technology and sustainability-related transformations being the most likely: nearly two thirds (62%) expect to transform their sustainability strategy in the coming years, second only to technology transformation (68%). Both have increased sharply – +18 percentage points vs 2020 – making them clear areas of focus moving forward.
Businesses are confident they can respond to the transformations ahead, are planning to invest and are confident they have the resilience to weather a crisis.
Transformations ahead: technology and sustainability top the list
To tackle the transformations expected, make the most of investments planned and deliver on commitments, particularly related to ESG, businesses need to move beyond planning and intent into action. To do this they need the right programmes in place, and the right people with the right skills.
Discover more about the ESG topics businesses are focusing on, and the leadership skills they believe their organisation needs in the coming years, in our C-suite barometer.
Moving from strategy to action
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Lorraine Hackett
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Group Brand &
Communications Director
C-suite barometer 2021
Time for action
An average of 87% of leaders are confident their business can tackle the trends affecting them - an increase of 8 percentage points over last year.
87%
Businesses consider a transformation in their sustainability strategy in the coming three to five years likely.
62%
Two thirds expect their business to go through a technology transformation in the next three to five years.
68%
Remote working is here to stay: half expect increased remote or flexi-working to be a long-term change for their business.
50%
Adapting to remote working’ was the most significant challenge caused by Covid-19: almost half named it in their top three disruptions.
45%
Leaders expect trends in technology/innovation to have the biggest impact on their business in the coming years: they are confident they can respond and are planning to increase investment in IT systems.
The pandemic showed the world a new way of working, as businesses harnessed technology and adapted to remote working: this will be a major business legacy of the pandemic.
Harnessing the power of technology
Leaders are prioritising IT: 82% plan to increase investment in maintaining and evolving IT systems.
82%
Technology trends are firmly on executives’ radars: over half expect technology/innovation trends to have a major impact on their business in the next 3-5 years.
53%
Three quarters plan to increase investment in sustainability initiatives over the next 12 months – a 27-point increase.
75%
Half have already made public commitments to ESG issues including reducing waste (62%), reducing pollution (60%), human rights (58%), responsible supply chain (57%), diversity (51%).
50%
ESG (environmental, social and governance) is a clear priority for the C-suite: they expect to transform their sustainability strategy; most – particularly large businesses – say Covid-19 sharpened their focus on ESG. Around three quarters of businesses say they are either currently focusing or planning to focus on a range of ESG topics within the coming year.
ESG now firmly on the C-suite agenda
Most (58%) say Covid-19 has sharpened their focus on ESG: in large companies ($1bn+ revenue) 70% say it has increased.
70%
Businesses consider a transformation in their sustainability strategy in the coming three to five years likely - an 18-point increase vs 2020.
62%
Most (63%) already report on sustainability and a further 25% plan to in the coming 12 months.
63%
The C-suite barometer
The C-suite barometer
The C-suite barometer
The C-suite barometer
Download the report
Download the report
C-suite barometer 2021
Time for action
Download the report
Download the report
The Mazars C-suite barometer, conducted at the end of 2021, uncovered a sense of confidence and resilience: with the ongoing impact of the pandemic, rising inflation and the horrifying attack on Ukraine, these are qualities that are likely to be tested once again this year.
Our study, based on responses from over 1,000 C-suite executives from 39 countries around the world, found businesses were confident in their ability to respond to the trends ahead, expecting to transform their businesses and planning to invest. ESG is now firmly on the C-suite agenda and businesses are making public commitments on a range of ESG topics. But, with an apparent gap between intent and implementation, are businesses able to fully action their strategies?
Download the report
Download the report
C-suite barometer 2021
Time for action
Want to know more?
Lorraine Hackett
Contact
Group Brand &
Communications Director
