Critical Issues
Navigate the future of growth and
innovation with confidence.
2021 Critical Issues
Each year, Council members vote on the most important issues facing their industry, in their region of the globe. The annual Critical Issues become the key areas of focus for member discussion and Council events throughout the year.
Business Model Strategy
Areas of Focus:
- Outcomes-based business models – Transition playbook for business model change
- Rise of everything-as-a-service and strategies to help build consumption based models
Integrating New Disruptive Technologies into Your Innovation Portfolio
Areas of Focus:
- Explore advancements in HMI (human-machine interfaces), computing power and impact to business
- Integrating AI-ML/AR-VR/blockchain as part of the business strategy (explore use cases within each area and determine ‘best fit’)
- Impact of technology on environment post-COVID (e.g. clean air, water)
Translating Consumer Trends into Business Opportunities
Areas of Focus:
- Building digital trust – Assessing willingness of customers to share Personally Identifiable Information (PII) through digital platforms
- Effect of economic uncertainty on business purchasing and planning decisions across key consumer groups
Nurturing an Innovation Culture
Areas of Focus:
- Establishing and maintaining a culture of risk taking – Be proactive towards risk in decision making and communication
- Accelerating innovation through sustainable and successful partnerships
- Organic growth – Strategic imperatives
Mapping Future Customer Experiences
Areas of Focus:
- Journey mapping to create a unique customer experience
- Digital/User experience – Effective design and implementation
- Driving operational efficiencies and effectiveness for optimal return on customer experience
Rationalizing Risk in Innovation
Areas of Focus:
- Tracking/reporting innovation activities – Risk mitigation, readiness, business unit alignment
- Generative and iterative portfolios – Establishing a process to effectively balance priorities
- Innovation priorities outside the core
- Smart risk management and risk transfer
- Holistic picture – Gaining a complete, overall view of factors that impact every industry investment