The Economist Intelligence Unit bears sole responsibility for the content of this report. The Economist Intelligence Unit’s editorial team executed the online survey, conducted the interviews and wrote the report. The findings and views expressed in this report do not necessarily reflect the views of the sponsor.
Our research for this report drew on two main initiatives:
- We conducted a survey of 600 senior executives from around the world. Three-quarters of respondents were C-level, or board-level, and the sample included more than 200 chief executive officers. The survey included companies of a variety of sizes, and from a wide range of industries.
- To supplement the survey results, the Economist Intelligence Unit also conducted a programme of qualitative research, comprising a series of in depth interviews with risk consultants, futurists and strategic planning advisers.
About the long-range risk grid:
The Economist Intelligence Unit long-range risk grid is a visual representation of the results from a survey of 600 senior executives from around the world. We questioned respondents about their perception of the severity and likelihood of 46 key risks, and then asked them how prepared they believed their organisation is for tackling these risks over the coming decade. The findings are represented on a chart, with severity and likelihood on the horizontal axis, and preparedness on the vertical axis. A diagonal line divides the grid into two halves. The risks that appear above and to the right of the diagonal line are those where levels of preparedness lag levels of perceived severity and impact in comparison with other risks. Most of the risks that appear in this half have been selected as Tier One risks—those that, according to our survey, need most attention owing to the perceived gap between preparedness and severity/likelihood. Several of those above the diagonal line (and all ofthose below the line) have been designated Tier Two risks. In the case of those Tier Two risks above the line, this is due to either the low perceived severity and impact of the risk, or very high levels of preparedness. In the case of those below the line, these may still be serious risks, but our survey indicates that levels of preparedness are keeping pace with their perceived severity and impact.
