Increasing agility as a matter of urgency

THERE is no doubt that our world is changing rapidly, under the influence of globalisation, greater volatility, accelerating digitalisation and increasing attention on sustainability. Consequently, our business environment has become even more challenging than ever before.

Statistics have shown that the lifespan of the world's most successful companies has been declining. Innosight, a management consulting firm, has predicted that the average lifespan of S&P 500 companies could reach 14 years by 2026 - compared to 33 years in 1965 and 20 years in 1990. The job market is also changing rapidly. Based on studies by real estate firms CBRE and Genesis, 50 per cent of occupations today will no longer exist by 2025.

These findings reinforce what we already know: The abilities to innovate, adapt fast and reinvent are no longer good-to-have. For companies, they are the basis for survival and competitiveness; for employees - staying relevant in the job market.