3Q20 Emerging Risks Monitor Report Shows New Working Model and Managing Remote Work Round Out Top Three Concerns.

Senior executives continued to focus intensely on a second wave of coronavirus infections around the globe and the implications for managing work as a result, according to the latest Gartner, Inc. Emerging Risks Monitor Report.

Gartner surveyed 119 senior executives across most industries and geographies on the top concerns facing their businesses during the third quarter of 2020. The 'second wave' of COVID-19 topped executives' concerns for a second consecutive quarter, with the majority of the top 10 emerging risks having a direct connection to the pandemic and the response to it.

Executives continued to express operational concerns related to new working models, managing long-term remote work and their organizations' strategic responses in the face of the pandemic and related economic disruptions (see Table 1).

'The consistency with which executives around the world are highlighting the second wave of COVID-19 as the top risk is notable in light of a looming and significant U.S. presidential election, continued extreme weather events and broad social instability,' said Matt Shinkman, vice president with the Gartner Risk and Audit Practice. 'The pandemic has either exacerbated many of the other risks noted by executives in our report or created entirely new sets of operational risk areas, so it makes sense that concerns over a second wave predominate.'

Table 1. Top Five Risks by Overall Risk Score: 4Q19-3Q20

Rank

4Q19

1Q20

2Q20

3Q20

1

Strategic Assumptions

Strategic Assumptions

The Second Wave

The Second Wave

2

Cyber-Physical Convergence

Cyber-Physical Convergence

The New Working Model

The New Working Model

3

Extreme Weather Events

2020 US Presidential Election

Strategic Corrections

Remote Talent Management

4

Data Localization

Data Localization

2020 US Presidential Election

2020 US Presidential Election

5

U.S.-China Trade Talks

Macroeconomic Stagnation

US/China Trade Talks

Strategic Corrections

Source: Gartner (October 2020)

Executives Grappling with Opportunities and Risks of New Working Models

One of the largest impacts beyond accounting for the health and safety of employees in a second wave scenario is the prolonged and dramatic impacts to how organizations will work effectively.

Gartner's data shows that nearly twice as many employees will work remotely permanently post-pandemic compared to pre-pandemic, with executives reporting that 19% of their workforce will be permanently remote now, compared to just 10% pre-pandemic.

'We are beginning to see executives come to terms with prolonged remote work in a way that wasn't feasible in the early stages of the pandemic, with the abruptness of the move revealing large operational holes in the ability to manage people and risks,' said Mr. Shinkman. 'Our data now shows that HR leaders have drastically stepped up their programs for monitoring employee productivity, with 73% indicating they are partaking in some sort of monitoring, compared to less than half in April.'

While organizations have put better controls in place for individual employee productivity, risks around maintaining culture, collaboration and team camaraderie remain high on executives' list of concerns.

Viewing Risks as Opportunities

Even as executives grapple with the new set of risks that come with remote work, many executives also see opportunities in the situation. Nearly half of 328 respondents (49%) to a Gartner poll on remote work highlighted the cost savings as an opportunity for organizations, while 27% highlighted the potential productivity gains.

'Since we started tracking emerging risks we have always counseled our clients to try to view these new risks as opportunities to improve their organization's responses,' said Mr. Shinkman. 'The reality of prolonged remote work provides a unique window for enterprise risk management teams to shape the right policies to both encourage productivity, gain cost efficiencies and make sure the organization is protected from a cybersecurity perspective.'

More detailed analysis is available to Gartner clients in the full report and webinar recording 3Q20 Emerging Risks Report and Monitor.

Nonclients can complete free registration to read more in Emerging Risk Trends.

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Contacts

Justin Lavelle

Gartner

Tel +1 571 230 0816

justin.lavelle@gartner.com

Rob van der Meulen

Gartner

Tel +44 1784 267 892

rob.vandermeulen@gartner.com

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