Competition a threat to companies
The three biggest threats facing companies are competition, supply chain disruption and property-related risks, according to an FM Global survey.
The study polled more than 500 financial executives in North America and Europe, and shows that executives expect the severity of their most prevalent business risks to remain constant or even intensify up to 2009.
It also reveals a range of emerging risks including changes in competition, government and regulatory developments, pricing volatility, variable client demand and political threats.
Attitudes on managing business risk vary substantially among financial executives in France, Germany, the US and the UK.
A higher percentage of North American executives are concerned about risks related to supply chain and property than their counterparts in Europe, who tend to focus more on risk related to competition.
UK executives routinely express more pessimism than their counterparts elsewhere. Some 62% of UK respondents worry about a loss of competitiveness, compared with 51% of all other respondents.
The study polled more than 500 financial executives in North America and Europe, and shows that executives expect the severity of their most prevalent business risks to remain constant or even intensify up to 2009.
It also reveals a range of emerging risks including changes in competition, government and regulatory developments, pricing volatility, variable client demand and political threats.
Attitudes on managing business risk vary substantially among financial executives in France, Germany, the US and the UK.
A higher percentage of North American executives are concerned about risks related to supply chain and property than their counterparts in Europe, who tend to focus more on risk related to competition.
UK executives routinely express more pessimism than their counterparts elsewhere. Some 62% of UK respondents worry about a loss of competitiveness, compared with 51% of all other respondents.