The impact levels of new and emerging macro trends are defined as emerging (likely to drive business needs in the future — keep watching), through maturing, to burning (you cannot afford to ignore — already driving new business needs).

The credit crisis that afflicted the financial system resulted in the fall of banks and financial institutions all over the world and, in turn, caused the economic downturn we’re currently in recovery from. It is however unclear at the moment whether we are facing a V-shaped or W-shaped recovery.

Globalisation from both supply and demand perspectives, as well as competition, is changing the way the global economy functions. The speed at which the credit crisis and worldwide economic downturn spread across the globe demonstrates how interconnected the global economy is. On the horizon, however, is a counter-trend to globalisation: localisation.

Despite the temporary nature of the downturn, we are nevertheless using natural resources and energy sources at increasing rates. Reacting to the economic crisis, economies are leaning to alternative energy sources to reduce, amongst others, oil dependency.

After recent scandals, transparency and traceability of economic activity are on the agenda. Related to this, the role of shareholders or concentration on shareholder value and stakeholder power is now under debate.

The Internet is enabling better access to information; it is now a given that information can be accessed at any time, from anywhere, by anybody. This transparency is empowering the consumer. It has also enabled the rise of peer-to-peer (P2P) trading we are seeing at the present time.

The nature of employment will continue to evolve, as workers seek to change their roles and the concept of the entreployee continues to have growing importance.

Climate change and public perception of the causes or the economic downturn have raised corporate responsibility and ethical operations high on the agenda of corporate decision makers. Venture Philanthropy is characterised by partnership engagements, varying financing techniques, and a desire for donors and recipients to maximise quantifiable ‘social return on investment’