Volatility is increasing. What was true a few months ago can shift drastically: think about commodity prices, currencies or the performance of emerging markets…  Never before has the economic and business environment had such an impact on companies.

All this volatility can be dangerous because it distracts companies from focusing on the essentials: what are the trends that will shape the competitiveness landscape in 2015, and beyond?

Because the world is volatile, it does not mean that it is totally unpredictable. It is possible – and indeed critical – to identify those major issues that will have a deeper and more fundamental impact on business and society. The most successful companies will be those who will address these changes and opportunities early, and turn them into a competitive strategy.