Patterns of Response to Global Threats and Opportunities

Abstract

Response to global threats and opportunities is examined on the basis of three behavioral variables: 1. Trigger identification of an environmental reason for change, 2. Response time to prepare for implementing a change, and 3. Newness in the content of response. The paper explores the correlations among these variables and their impact on the successful treatment of threats and opportunities. Differences of response to threats versus opportunities show a higher change readiness in dealing with opportunities than with threats. These differences are affected by the orientation, or strategy of the organization – external or internal. The data for the exploratory study is based on questionnaires from managers of eighty international organizations.