Megatrends and Complex Megatrends

Question 1

Describe the general concepts of Megatrends.

Answer 1

Megatrends focus on macroeconomic and geostrategic forces that shape the world. It covers a large range (global) and takes into consideration major impacts, “long-time” horizon and are factual and often backed by verifiable data.

Question 2

Name the 5 SIMPLIFIED exemplary megatrend concepts.

Answer 2

1. Shift in global economic power - new economic world order and shifting of power centers
2. Demographic shift - aging population and skills shortages
3. Accelerating urbanization - increased mass influx into urban centers
4. Rise in technology - digitization of value chains, Internet of Things and new cooperation models
5. Climate Change and resource scarcity - environmental crises, climate change and scarcity of natural resources

Question 3

What is happening with the demographic shift in age across the globe?

Answer 3

People are living much longer, so the world population of people age 60 years or older is increasing and it is predicted by 2050 it will have increased by at least 21%.

Question 4

What is happening with the demographic shift in the world’s Youth? What challenges do they face?

Answer 4

9 out of 10 people between the ages of 10-24 live in less-developed countries. 73.4 million youth between the ages of 15-24 are unemployed and 57 million children are not enrolled in school. This data proves the difficulty that demographic shifts bring to management as a whole.

Question 5

Name some of the challenges/changes of ‘Demographic change.’ (complex Megatrend)

Answer 5

Regional development asymmetries, global population aging, urban growth regions and increasing migration waves

Question 6

Name some of the challenges/changes of ‘Social disparities.’ (complex Megatrend)

Answer 6

Increasing precarious living conditions, increase in wealth concentration, intensification of social conflicts and increasing rural-urban disparity.

Question 7

Name some of the challenges/changes of ‘Differentiated Lifeworlds.’ (complex Megatrend)

Answer 7

Weakening of traditional gender roles, new forms of individuality, dynamic biographic development, complex identity formation and global patterns of consumption.

Question 8

Name some of the challenges/changes of ‘New political Work Disorder.’ (complex Megatrend)

Answer 8

Multi-polar world, asymmetrical conflict lines, authoritarian varieties of democracy, dismantling of welfare provision and regional integration projects

Question 9

Name some of the challenges/changes of ‘Digital transformation.’ (complex Megatrend)

Answer 9

Digital networking in everyday life, new opportunities through “big data,” the establishment of loT paradigms, breakthrough in the fields of artificial intelligence and robotics and the vulnerability of critical infrastructure.

Question 10

Name some of the challenges/changes of ‘Biotechnical transformation.’ (complex Megatrend)

Answer 10

Development of modified and synthetic organisms, improvement of human abilities, “smart materials,” and new construction principles and existential risks.

Question 11

Name some of the challenges/changes of ‘Volatile Economy.’ (complex Megatrend)

Answer 11

Global debt(?) overload, concentration of productivity and profits, erratic economic and trade policy, disruptive change in industry structures and short-term investment patterns.

Question 12

Name some of the challenges/changes of ‘Global power shifts.’ (complex Megatrend)

Answer 12

Emergence of new powers, growth f the global middle class, increasing influence of non-state actors, shift form states to municipalities and “women on the rise.”

Question 13

Name some of the challenges/changes of ‘Business ecosystem.’ (complex Megatrend)

Answer 13

New interface markets, expansion of the platform economy, sharing as a business model, the flexibility of production systems and shared values as a new paradigm.

Question 14

Name some of the challenges/changes of ‘Anthropogenic environmental damage.’ (complex Megatrend)

Answer 14

Anthropogenic climate change, increasing environmental pollution, loss of biodiversity, increasing volumes of waste products and tightening of regulations in relation to the environment.

Question 15

Name some of the challenges/changes of ‘Changed work environments.’ (complex Megatrend)

Answer 15

De-centralized organization, assisted and automated working, more complex tasks, dynamic skills development and increasing diversity.

Question 16

Name some of the challenges/changes of ‘Urbanization.’ (complex Megatrend)

Answer 16

Unmanaged urban growth, modernization crisis in municipal infrastructures, expansion of adaptive infrastructure systems and generative and sustainable urban development.

Question 17

In what two categories can a Megatrend map be further broken down (derived) into?

Answer 17

“Industry-specific” Megatrend maps and “Function-specific” Megatrend maps.

Question 18

Are cross-system “Macro-megatrends” directly “usable” for management practice? Why or why not?

Answer 18

No, the data-based observation and recording of macro-megatrends first requires “operationalization” in various dimensions (e.g. industry-specific, functional-, etc.) in order to be useful for management action.

Question 19

Industry-specific megatrend tableaus - list 10 megatrends in the logistics industry:

Answer 19

1. Globalization and the associated volatility of good flows;
2. New risks from terrorism due to political, fiscal and economic instability;
3. Demographic change: aging society, increasing cultural diversity and moving to urban centers;
4. Technological change: the digitalization and automation of logistical processes;
5. New lifestyles, new shopping behaviors and new forms of business relations in e-commerce;
6. New players and their entry into the competitive logistics arena;
7. Service: progressive transition from industry to service economy;
8. Professionalization, industrialization and “efficient thinking;”
9. Sustainability on the way to a more environmentally conscious and sustainable economy;
10. Core competence thinking, effectiveness and shareholder value success thinking