CEO Barometer: Managers’ priorities for their companies 2023

Clearly, the opinion is shared among many general managers in the last 12 months of economic slowdown (67%) and growth social conflict (52%) are the two most serious threats to the growth of their company according to the last Cius Barometer, Management and Ipsos Peruthe ninth of February

In this context, to which the risks of each party are added, what are the actors to do? 60% of CEOs who responded to the survey indicate that the priorities for the firm this year are to improve process efficiency and/or reduce labor costs..

Willard Manrique, CEO of Crosland Group, He says efficiency is the way companies have been following the pandemic and performance has increased. But not unless. “The Peruvian consumer has changed his behavior in many ways. Companies, in commercial management, should consider rethinking the channels, avoiding dependence on the modern channel, to the extent that the product portfolio can be replaced. by white and cheap notes, as noted“, he reports.

He adds that, from the point of view of consumption, value for money and rational purchase are more and more important, and that this should not be neglected only in internal effects. “It is important not to overlook the medium-term strategic view because of uncertainty.” Companies assume to assume risk and social and economic volatility; and therefore we are constantly working on the development of scenarios“, comment.

Sangram Sahoo, general manager of TCS Peru, He says that from the technology and IT consulting sector, two crucial strategic points stand out: the customer experience and the constant search for efficiency is the organization of partners. “It is very important to keep up to date with everything related to research and innovation. The country has immense potential in IT talent,” he said.

Manrique points out that although the operation of the supply chain is normalized with decreasing complaints, it is still possible for companies to adopt strategies that minimize future risks.

Social struggles. The demonstrations began in December and reached their peak in the first months of this year. But in some parts of the country (although the southern roads are still blocked). In this context, 47% of Cius consider social conflicts to be decreasing. But it is not the 31% who remain the same. For Sangram Sahoo, general manager of TCS Peru, he will enjoy the conflict “as long as there are services and dialogue”. And Willard Manrique, CEO of Croslandia Group, promises that in Peru, as long as there are structural problems, we will have vulnerable groups ready to move. “In February, the Office of the Ombudsman registered 219 social conflicts and more than a thousand collective protest actions in January. Are they all paid? We cannot trust this apparent slowdown in the social conflict,” he said.

What is expected inflation in 2023?

It makes sense for the CEO to have cost reduction as part of his priorities for the next 12 months, I expect the 92% growth rate to be outside the target range (between 1% and 3%). In fact, 74% predict that they will range between 4% and 8%.

The second day of * THISthe annual rate of the Consumer Price Index, corresponding to the last twelve months; shows a variation of 8.99% for the National indicator and 8.65% for Metropolitan Lima.

“Considering prices have already risen and the “correction” is going to be slow, these higher costs must be transferred to prioritized activities (by the team). Not necessarily all plans will be able to be carried out, but they will be seen as the most useful and better for those with the ability to do things well. In this line, I would understand control – even a certain slow speed in spending expenses, “exaggerates” John Carlos Odar, director of Phase Consultants.

For the economist; Growth is unlikely to return to the target range this year and instead is expected to move towards it in the first months of 2024. But it highlights some things that could delay this even further. “Everything depends on pulses. For example, now there is talk of a possible El Niño Phenomenon,” says Odar.

Two Cius counsels argue the same lines. “Inflation has a direct impact on consumption. In our country, it continues to be more than 8% for more than 10 months. Although some export inputs have been reduced, in some countries the price rise is more significant than in others”, adds Manrique.

“Continuously increasing the country’s growth is as important as keeping inflation under control,” says Sahoo.

What area do companies focus on the most?

Cius also in the trucks that Their companies give the most attention and resources to these areas: Sales and/or marketing (33%) and technology, IT (21%). While these tend to be the smallest, the reputation is corporate (3%) and human resources (6%).

“We use our technology information to manage our business to work with global standards,” says the general manager of TCS Peru.

Priorities and dangers

By Patricia Rojas, Director of Public Affairs at Ipsos Peru

Contrary to what is happening in other parts of the world, the results of the second edition of the CEO, Management and Ipsos Barometer suggest that lay or collective employees are not among the priorities of their insights. mentioned by 60% of Cius, innovation and development of new products and services (37%), managing liquidity (32%), commercial strategies (32%), digital transformation (28%) and improvement or development of sustainability strategy (25%). These priorities seem to be supported by the attention given to the Cius position in commercial or market areas (33%), technical (21%), and operations (17%).

But all this occurs in a context in which the Cius show that the most dangerous risk of increasing the companies of the next 12 months is the slowdown of the Peruvian economy (67%) and the increase in social conflicts (52%). ). Other perceived risks are the instability of the democratic system (30%), inflation (23%), political conflicts (21%) and the suspension of infrastructure and mining projects (21%). In other words, the main risks are in the economic and political arena.

Regarding the concern about social conflicts, 47% of those interviewed feel that these are decreasing, 31% believe they will remain the same and 21% believe they are increasing. In short, almost half of the Cius still do not perceive a decrease in the conflict of the first two months, or perhaps they are more cautious about the future.

In recent days, the new protests have not taken care of a significant call, but have the consequences of economic activity in the south, for example, where communication networks are blocked, which affects families more through fewer opportunities. price increases, shortages, etc. Everything seems to indicate that the mere spread of social conflicts would cause the Ceo’s priorities to change.