Coming out of the disruptions of the past three years, when many  organizations, employees, and consumers felt like they were operating  in survival mode, a growth mindset is now taking hold in businesses of  all kinds. Many employees are partially or completely back to working  in person, consumers are moving more freely around the globe, and the  general sense of crisis has abated. The long-anticipated New Normal is  finally coming into view.

That does not mean organizations can ignore the effects of inflation, a  potential economic recession, and continued geopolitical strife. But as  disruption is increasingly included in strategic plans, a unique opportunity  emerges—and executives are working to reinvigorate the workforce, maximize  innovation potential, and meet consumer demands with resilience and speed.

Our second Innovation Index, created using a survey of 1,000 business  and IT executives, provides a comprehensive look at how North American  organizations across industries are prioritizing business strategies, digital  investments, and innovation to create value. 

Overall, this year’s survey respondents are more  hopeful about the future. Pandemic concerns  have dissipated, and strategic focus is now on  driving growth, controlling costs, and improving  productivity. Developing engaging customer  experiences continues to be key, even as consumers  are more reluctant to share information and data  privacy concerns loom.

Looking within, many leaders have come to terms  with the reality that health and wellness benefits  are often not enough to attract top talent. After the  mass exodus of the Great Resignation, employee  engagement and reskilling plans have become critical for business. Growing  in parallel with affirming the value of employees is the importance of using  modern processes and technology to support every aspect of their experience.

So what are business and IT leaders doing differently today to enhance  business value? And how do they deliver the digital experiences customers  crave while also nurturing a work environment that is competitive, inclusive,  and ahead of the technological curve? Our report reveals the key levers  executives are pulling to achieve success across all facets of digital  transformation.