SurveyMonkey, a leader in agile software solutions for customer experience, market research, and survey feedback, announced the findings from Adapting in Times of Crisis 2020, a new research report identifying the top characteristics needed for companies to successfully navigate the pandemic: curiosity and agility.
The study polled nearly 4,000 Americans nationwide, including over 2,500 currently employed adults and nearly 1,800 who had hours cut or income reduced as a result of the pandemic. The findings illustrate key elements that have impacted companies’ ability to adapt during the current coronavirus pandemic. Agile companies—defined as companies that can adapt quickly to change in order to be successful—were positioned to outperform their peers in the study. Fifty percent of those surveyed at agile organizations say their company is extremely or very prepared to withstand an economic downturn, while only 10% at less-agile companies say they’re prepared.
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Agility seems to be in short supply in 2020, but curiosity is more abundant. According to the data, just 30% of employees say they are at the most agile companies. At the same time, 59% say they are at curious companies—those that use new and creative ways to adapt to changing circumstances. Alongside agility, being open to new ways of operating appears to give companies an advantage in meeting customer needs. More than seven in 10 (72%) employees at companies that value using creative ways to adapt to change have been able to meet customers’ needs during the pandemic, compared to just 44% of those that stick to tried-and-true methods.
“Resilience is a new requirement for businesses in 2020,” said Tom Hale, president at SurveyMonkey. “This research makes it clear that agility and curiosity are essential ingredients to survive and thrive during the coronavirus pandemic and beyond. This is true for organizations ranging from early startups to mature enterprises in nearly every industry. No matter where you work, creativity and agility are solving problems and driving growth like never before.”
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