Similar to how a rowing team synchronizes its strokes to move swiftly across the water, organizations must align their strategy, execution, and performance management practices to stay on course. The 2025 State of Strategy Management Report captures this dynamic, offering an in-depth view of how strategy and performance management practices are unfolding across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) regions.

This year, the majority of participants came from Saudi Arabia (91%), followed by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Egypt (3% each), with smaller representation from Jordan, Qatar, and other MENA countries. Public and social services formed the largest industry group (36%), followed by professional services (21%) and industrial sectors (15%). Respondents were almost evenly split between public (50%) and private (43%) institutions, with not-for-profit organizations making up 7% of the respondent pool. This balanced representation ensures that the findings can be generalized and reflect both government priorities and private-sector dynamics.

What’s new in the report

This fourth edition of the State of Strategy Management Practice Report uses a more refined approach than in previous editions. More than just documenting the current state of strategic practice, the report also seeks to drive meaningful improvement. As Daniela Vuta, Chief Operating Officer at The KPI Institute, explains, “Our vision is to create a collaborative resource that equips the leaders and practitioners on the front lines of business excellence with the insights necessary to turn strategic intent into operational reality.”

Vuta emphasized that the report’s impact is twofold: first, to deliver a data-driven perspective that pinpoints the planning-execution gap, replacing assumptions with clarity on challenges such as weak cross-functional coordination.

Unlike earlier editions that relied on a single, comprehensive questionnaire requiring all participants to answer every topic, the 2025 study employed subject-specific surveys: strategy planning, strategy measurement, and strategy execution. This shift enabled deeper insights, reduced respondent fatigue, and encouraged broader participation.

Another key enhancement was the release of an Arabic version of the survey. To ensure both accuracy and cultural relevance, a rigorous translation protocol was followed, which included stages of professional translation, back-translation, and evaluation by bilingual experts familiar with regional business terminology.

Bridging evidence and experience

Through the State of Strategy Management – 2025 MENA Report, The KPI Institute aims to inspire organizations to break free from strategic inertia by adopting proven best practices and turning research data into a solid foundation for informed decision-making and agile improvement initiatives.

Beyond quantitative findings, this year’s report integrated semi-structured interviews with strategy and performance management professionals across various industries in the MENA region. Each interview, lasting between 30 and 45 minutes, offered participants the opportunity to share practical experiences, challenges, and success stories. These qualitative insights enrich the survey findings and provide a holistic view by adding real-world perspectives and contextual examples.

According to Vuta, “The Voices from the Field section complements the quantitative data, providing practical context and real-world examples that enrich the analysis. This approach, combined with a reduced margin of error (between 5% and 6%), ensures the report offers a superior standard of precision for strategy practices across the MENA region.” 

The 2025 edition also introduces several new features designed to guide readers through the material. These include a one-page roadmap outlining the report’s structure, a high-level overview of the most significant findings, and a concluding section that consolidates insights and highlights the evolving direction of strategy management practices in the MENA region. Beyond presenting data, the report places strong emphasis on practical application. Each section contains recommendations from strategy and performance management experts and offers actionable steps organizations can take to strengthen their strategy management efforts.

By combining data-driven results with expert commentary and firsthand accounts, the State of Strategy Management Practice – 2025 MENA Region Report delivers a comprehensive view of current trends in the field. It equips leaders with evidence-based findings and actionable guidance to close gaps, overcome challenges, and drive smarter decisions. To access detailed results and practical recommendations for advancing your strategic journey, download the full report via the TKI Marketplace.

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From The KPI Institute

This report is more than a collection of data; it is a strategic resource that redefines excellence. While the focus is on the MENA region, the challenges identified—the execution gap, the need for alignment, and the difficulty in shifting from instinct to data-driven decisions—are universal. What MENA organizations are learning and implementing in their active effort to reinvent themselves serves as a powerful observation window and a set of applicable lessons on a global scale. 

We urge you to use this study not only to benchmark your performance but also to challenge your own assumptions. Our role at The KPI Institute is to empower the world to achieve performance excellence, and this report is the tool that will help you navigate strategic complexity, turning your vision into lasting impact and measurable results. True performance excellence requires a holistic, agile, and well-executed strategy; this report shows the way.

Daniela Vuta

Chief Operating Officer

As seasons turn, Performance Magazine has also evolved with the years—every issue a new page in the constantly evolving world of strategy and performance management. This September, as the golden hues of autumn symbolize reflection and renewal, Performance Magazine celebrates a decade of its print edition: ten years of transforming digital insights from www.performancemagazine.org into enduring pages of knowledge, growth, and progress.

When Performance Magazine – Print Edition first debuted in autumn 2015, a season often associated with change and maturity, it carried a simple yet powerful mission to bring thought leadership, industry trends, and best practices in strategy and performance management into the hands of readers in a timeless form. 

The first edition

The journey of Performance Magazine’s print edition began by featuring Dr. Aurel Brudan, Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of The KPI Institute, signaling both leadership and legacy. The story, “A Lifetime Dedicated to Performance,” gave readers an intimate look into his vision and the philosophy that laid the foundation for The KPI Institute’s global influence.

That first issue—a 62-page collection—was a milestone that captured the spirit of performance as both science and art. It introduced what would become the magazine’s signature sections, such as interviews with thought leaders, industry-focused key performance indicator (KPI) collections, best practice case studies, practical guides on performance frameworks, and globally sourced insights through Around the World and Ask Our Experts. 

As the years passed, Performance Magazine moved through its own seasons of growth. The early spring years were marked by enthusiasm and focus on core topics like KPI selection, Balanced Scorecard design, and performance culture. By summer, the magazine had matured. Its design became more refined, its voice more confident by expanding its scope to cover innovation, digital transformation, leadership, and data-driven decision-making.

The start of a new season

The transformation began with the Performance Magazine Issue No. 23, 2022 – The Travel Issue, which examined performance through the lens of movement, innovation, and cross-boundary collaboration. The cover story, “Silo Transformation: Breaking Down Barriers in Palm Beach County,” featured Dr. Keith Clinkscale, Strategic Planning and Performance Management Director, who shared how one of Florida’s top travel destinations is transforming the way performance results are measured. In his interview, Dr. Clinkscale discussed how Palm Beach County overcame operational silos, fostered collaboration across departments, and embedded data-driven decision-making in public service delivery.

Following the success of The Travel Issue, the magazine continued its theme-based direction with “The Public Sector Issue” in 2023, which was anchored in The KPI Institute’s Government Services Index (GSI) 2022 report. The edition translated the report’s findings into actionable insights, exploring how high-performing governments leverage strategy execution, digitalization, and citizen engagement to deliver value. It featured analyses of best practices from leading nations, expert commentaries, and case studies that revealed how data-driven governance can improve both institutional performance and public trust.

Completing the year’s series, the Sustainability, Data Analytics, and Government editions reflected the evolving priorities of modern organizations. The 25th edition, “The Sustainability Edition,” featured Eelco van der Enden, CEO of the Global Reporting Initiative, and discussed how organizations embed sustainability into strategy and measure ESG-driven impact. The 26th edition, “The Data Analytics Edition,” spotlighted Madhur Mayank Sharma of SAP Asia PTE LTD, offering insights on creating data-driven cultures and harnessing AI for smarter decisions. Finally, “The Public Sector Issue,” featuring Michael Jacobson of King County, U.S., with perspectives on digital inequality, workforce challenges, and the future of government performance.

The harvest of fresh insights and innovations

In 2024, Performance Magazine marked a new milestone with the release of the Business Excellence Edition, developed in collaboration with the Global Performance Audit (GPA) Unit. This special issue focused on strengthening organizational performance and advancing performance management systems through maturity assessments, one of the GPA Unit’s signature frameworks. The cover story, “Closing the Strategy-Execution Gap: A Fundamental Step for Business Excellence,” by Cristina Mihăiloaie, emphasized the need to align processes, principles, and people to overcome challenges in strategy execution—an essential step toward long-term success.

A major highlight of this edition was the introduction of a new section, “At the Core,” designed to explore the fundamental concepts of strategy and performance management. It featured key articles such as “The Five Levels of Organizational Maturity From a Performance Management Perspective” and “How to Conduct a Strategy and Performance Management System Maturity Assessment,” offering readers practical insights and tools for enhancing organizational maturity. 

This year, Performance Magazine continues to explore the evolving landscape of strategy and performance with two standout releases:  the Employee Performance Edition (Issue No. 32) and the AI Edition (Issue No. 33).

The Employee Performance Edition examines how a clearer understanding of organizational culture can drive alignment, engagement, and sustained success. By turning cultural insights into practical actions, it shows how performance can be embedded in the way people work, interact, and grow.

The spotlight, however, is on the AI Edition, featuring Cassie Kozyrkov—Google’s first-ever Chief Decision Scientist—on the cover. A leading voice in applied artificial intelligence (AI), data science, and decision intelligence, Kozyrkov brings a unique perspective on how leaders can make smarter, faster, and more ethical decisions in an AI-driven world. The issue explores key themes through articles like “The Decision Paradox: How AI is Reshaping Decision-Making,” “From Prototype to Practice: Moving AI Innovations into Real-World Business Impact,” and “Ethical AI & Governance: Gaining a Competitive Edge Through Responsible AI Use.”

Later this year, Performance Magazine will release two more editions, which are focused on sustainability and government. Stay updated by following The KPI Institute on LinkedIn. You can explore and download free digital copies of previous Performance Magazine issues from the TKI Marketplace, while print editions are available for purchase on Amazon, with prices varying depending on the edition and region.

Eric Lynn, senior learning Manager at Microsoft, offered a clear message in an interview featured in Performance Magazine – Print Edition, No. 32 (The Employee Performance Edition): performance culture starts with clarity—and leaders who set the tone.

Lynn, who also serves as a professional coach in Microsoft’s Customer and Partner Solutions (MCAPS) organization, explained that without clear standards, workplace culture risks becoming inconsistent and reactive. With nearly two decades of experience in learning and development, he draws from a background in sports administration and leadership, applying strategic thinking to how teams function.

“In a performance-based culture, it is imperative to have transparency and clear standards,” he noted. That consistency allows individuals to focus, contribute, and move the business forward, especially as technologies like AI change the way work is distributed and measured.

He emphasizes that today’s workplace demands a more team-oriented approach. While individual contribution remains important, accountability now sits with leaders just as much as with employees. “If a member of the team is struggling, leaders must ask why—and what can be done to support them,” he said.

Lynn also cautions against over-reliance on incentives alone to drive results. A strong performance culture, he explained, requires alignment, trust, and a structure that allows individuals to act with autonomy. Without that, even the most well-designed reward systems may fall short.

One of the most practical tools he highlights is coaching based on curiosity. Replacing judgment with questions such as “What about…” or “Have we considered…” creates space for reflection and improvement, while still keeping performance expectations in focus.

Lynn’s advice is grounded in a simple principle: when employees know what is expected of them, and when standards are consistently applied, performance improves. Leaders, in turn, can focus on supporting long-term results instead of correcting short-term missteps.

To read the full interview, download Performance Magazine – Print Edition, No. 32 (The Employee Performance Edition) for free via the TKI Marketplace. Printed copies are also available for order on Amazon (printing and shipping fees apply).

The AI Edition of Performance Magazine – Print Edition takes on a challenge many professionals face but rarely stop to question: when we talk about artificial intelligence (AI), are we even speaking the same language? 

Across the issue, readers will find practical pieces focused on specific use cases, business-relevant applications, and emerging challenges. From machine learning basics and prompt engineering techniques to risks in AI adoption and the global regulatory landscape, the edition focuses on how professionals can work with AI in clear, grounded ways.

This approach reflects a core idea explored by the edition’s guest editor, Islam Salahuddin—a former data consultant and facilitator at Systaems with ongoing studies in AI. In “The Problem of AI Is a Problem of Language,” he argues that confusion about AI begins before anyone starts using a tool. He writes that while the field covers everything from robotics and autonomous systems to generative models and chatbots, many professionals speak about AI as if it’s a single thing. This creates misunderstandings that ripple through strategy discussions, tool selection, and expectations around performance.

Salahuddin outlines three areas where the confusion takes root: definition, taxonomy, and perception. He describes how researchers often try to sort these challenges out through frameworks and classification systems, but these rarely reach business audiences. As a result, terms like machine learning or deep learning either get used interchangeably or misunderstood entirely. 

Part of the problem, Salahuddin writes, lies in how quickly AI references shift. A few years ago, people talked about AI in the context of robots or smart devices. Now, many mean tools like ChatGPT, even though these represent only part of the broader field. Rather than offer a fixed interpretation of AI, the essay encourages business professionals to recognize how their own assumptions shape their understanding.

Where Technical Expertise Meets Language

Salahuddin’s piece sets the tone for the rest of the edition—not just in content, but in its call for clarity and critical thinking. That perspective emerges not only from technical expertise but also from his interest in how ideas are framed and understood. He approaches AI as someone attuned to the role of language in guiding perception, decisions, and strategy.

Drawing on over a decade of experience across data analytics, information design, and communication, he brings a thoughtful approach to how organizations use data for strategy and impact. He is also certified as a data analyst and trainer by Microsoft. His work spans the public and private sectors—from performance management solutions to research and training—always focused on making analytics more accessible and relevant.

Alongside his technical work, he remains engaged in writing and creative projects, often exploring the connections between data, storytelling, and culture. He believes that bridging disciplines—whether through visualization or language—is key to understanding today’s complex challenges.

Read his full essay in Performance Magazine – Print Edition, Issue No. 33 (The AI Edition), now available as a free digital download via the TKI Marketplace. Print copies can also be ordered through Amazon (standard printing and shipping fees apply).

Cassie Kozyrkov, Google’s first-ever chief decision scientist and founder of consulting firm Kozyr, is best known for championing decision intelligence—a field that helps leaders move beyond instinct and data overload toward clarity and structure. In an exclusive interview for Performance Magazine’s AI Edition, she argues that many leaders still get AI wrong by focusing on automation rather than decision quality.

Kozyrkov draws a sharp line between tool use and automation. She points out that the former empowers employees to use AI systems like ChatGPT or Claude to do better work, while the latter involves handing off decisions entirely to machines. Leaders often conflate the two, she warns, launching AI projects without asking whether they truly understand what outcomes they’re pursuing.

Instead of starting with data, Kozyrkov believes that a good AI strategy starts with intent. “The answers are cheap now,” she says. “It’s the questions that are valuable.” For her, prompting is a leadership skill—one that requires clarity about what success looks like and how to recognize it. Off-the-shelf metrics, like accuracy or speed, often miss the point if they’re not tied to the organization’s core priorities.

Kozyrkov also emphasizes the importance of technical fluency at the leadership level—not necessarily coding expertise, but enough knowledge to manage complexity and ask the right questions. She warns that a “non-technical leader who ignores the technology is a hazard” and that trust, especially in external vendors or automated systems, should always be earned—not assumed.

The conversation spans real-world examples, like AI-driven parking lot metrics and automation misfires, to broader themes of governance and accountability. Kozyrkov calls for what she terms a “new breed of leader”: someone who understands that in a world flooded with tools, what matters most is judgment.

Read the full interview in Performance Magazine – Print Edition, Issue No. 33 (The AI Edition), now available as a free digital download via the TKI Marketplace. Print copies can also be ordered through Amazon (standard printing and shipping fees apply).

Performance Magazine has released its newest print issue, and this time, it focuses on one of the most defining changes in today’s workplace: AI in strategy and performance. Performance Magazine Issue – Print Edition, Issue No. 33 (The AI Edition) explores how artificial intelligence is influencing not just tools and workflows but the deeper layers of how organizations plan, execute, and evaluate performance.

The cover story features Cassie Kozyrkov, Google’s first ever chief decision scientist. Rather than echoing the dominant automation narrative, Kozyrkov calls for a return to disciplined thinking. Her reflections point to a core concern in strategy work today: how to make better decisions, faster, with the support of AI—not at the cost of human oversight. She draws attention to the difference between replacing judgment and reinforcing it, which frames much of what the rest of the edition explores.

Among the features is a practical explainer on how machine learning works, covering its core structure, main types, and underlying learning processes. Another article offers historical context that traces how AI has developed over time, helping distinguish durable progress from hype.

One article takes a closer look at the role of AI in strategy and performance, showing how machine learning models are being used to assess current conditions, simulate future outcomes, and support strategic direction. It also explores how AI contributes to performance management by helping set more accurate targets, cascade KPIs across levels, and monitor progress with predictive insights.

Several articles explore how AI is embedded in the daily flow of work. These cover its integration into familiar tools and platforms, the rise of AI agents, and the increasing importance of prompt engineering as a technical skill. On the governance front, readers will find a scan of AI regulatory developments around the world, focusing on how companies are adjusting policies and compliance mechanisms to match legal expectations.

The Interviews section brings in a mix of technical, academic, and legal perspectives. Alongside Kozyrkov are voices like Tarry Singh, Professor J. Mark Bishop, Frank Naussbaum, and Dr. Jon Truby, who discuss the operational, ethical, and structural implications of adopting AI at scale.

Closing the edition is a contribution from guest editor Islam Salahuddin, a data consultant and facilitator at Systaems. He is certified as a data analyst and trainer by Microsoft and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in AI. In his essay, he explores how much of the confusion around AI stems from language itself. Even the term “AI” can mean entirely different things depending on background or experience. This confusion, he argues, is especially present in business conversations, where abstract terms often blur rather than clarify. 

Performance Magazine Issue – Print Edition, Issue No. 33 (The AI Edition) is now available as a free digital download via the TKI Marketplace. Print copies can be ordered through Amazon, with standard printing and shipping fees applied.

Employee performance is a constant focus for organizations that expect results. But achieving strong individual outcomes takes more than periodic reviews or general encouragement. It requires clear targets, regular feedback, relevant data, and well-defined processes.

This roundup brings together a full set of tools, guides, and learning materials from The KPI Institute. These references remain relevant across roles and time because they focus on practical action—planning, evaluating, developing, and following up on performance. Whether you’re an HR professional, manager, or business leader, you’ll find clear ways to align employees with goals, track progress, and improve results.

1. Employee Performance Evaluation: This session explains how to assess employee performance using objectives, key performance indicators (KPIs), competencies, and behaviors. It includes techniques for linking performance results with compensation and recognition.
2. Performance Improvement Essentials: Gain practical techniques for managing performance through data, structured follow-up, and clear accountability. The webinar introduces methods for tracking actions and reviewing progress across business units.
3. Understanding Personal Performance: This webinar focuses on individual performance tracking. It provides principles for setting personal goals and using tools and apps for measuring activity, effort, and progress.
4. Cross-Cultural Management: Explore key concepts for leading diverse teams, with guidance on navigating cultural dimensions, work style differences, and communication barriers.
5. Performance Magazine Issue No. 32, 2025 – Employee Performance Edition: Available as a FREE digital edition, this issue focuses on how culture connects to performance. It explores how systems, behaviors, and everyday practices contribute to consistent outcomes across teams and departments.
6. The Employee Performance Management Playbook: In this article, you’ll discover how to integrate individual goals, KPIs, and development plans into daily work through a structured performance planning approach.
7. The Human Resources KPI Dictionary: This dictionary presents a detailed structure of KPIs used across major HR areas. It helps with both setting up and refining performance measurement frameworks for departments and roles.
8. Top 25 Compensation and Benefits KPIs of 2011–2012: This collection of KPIs remains a valuable reference for anyone designing or refining compensation frameworks. Find some of the most viewed and widely used metrics for pay and benefits—complete with standard definitions, formulas, and practical suggestions.
9. Top 25 Retention KPIs of 2011–2012: These retention and engagement metrics continue to offer timeless insights for building long-term staff continuity. The report features key indicators used to track turnover, engagement, and related costs—ideal for guiding or benchmarking today’s HR strategies.
10. Individual Performance Management System – Guide: Access a comprehensive framework for building employee performance systems, featuring 15 editable templates like job descriptions, scorecards, and evaluation forms.
11. Individual Performance Evaluation and Follow-Up Templates: These templates help track performance activities and support review discussions. Tools include a daily activity log, feedback guide, initiative tracker, development plan, and rewards policy.
12. Quick Guides for Developing an IPM System: Support your implementation of performance processes with these step-by-step resources on behavior selection, objective setting, role assignments, and evaluation planning.

These resources give you the structure to plan, track, and improve employee performance across any department or team. Consistent output starts with consistent management!

Just as individuals must adapt to changes in their personal lives, such as shifting priorities and new tools, organizations must also respond to broader shifts in the environment in which they operate. Today, sociocultural changes and technological advancements are playing a pivotal role in redefining how strategy is crafted and how performance is managed. 

The 2025 Global Trends Brief, by The KPI Institute, emerges as a vital resource, offering comprehensive insights into the forces set to shape the strategic direction of organizations worldwide. Drawing from an extensive analysis of over 100 industry publications, expert commentaries, and in-depth studies, the report highlights the primary drivers of change across six critical dimensions: Geopolitical, Economic, Socio-Cultural, Environmental, Technological, and Legal.

In our previous article, we explored the Geopolitical and Economic drivers, where we highlighted how global power shifts, inflation, and supply chain instability are influencing organizational strategy, risk management, and performance.

In this follow-up, we now explore the Sociocultural and Technological trends that are redefining the workforce and transforming business operations. From artificial intelligence (AI) integration and cybersecurity to shifting workplace values and talent models, these forces are reshaping how organizations operate and compete in a modern business world.

Sociocultural advancements reshape workforce strategies

According to the 2025 Global Trends Brief, organizations are no longer relying solely on traditional methods to attract and retain talent. Instead, skills-first hiring has gained momentum, signaling a shift away from degree-based qualifications. Companies are placing higher value on practical capabilities, real-world experience, and adaptability.

Meanwhile, employee experience, mental health, and professional development have emerged as critical priorities. With hybrid work environments now the norm, businesses are addressing the challenges of talent shortages, workforce engagement, and well-being. In this evolving landscape, AI integration is also redefining talent strategies, enabling more targeted hiring, upskilling programs, and reduced turnover.

Notably, women-led businesses are expected to lead innovation across high-growth sectors such as healthcare and technology, signaling a sociocultural shift toward more inclusive and resilient leadership models.

However, as older generations retire in large numbers, many industries are facing a looming talent gap. This trend is pushing organizations to invest in internal development, cross-training, and more flexible working models to future-proof their workforce.

Technology continues to disrupt and empower

On the technological front, AI’s evolving ecosystem is transforming business operations across industries. One major development is the rapid advancement of DeepSeek, which has raised national security concerns in the U.S., emphasizing the growing complexity of international AI competition.

At the organizational level, cybersecurity has become a top priority. As autonomous and agentic AI systems begin to carry out tasks with minimal human input, ensuring safe and ethical deployment is paramount. Businesses are now exploring how these AI agents can handle routine tasks, enabling employees to focus on high-value work.

Generative AI (GenAI) is also set to revolutionize operations, particularly in supply chain management, by automating decision-making, improving forecasting accuracy, and streamlining logistics. Meanwhile, the convergence of quantum computing and AI is opening new frontiers in data processing and problem-solving, with implications for industries ranging from pharmaceuticals to finance.

After years of software dominance, hardware innovation is staging a comeback. From advanced chips designed for AI workloads to energy-efficient processors, the renewed focus on physical infrastructure is enabling AI systems to operate at higher speeds and lower costs.

As sociocultural and technological trends continue to evolve, they’re not just shaping operations. But they are also redefining the core of strategy, leadership, and performance. Explore the full insights, including key figures, referenced studies, and detailed analysis on how each component impacts strategy and performance management practices. Download the full 2025 Global Trends Brief, available on the TKI Marketplace. Stay tuned for our upcoming articles as we unpack the remaining two drivers in detail.

The 2025 Global Trends Brief, by The KPI Institute, emerges as a vital resource, offering comprehensive insights into the forces set to shape the strategic direction of organizations worldwide. Drawing from an extensive analysis of over 100 industry publications, expert commentaries, and in-depth studies, the report highlights the primary drivers of change across six critical dimensions: Geopolitical, Economic, Socio-Cultural, Environmental, Technological, and Legal.

In this article, we take a closer look at the first two driving factors, which are Geopolitical and Economic. Let’s unpack the early signals of change that are already influencing how businesses approach strategy, risk, and performance. 

Geopolitical: rising tensions, shifting alliances

Geopolitical instability is increasingly disrupting the flow of goods, capital, and operations. Ongoing global conflicts are straining supply chains, leading to delays, elevated costs, and strategic uncertainty for multinational organizations.

At a broader level, traditional alliances are shifting. The U.S. is aligning more closely with Russia, while its relationship with Europe continues to diverge, signaling a notable departure from past geopolitical norms. This realignment hints at a fragmented global order, where businesses must closely monitor political developments to safeguard continuity.

Further adding to the complexity is the growing risk of nuclear escalation, driven by the wider spread of nuclear technology and intensifying rivalries among nuclear-armed states. With state-based armed conflicts expected to rise in both frequency and intensity, organizations face a heightened need for agile, responsive strategies.

Meanwhile, new U.S. tariffs on major trade partners, including Canada, Mexico, and China, are reshaping global trade dynamics. These policy shifts are prompting companies to reassess sourcing models and diversify supply networks to remain resilient.

Economic: resilience with underlying shifts

Despite geopolitical turbulence, the global economy shows signs of steadiness. Headline inflation is projected to ease throughout most of 2025, although the possibility of further tariff increases later in the year could create upward pressure in the second half.

Growth remains moderate but consistent, with a clear demonstration of economic resilience. Underneath this surface, however, a long-term transfer of global wealth and power is taking place—from the West to the East—reshaping global investment patterns and economic influence.

Small businesses are playing an increasingly central role, driving innovation and contributing significantly to job creation and local growth. Meanwhile, the global unemployment rate holds steady, offering a layer of stability in an otherwise evolving economic landscape.

These two forces offer only a glimpse of what’s shaping business in 2025. To explore key figures, referenced studies, and detailed analysis on how each component impacts strategy and performance management practices, download the full 2025 Global Trends Brief by The KPI Institute. Stay tuned for our upcoming articles as we unpack the remaining four drivers in detail.

The first half of 2025 has been marked by a series of strategic publications from The KPI Institute, underscoring its continued commitment to advancing the field of strategy and performance management. These publications address emerging challenges and opportunities across industries, providing in-depth analysis, practical frameworks, and actionable insights for professionals and organizations worldwide. This mid-year recap highlights the most impactful releases to date, each reflecting the Institute’s mission to support sustainable performance and informed decision-making.

One of the key highlights is the 2025 Global Trends Brief. It is a secondary research report that analyzes the critical forces reshaping the global business environment. Drawing on insights from over 100 leading research and consultancy sources, the Brief presents a clear, data-driven overview of the trends influencing strategy and performance today. Covering themes such as geopolitical developments, artificial intelligence, and evolving regulatory landscapes, the report provides valuable guidance on how these shifts impact decision-making, operational resilience, and long-term strategic planning.

Another significant contribution is the Top 25 KPIs Series, which showcases key performance indicators (KPIs)  across various industries and functional areas. Released in the first half of the year are the Top 25 Oil and Gas KPIs – 2025 Edition, Top 25 Strategy and Performance Management KPIs – 2025 Edition, and Top 25 Local Government KPIs – 2025 Edition. Each report includes not only curated KPI lists but also practical guidance on implementation, along with the latest developments in performance measurement.

For professionals seeking a focused exploration of individual KPIs, the KPI of the Month (KPIoM) series provides in-depth profiles of key metrics. Each feature includes definitions, calculation formulas, and real-world applications. Recent editions have highlighted indicators such as % Return on Assets, % Employee Burnout Rate, $ Internal Carbon Fee, % Production Schedule Attainment, and % First Call Resolution Rate.

Further expanding its KPI-related resources, The KPI Institute released new entries in the KPIs for Industries infographic series during the first half of 2025. These include KPI sets for health and healthcare providers, medical laboratories, and pharmacies. Each infographic leverages Value Flow Analysis—a methodology that maps how value is generated across industry-specific processes—and offers detailed definitions, component metrics, and calculation methods. These resources are designed to support targeted performance improvement initiatives at both strategic and operational levels.

In addition, The KPI Institute launched the first quarterly edition of its flagship publication for the year: Performance Magazine Issue No. 32 – Employee Performance Edition. This edition explores how organizational culture functions not merely as a background element but as a fundamental enabler of performance. Featuring expert commentary, models, and practical tools, the issue encourages professionals to treat culture as a strategic resource—something to be intentionally shaped and applied to reinforce engagement, alignment, and long-term success.

To explore these publications and more, visit the TKI Marketplace and gain access to the latest resources in strategy and performance management.