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We're unquestionably living through times of disruption, but with the right insights to guide you, disruption can be an opportunity.

Dan Savitzky

January 26, 2022 | 4 min read

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By now, we’ve all read dozens of breathless headlines about how the pandemic and the various social crises of the last two years have disrupted the way our businesses, our government, and our society function. 

It’s true—the world may never be the same again, but disruption isn’t always negative.

At Momentive, we believe people and businesses can shape their own futures and that with the right insights to guide you, disruption can be an opportunity. 

Here are 5 insights garnered from proprietary Momentive research that show not just how fast the world is changing, but the opportunity this rapid change presents.

The Great Resignation isn’t hype. Your employees are taking it seriously, and you need to, too. In a 2021 study, we found that work stress, a readiness for career change, and compensation were the primary drivers for employees considering leaving their jobs. Smart companies will see the writing on the wall and adapt, rather than bury their heads and hope for the best. 

The Great Resignation has laid bare issues workers care about that go far beyond their compensation or workloads. Our research shows people want to work at companies they believe in and feel welcome in, not just the ones that will cut them a paycheck. And it goes beyond employment: 89% of IT decision-makers said they would stop doing business with a company if that company made a business decision that went against their company’s values³. 

The IT market is changing more quickly than most companies can keep up. Companies offering products and services that were indispensable in the beginning of the pandemic have suffered major losses as we move into our second year of it. Add to that the whiplash companies are experiencing as new variants hold up reopening plans, and it’s no wonder they’re struggling. In such a volatile environment, understanding the needs of your employees and customers in real time is paramount. 

At first this may not seem like a shocking statistic, but when you consider that 78% of these people said they’d be making about as much or more online purchases in 2022, the picture sharpens. The pandemic has dramatically changed the way consumers consume—maybe for good. The companies that stay ahead of the curve and adapt to new consumer trends are better positioned to win. 

Over 70% of people signed up for digital services (like Zoom or Slack) over the past year or so, and most use digital services more now than they did before. People have come to rely on digital services during the course of the pandemic, but Momentive research shows they’re not going anywhere anytime soon. 

The coming years will no doubt bring more change, but for the prepared, disruption can be an exciting prospect. Those who collect actionable insights about the world around them—even as it transforms before our eyes—can respond, adapt, and build strategies to be even more successful in times of disruption. 

¹ Methodology: This Momentive study was conducted June 2-8, 2021 among a national sample of 6,678 adults. Data were weighted for age, race, sex, education, and geography using the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey to reflect the demographic composition of the United States. 

² Methodology: This Momentive study was conducted Apr 8-18, 2021 among a national sample of 8,233 adults. Data were weighted for age, race, sex, education, and geography using the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey to reflect the demographic composition of the United States.

³ Methodology: This Momentive study was conducted between June 23-28, 2021 among a national sample of 6,725 workers. Data were weighted for age, race, sex, education, and geography using the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey to reflect the demographic composition of the United States.

⁴ Methodology: This Momentive study was conducted on July 26, 2021 among a national sample of 252 IT decision-makers. Respondents for this survey were selected from the more than 2 million people who take surveys on the platform each day.

⁵ Methodology: This Momentive study was conducted March 24-25, 2021 among a national sample of 1,566 adults. Data were weighted for age, race, sex, education, and geography using the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey to reflect the demographic composition of the United States.

⁶ Methodology: This Momentive study was conducted in January 2021. We surveyed over 1,150 adults aged 18 and older, who live in the U.S. The sample was balanced by age and race, among other demographic variables, according to the U.S. Census.