The global risk landscape – its shape, tendencies, and consequences for management

Aim/purpose – The main objectives of this article are to identify the major risks with a global dimension and to attempt to specify the potential consequences of their occurrence for organizational management. Design/methodology/approach – The article is based on an analysis of the literature on the subject and an analysis of the content of The Global Risk Reports published in the years 2013-2017, prepared within the scope of the World Economic Forum, and presenting the results of work performed by international experts. Findings – The major results of the research are the following: 1) becoming aware of how global risks are understood, 2) identifying the most significant present risks of a global character, as well as tendencies in changes in their importance, and 3) determining general possibilities of the identified risks’ exerting influence on organizational management processes. Research implications/limitations – The research results are based on a selected group of reports illustrating the result of the work of experts performed within the scope of the World Economic Forum. Thus, there is a possibility of an alternative approach to global risks, e.g., in reports drawn up for the purposes of the insurance sector. However, the authors decided that the aforementioned reports were the most reliable and representative from the perspective of this article’s objectives. Originality/value/contribution – The article shows global risks as a determinant of management processes and includes reflection about their significance.