Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/978458
42 PCB007 MAGAZINE I MAY 2018 Figure 3: High-speed and high-frequency applications. (Source: AT&S, Prismark) Growth tops the list of CEO business priorities in 2018 and 2019, according to a recent survey of 460 CEOs and senior business executives in the fourth quarter of 2017 by Gartner Inc. However, the survey found that as sim- ple, implemental growth becomes harder to achieve, CEOs are concentrating on changing and upgrading the structure of their companies, including a deeper under- standing of digital business. "Although growth remains the CEO's biggest priority, there was a significant fall in simple mentions of it this year, from 58% in 2017 to just 40% in 2018. This does not mean CEOs are less focused on growth; instead, it shows that they are shifting perspective on how to obtain it," said Mark Raskino, vice president and Gartner Fellow. "The 'corporate' category, which includes actions such as new strategy, corporate partnerships and merg- ers and acquisitions, has risen significantly to become the second-biggest priority." CEO Priorities Are Shifting to Embrace Digital Business There are challenges, including: • Uncertain demands, for example Bitcoin mining • Concerns of over-expansion, especially in the rigid multilayer segment • Unanticipated environmental regulations (recall RoHS and REACH) • Raw material supply and cost (e.g., resin, glass, copper) could hurt profitability PCB007