Tech Drives Complexity, 80% Leaders Say Jobs Harder
A recent study of 500 UK senior managers reveals that 79% say their role has grown more complex since 2020.
Overall, 73 % said their role grew more complex, rising to 82 % for mid‑size firms.
The research was commissioned by Alliance Manchester Business School and carried out by Censuswide. Respondents included directors, C‑suite officers and other senior staff across a range of firms.
Censuswide gathered responses from 500 senior managers, directors and C‑suite leaders across UK businesses.
“Over recent years, significant new pressures have been placed on business leaders,” said Stuart Wells, managing director of executive education at the school.
AI tops list of complexity drivers
Artificial intelligence emerged as the leading cause of added difficulty, with 31% of participants naming it as a primary factor. The finding aligns with broader industry observations that AI tools are proliferating across operations.
AI reshapes core business models, extending beyond simple automation to influence strategic decisions.
In a flat statement of numbers, the poll also recorded that 28% of executives cited heightened cybersecurity and data‑privacy risks, while 27% each pointed to the UK economy’s performance and new regulatory demands.
These figures highlight growing worries over data‑breach liabilities and the need for stronger governance.
Compared with earlier technology cycles, the current wave feels more pervasive because AI integrates directly into decision‑making processes, not just back‑office functions. That makes the managerial burden feel less like a side project and more like a core responsibility.
Leaders now must blend strategic oversight with rapid upskilling to exploit AI’s potential. This shift also accelerates the need for cross‑functional collaboration.
Other pressures shaping the role
Diversity, equity and inclusion expectations were mentioned by 25% of those surveyed, matching the share that highlighted the rise of remote work as a complicating factor. Pay‑related employee demands appeared in 21% of responses.
Equal emphasis on DEI and remote work shows cultural and operational shifts are occurring together.
Wells added that “the rise of remote working since Covid, the proliferation of AI tools, scrutiny over DEI, cyber threats and data privacy, and turbulence within the broader economic climate – senior decision‑makers are needing to handle all these changes as they lead their teams and perform in their roles, and that is hugely challenging.”
The research follows the Forvis Mazars 2026 C‑suite barometer, which noted that 92% of executives remain optimistic about growth, yet economic uncertainty could curb progress. That same barometer found 61% of senior officers feel “very confident” in handling AI‑related initiatives.
The barometer also flagged economic uncertainty as the chief obstacle to growth, tempering the optimism.
