Survey of 200+ Global Executives and Governance Professionals Reveal Limited Resources and Economic Uncertainty as Top Challenges

A recent survey conducted by the Diligent Institute, in partnership with Wilson Sonsini, Oracle NetSuite, CFO Alliance, and the CFO Leadership Council, reveals that 97% of organizations cite major challenges in transaction readiness, impeding their ability to seize strategic opportunities. Despite the current economic and geopolitical uncertainties, nearly half of surveyed organizations (49%) are still prioritizing mergers and acquisitions or strategic partnerships as part of their growth strategy, but most face significant hurdles in executing these deals effectively.

The report, which included responses from 200+ global executives and governance professionals, sheds light on the current state of transaction readiness – the ability for organizations to efficiently navigate complex transactions such as M&A and capital deals. Only 4% of respondents reported that their GRC and financial systems are fully integrated and ready for major transactions, highlighting vulnerabilities that leave organizations exposed and slow to capitalize on strategic opportunities. Additionally, the survey identified several key obstacles that further impede transaction readiness including economic uncertainty (35%), limited resources (56%), lack of experienced personnel (28%) and insufficient board alignment around transactions (31%).

“Organizations that fail to address their glaring transaction readiness gaps risk falling behind in the deal-making landscape,” said Dottie Schindlinger, Executive Director of the Diligent Institute. “Our research points to a clear need for prioritization at the board level, defining roles and processes, and enhancing data quality. The transaction readiness gap is real and yet entirely addressable.”

In response to these challenges, 49% of respondents have delayed deals, 40% have enhanced due diligence and 46% have adjusted their financial modeling in response to economic uncertainty. These actions reflect a more cautious and measured approach to M&A activity, as seen in recent global trends where market volatility has led to decreased deal activity and increased scrutiny of potential investments.

“The volatile economic landscape and rapid market shifts requires not only operational efficiency but also strategic legal planning and risk management,” said Rich Mullen, Partner in Wilson Sonsini’s M&A Practice. “Now is the critical moment for leaders to understand how top-performing organizations are preparing for major deals, enabling them to transition from episodic preparation to an ‘always on’ business discipline.”

The survey results also revealed that adoption of AI in transaction processes remains limited, with only 5% of respondents currently using AI-powered evaluations or data collection. However, interest is growing as organizations are starting to leverage AI-powered tools to enhance strategic analysis, compliance and due diligence, indicating a potential future shift toward more sophisticated transaction management practices.

To learn more about how fast-growing companies can streamline operations, unlock critical financial insights, and stay prepared for business-defining moments, join us at SuiteWorld on Thursday, October 9 at 9:30 AM PDT for the solutions showcase: “Always Be Transaction Ready: Empowering CFOs for Strategic Business Growth.”

To download the full Transaction Readiness Report, click here.

About the Survey

The survey was conducted from July 25, 2025, to September 1, 2025, among 233 global executives, with a diverse range of respondents by company type (32% public, 64% private, 4% pre-IPO), region (56% North America, 15% Europe, 12% Asia-Pacific) and industry sector.

About Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati

For more than 60 years, Wilson Sonsini’s services and legal disciplines have focused on serving the principal challenges faced by the management and boards of directors of business enterprises. The firm is nationally recognized as a leading provider to growing and established clients seeking legal counsel to complete sophisticated corporate and technology transactions; manage governance and enterprise-scale matters; assist with intellectual property development, protection, and IP-driven transactions; represent them in contested disputes; and/or advise them on antitrust or other regulatory matters. With deep roots in Silicon Valley, Wilson Sonsini has more than 1,000 attorneys and 17 offices in 16 technology, business, and regulatory markets across the United States, China, Asia and Europe. For more information, please visit www.wsgr.com.

About Diligent Institute

Diligent Institute informs, educates, and connects leaders to champion governance excellence. We meet this mission through original, cutting-edge research on critical corporate governance issues, certificate programs for corporate leaders, peer networks that convene directors and executives to share best practices, and recognition programs that celebrate governance excellence. Diligent Institute was founded in 2018 as Diligent’s global corporate governance research arm and think tank. Learn more at diligentinstitute.com.

About Diligent

Diligent is the AI leader in governance, risk and compliance (GRC) SaaS solutions, helping more than 1 million users and 700,000 board members to clarify risk and elevate governance. The Diligent One Platform gives practitioners, the C-Suite and the board a consolidated view of their entire GRC practice so they can more effectively manage risk, build greater resilience and make better decisions, faster. Learn more at diligent.com

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