What Gives Execs Confidence and What Concerns Them

C-level tech industry execs are expressing increasing optimism about the global economy in 2016, according to a recent survey from EY. Although they acknowledge that worldwide political uncertainty could create major business risks, they're putting such concerns aside (for now) and boosting investment in R&D, products and new tech to drive organic growth, while expanding staffing, according to the survey of more than 160 C-level tech execs.Their confidence is also generating interest in more acquisitions, with many companies currently pursuing multiple deals. With to the ability of consumers to cause major shifts in tech trends, many businesses will seek acquisitions outside the tech industry. "For tech companies, buying outside of the sector is a means to move from 'stack to solution,' offering customers end-to-end answers to business challenges, rather than any discrete technology or even technology stack," according to an introduction in the report written by Jeff Liu, global technology industry leader for EY's transactions advisory services. "For non-tech companies, tech M&As can provide a shortcut to delivering the now-requisite anytime/anywhere offerings to their markets." Here are key findings from the study.