Abstract
The challenge to predict the direction of market requirements is an increasingly pronounced challenge of today’s management structures, i.e., how to make timely decisions that ensure the sustainability of the business. In predicting when and where the potential for success will arise or what the sources of threats will be, it is essential to properly implement and continuously use the early warning system by monitoring indicators from the environment. This paper presents a theoretical and practical contribution to understanding the importance of early warning systems in Croatian companies operating in international markets. The introduction includes a discussion on current business conditions, and then the term “early warning system” is conceptually discussed. The research part of the paper presents the results of empirical research on the perception of respondents on the level of development of early warning systems in their companies operating in the international market according to the legal form, size, headquarters, and ownership of the company. The established attitude of the respondents was that the level of development of the early warning system is low, i.e., that they are used primarily by large foreign-owned companies based in more economically developed counties.