Do you agree with experts who say it is difficult for organizations to find supply chain talent that can meet the demands of a complex global economy? As supply chain becomes a more strategic function within the enterprise, managing talent within the supply chain discipline is a critical issue that has become of great interest to senior level executives in many organizations.
In June 2013, APQC embarked on a study to investigate leading organizations' talent management practices to discover what organizations are doing to fill talent gaps and prepare young supply chain professionals.
We learned that half of organizations surveyed have a formal supply chain talent management program. Eighty-one percent of respondents from organizations with a formal program agreed or strongly agreed that formal talent management is a top priority, as opposed to only half of the organizations without a formal supply chain talent management program. This sizeable difference is rather alarming, because it means that half of the organizations without these programs are not making talent management a priority.
The results of the study also show that organizations that have a formal supply chain talent management program are more likely to match new supply chain hires or potential high performers with senior level leadership for mentoring purposes. Fifty-six percent of respondents with a formal program agreed or strongly agreed that their organizations work to match new supply chain hires or potential high performers with senior level leadership for mentoring purposes, as opposed to only 22 percent of respondents without a formal program.
Recent interviews of organizations with a talent management program note that hands-on experience is important in the supply chain management function. Many organizations emphasize the value of in-house on-the-job training and job rotations. In a recent Supply Chain Brain article, Lora Cecere, founder of Supply Chain Insights, informs readers that mid-management positions are the largest opportunity for supply chain talent. Cecere goes on to point out that college graduates do not solve the supply chain talent gap because companies are looking for people with 5 to 7 years of experience in supply chain management.
This is just a preview of some of the information we will be covering on APQC’s joint SCM and HCM webinar on October 29. The webinar will include a presentation of the results of the recruiting and developing talent in the supply chain research project, perspectives on talent management best practices, and the steps organizations can take to establish a formal talent management program.
This webinar is now over. Please view the slides to learn more.