Research

APQC’s research team applies proven research methods to develop solutions, strategies, and tools to solve your real business problems. Working alone and in partnership with member organizations and industry experts, we discover and capture the key processes and enablers behind successful practices. We then disseminate that knowledge to other organizations to help you meet today’s challenges while helping you transform your organization for future success and competitive advantage. Explore the findings and results from our research in our vast Resource Library, and check out our upcoming and past research below.

 

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2024 Supply Chain Priorities and Challenges: White Paper

In this white paper, APQC provides insights, strategies, and recommended resources to help you strengthen your supply chain for 2024. 

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Financial Management (FM)

Research Description

In the fourth quarter of 2023, APQC conducted its annual survey of finance professionals to explore the focus areas, initiatives, and challenges APQC members and customers are addressing now and into 2024.

Research Description

In 2023, prepared using data from APQC’s Open Standards Benchmarking in planning and management accounting, these documents highlight financial management planning and management accounting key performance indicator (KPI) benchmarks across multiple organizations along with practice reports.

Research Description

Business stakeholders have always needed a key point of contact within finance to provide answers and guidance. As the importance of data-based decisions has grown and the role of finance in providing inputs for such decisions has evolved, some organizations have formalized the role of the finance business partner. Other organizations seek to weave business partnering responsibilities into existing roles within the finance team. Thus, APQC is conducting new research to understand the current state of finance business partnership from both finance professionals and the business groups they support. The research will explore the nature of such partnerships, the skills and competencies of effective finance business partners, and the barriers to effective partnership. Through this research, APQC aims to develop an actionable and reusable definition of finance business partnering as well as an overview of current-state enablers and challenges in the implementation of finance business partnership.

  • Becoming an Effective Finance Business Partner

    Business stakeholders have always needed a key point of contact within finance to provide answers and guidance. As the importance of data-based decisions has grown and the role of finance in providing inputs for such decisions has evolved, some organizations have formalized the role of the finance business partner. Other organizations seek to weave business partnering responsibilities into existing roles within the finance team. Thus, APQC is conducting new research to understand the current state of finance business partnership from both finance professionals and the business groups they support. The research will explore the nature of such partnerships, the skills and competencies of effective finance business partners, and the barriers to effective partnership. Through this research, APQC aims to develop an actionable and reusable definition of finance business partnering as well as an overview of current-state enablers and challenges in the implementation of finance business partnerships.

    Contact Kelley Pruetz to learn more
  • Join the Conversation

    Engage with our financial management audience through podcasts, webinars, case studies, and interviews!

    Some sample topics include:

    * Data management in the finance function
    * Evolving technology in the finance processes
    * Finance business partnership best practices
    * Finance function process excellence
    * Best practices in accounts receivable
    * Best practices in accounts payable

    Share Your FM Story

Human Capital Management (HCM)

Research Description

These toolkit collections provide guidance, tools, and downloadable templates to help organizations carry-out workforce planning and HR transformation.

Research Description

This research showcases findings from APQC's Current State of the HR Function Survey. Use the resources in the collection to understand how top performing HR functions handle core aspects of HR, including strategy, structure, staff, processes, technology, and analytics.

Research Description

Companies are increasing their focus on improving and expanding their DEI efforts across the organization. Using a survey and case studies, this research examined common DEI practices and challenges and identified key requirements for supporting DEI in spirit and practice. Using the research findings, organizations will be able to benchmark their DEI practices and progress against peer and best-in-class organizations.

Research Description

APQC’s Current State of Learning and Development Survey gathered L&D practice and performance data from 300 L&D leaders. The survey collected benchmarks related to the drivers of learning needs in organizations today, current levels of L&D staffing and spending, and commonly used L&D methods and technologies. The findings also reveal how organizations are measuring learning and the extent to which today's L&D functions are delivering the learning their organizations need.

  • Employee Engagement in Today's Workforce

    Many organizations are struggling with how to retain employees as they watch their turnover rates go up and their retention rates go down. This has led organization leaders to explore the best ways to retain employees, including how to make the employee experience more positive, thus increasing employee engagement and productivity.
    APQC research will identify what motivates employees to perform their best work, and whether they are currently receiving the things they find most important. Additionally, APQC will analyze these factors to find correlations to the employee experience and employee engagement in order to uncover what engages today’s changing workforce.

    Take The Survey
  • People Analytics

    This research will look at where organizations are on the people analytics maturity curve and explore what cutting edge people analytics looks like today. It will generate resources to help organizations assess and improve people analytics capabilities.

    Contact Elissa Tucker to Collaborate
  • Join the Conversation

    Engage with our human capital management audience through podcasts, webinars, case studies, and interviews!

    Some sample topics include:

    * People challenges
    * HR process excellence
    * Best practices in upskilling and reskilling employees
    * HR as a strategic business partner
    * Benchmarking HCM

    Share Your HCM Story

Knowledge Management (KM)

Research Description

To operate effectively, organizations need both business processes and associated knowledge. Process and knowledge management (KM) teams aim to document, standardize, and optimize how work gets done. Still, they often operate in their own “improvement silos” instead of collaborating on an integrated approach.  In this research, APQC researched ways organizations aligned process and knowledge management to improve process performance, reduce risks, and increase employee engagement.

Research Description

APQC’s Knowledge Flow Process is a seven-step cycle describing how knowledge is created, identified, collected, reviewed, shared, accessed, and used within organizations. This collection brings together articles and resources related to the Knowledge Flow Process, including a framework to help you understand and manage knowledge flow and best practices for each of the seven steps.

Research Description

As a result of content overload, disordered repository structures, and difficult search processes, many organizations are rethinking their approach to content management. Best practices for managing high-value content, formulating content strategies, monitoring execution, and optimizing search and discovery across channels are examined in this study.

Research Description

The content within the collection will teach you about key performance indicators (KPIs) for information technology, as well as proven performance improvement drivers and best practices. This content is derived from an analysis of APQC’s Open Standards Benchmarking® in Information Technology Organization Performance assessment and is a collection of benchmarks and metrics, as well as best practices and business drivers.

Research Description

KM programs are changing quickly, and KM leaders need up-to-date benchmarks to understand those changes and guide their programs in the best possible direction. This research explores how KM programs are currently structured, their investments in people, processes, and technology, and how those investments translate into ROI.

  • The Role of Technology in KM

    This research explores the role of KM teams in driving digital transformation and the effectiveness of various technologies, such as virtual collaboration, machine learning, and AI, in knowledge management. The research aims to provide insights into current trends, deployment strategies, and the impact of technology on knowledge management capabilities.

     

     

     

    View the Collection
  • Excellence in Knowledge Management 2023

    APQC recognizes eight organizations for their Excellence in Knowledge Management. As part of the research, APQC aims to highlight how successful KM programs use expert communities, embrace innovation, and measure their value. Take advantage of the insights and best practices of the Excellence in KM class of 2023. 

     

    To view resources from the current and previous recognition years, visit the Over the Years: Excellence in KM master collection.

    Excellence in KM 2023 Collection
  • 2024 KM Priorities and Predictions

    The traditional ways of managing knowledge have been significantly disrupted by the events of the 2020s. As a result, new and creative approaches have emerged to address pressing business needs. Knowledge management (KM) has evolved to meet these challenges and presents new opportunities, investments, and challenges. Our research provides an update on the current state of KM and explores its future. The topics covered include:

    • the role and status of KM inside organizations,
    • top priorities for KM programs, 
    • the impact of new technologies,
    • and the direction of the KM discipline and the necessary requirements to get there.

     

    View the Collection
  • JOIN THE CONVERSATION

    Engage with our knowledge management audience through podcasts, webinars, case studies, and interviews!

    Some sample topics include:

    • People of Knowledge Management 
    • KM Accelerators 
    • KM Essentials ( Communities of Practice, Knowledge Transfer & Techniques, Knowledge Mapping, Strategic Planning, Developing a KM Roadmap, and Critical Knowledge )
    SHARE YOUR KM STORY

Process and Performance Management (PPM)

Research Description

At the close of 2023, APQC's process and performance management group conducted its annual survey to understand the common challenges and priorities of practitioners in 2024. The survey looked at the top five priorities and challenges in key process and performance topics like business process management, continuous improvement, strategic planning, and data and measurement. It also explores potential changes in the process management discipline and how organizations utilize operational key performance indicators (KPIs).

Research Description

An end-to-end process mindset is often necessary to help organizations achieve their goals because strategic goals are rarely functional in nature. They are large-scale issues such as improving organizational agility, becoming customer-centric, or entering a new market. Such goals rely on understanding how the organization creates value and aligns the purpose of its processes. This collection includes end-to-end process maps, based on the Process Classification Framework®, combined with related KPIs and benchmarks for the most common end-to-end processes. To learn more about how to use and apply end-to-end processes, see the Applying End-to-End Processes collection.

Research Description

In 2023, APQC conducted the “People of Process Management” survey to gain insight on the people who support process management work. This research explores the demographics, skillset, and education of today's process workers. Additionally, the research looks at reporting structures, responsibilities, and career advancement in the process field.

Research Description

In May 2023, APQC conducted its bi-annual “Best Practices in Process Frameworks” survey to learn how organizations are using process frameworks, the common adoption practices, implementation practices, and the challenges involved.

  • Digital and Its Role in Process and Performance Management

    Understanding how digital tools and technologies impact process and performance management and the organizations they support is crucial to enable our members to be competitive. Recent advancements in AI capabilities, like generative AI, and existing technologies like process automation are driving a strong need to understand the potential and learn how organizations are utilizing the tools and technologies, or how they could use them in the future.

    The purpose of this study is to investigate how organizations are utilizing tools such as RPA that have been around for a while, as well as leveraging emerging technologies like AI and process automation to enhance their process management abilities and experience.

    The research will:
    » Define trends in digital and technology with the process and performance management space.
    » Define what organizations see as future needs and approaches for digital and technology in the PPM area.
    » Identify leading PPM digital technologies and tools.

    Contact Madison Lundquist to Learn More
  • Setting Up a Process Management Program

    APQC will conduct a survey to understand process management program practices, strategies, and resources. The survey will use APQC’s Seven Tenets of Process Management as a structure for assessing key areas such as governance, strategy, change, improvement, measurement, tools, and models.

    Contact Madison Lundquist to Learn More

Supply Chain Management (SCM)

Research Description

In 2023, APQC conducted research, sponsored by Esker Inc., that took a detailed look at the top KPIs organizations employ to measure customer service and order management. With insights from 200 large organizations, APQC developed various pieces of content, such as a whitepaper, an executive summary, and a webinar presentation. The research in this collection takes a deeper dive into the top ten KPIs organizations can use to assess their customer service function, including the identification of the top ten measures and their current state of performance, insights from respondents into why each measure is important from the perspectives of the organization, the customer, and the customer service employee, as well as additional analysis and key takeaways.

Research Description

Disruption is no longer a one-off event, and extreme volatility is the new global reality. This collection of content is based on joint research from BCG and APQC into the range of resilience capabilities needed across the supply chain to thrive as things change. It is brought to you courtesy of the relationship between APQC and its member BCG.

Research Description

This research draws insights from APQC’s Open Standards Benchmarking in procurement and yields new content and tools for APQC members. The collection includes both cross-industry and industry-specific reports on various practices in procurement.

Research Description

APQC conducts ongoing research in the logistics area to help organizations assess and compare their logistics performance. This collection of research includes key benchmarks as well as details about the current state of selected logistics practices, including last-mile delivery, digital transformation, data management, and more. In addition to cross-industry analysis, this research also includes industry-specific reports.

Research Description

Much work has been done building good supplier relationship management (SRM) programs. As more companies embrace and adopt SRM best practices, it’s time to look holistically at the various best practices. Our research at APQC, conducted in partnership with experts Kate Vitasek, Bonnie Keith, and Emmanuel Cambresy, focuses on how organizations can improve their SRM results. APQC wants to show organizations how to move beyond the limitations of past thinking to embrace a more complete, aligned, and balanced approach to collaborating with their suppliers.

  • 2024 Supply Chain Management Priorities and Challenges

    In its 2024 Supply Chain Management Priorities and Challenges research, APQC has asked supply chain professionals across numerous industries about their expectations and trends for the year ahead. Some examined topics include operational and process innovation, logistics, procurement, sourcing, and supply chain planning. 

     

    Stay tuned to learn more about how well supply chains performed in 2023, changes and trends impacting supply chains, the biggest obstacles to improving supply chains, and focus areas and priorities for supply chains in 2024. Results will be published in Q1 of 2024.

    View the Collection
  • DSCI-APQC Joint Research: Sustainability in Supply Chain Management

    As businesses continue to realize the importance of sustainability, Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) practices have become a crucial aspect of supply chain management. The Digital Supply Chain Institute (DSCI) and APQC have recently conducted research to gather insights from supply chain leaders on the role of ESG in managing their supply chain and relationships with suppliers. 

    View the Report
  • Supply Chain Insights

    If you have a story to tell about how your organization has overcome common supply chain challenges, implemented new supply chain programs, or built a better mousetrap in supply chain, we (and our audience) would love to hear about it!

    Share Your Story
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Sponsored Research Opportunities

APQC’s sponsored research program is a fee-based opportunity for professional services firms, associations, and technology providers to sponsor and participate in APQC research or data collection opportunities. Promote your brand, develop thought leadership, and access exclusive research through this program.

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