Managing people and organisations through change continues to be one of the most critical aspects of leadership in supply chain organizations today, according to Gartner, Inc.
A recent Gartner survey* found that supply chain executives and employees have differing perceptions of their organisation's capability in adapting to change. The survey showed that 36 percent of supply chain executives believe they are ready for the challenge, while only 13 percent of employees think they are.
Gartner analysts said supply chain executives need to understand how employees engage to support change in order to successfully lead that change. The survey revealed that employees want to be more closely connected with the overall purpose of the change and to know how it affects them in their role. Training, piloting and giving feedback on the status of the change are therefore very important to employees.
"For the most effective change management strategy, communication is of paramount importance," said Mr. Chadwick. "Supply chain leaders need to create a communications plan that articulates the importance of working together toward a well-defined vision, and tailors messages and engagement methods to different audiences in order to successfully embrace new ways of working."
When a change is implemented, it doesn't mean it is adopted. "Supply chain leaders need to engage a team in a post-day-one follow up on system issues and training in order to keep employees moving to new business practices," concluded Mr. Chadwick.
Notes for Editors:
Digital business is reshaping the supply chain, but it also requires supply chain leaders to mobilise their workforce to change business models, technologies, processes and capabilities. "To adapt and respond on the fly to the challenges their organisation faces, supply chain leaders must develop the organization's change capabilities," said Ken Chadwick, research director at Gartner. "Being 'change agile', having the ability to design and adopt new ideas and changes quickly and completely, should be the goal of supply chain leaders in the digital era."
*Gartner conducted a survey from April to June 2016 among 437 respondents in North America, Western Europe and Asia/Pacific. The goal was to understand how supply chain professionals feel about their careers and the workplace: to gauge the effect of digital business on employees today, and how governance or other structural mechanisms support or hamper their ability to be successful.
Gartner clients can find additional information in the report "Supply Chain Brief: CSCOs Are Leading Change, but Is Anyone Following?""
Analysts will discuss leadership and innovation at the Gartner Supply Chain Executive Conference 2016, September 19-20 in London, U.K. Follow updates on Twitter using the hashtag #GartnerSCC.
