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Succession Planning: A Corporate Time Bomb

By Dennis McCafferty on 2011-06-06


If you left your organization, who would replace you? The answer to this question is too often unknown. A recent survey from CareerBuilder reveals that many companies these days aren’t paying enough attention to succession planning. In fact, there really isn’t a designated successor for the highest-level positions within a large number of large businesses. The adverse impact of this lack of planning can be considerable: decreased productivity, weakened financial performance and an absence of strategic direction. While many survey participants blame the recession for the inattention here, managers need to start looking ahead in more proactive fashion, according to the research. "As the economy gradually improves, it's important for organizations to proactively plan for the future of their businesses," says Jamie Womack, vice president of corporate marketing and sales training at CareerBuilder. "Having a blueprint on who will succeed management at all levels is a critical facet to your overall strategy. It ensures that your organization will be able to tackle future challenges and compete in your industry." Nearly 1,100 employers at organizations with more than 1,000 workers took part in the research. Here are seven highlights:

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31%

31% of respondents say their company doesn’t have a succession planning program.

50%

50% of respondents who are senior managers (CEO, CFO, senior VPs) say their companies don’t currently have a successor designated for their role.

52%

52% of respondents in VP roles don’t currently have a successor designated for their role.

27%

27% of respondents say their companies have been adversely impacted financially because of poor succession planning or a lack of it.

28%

28% of respondents say the recession has served as an obstacle to effective succession planning.

Top 3 shortcomings of succession planning today (percent respondents)

1. Not enough opportunity for employees to learn beyond their current roles (39%)2. Process isn’t formalized (38%)3. Not enough investment in training/development (33%)

49%

49% of respondents say their workers fail to set career paths with managers specifying timelines/milestones—hurting their own chances to take role in the succession/advancement process.

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