AWESOME is partnering with Gartner, the world’s leading information technology research and advisory company, on a research project to determine the representation of women in various supply chain roles as well as strategies companies are using to address the gender gap. By late February, a survey will be sent to AWESOME supply chain leaders with manufacturing, retail, and distribution companies, and other companies with complex supply chains.
Input from survey will provide important insights to help move women’s leadership forward. Survey results will be shared with participants at the AWESOME Symposium on April 27-29, 2016.
According to Dr. Nancy Nix, Executive Director of AWESOME, “As we work toward change, it is important we understand where we are today and measure progress going forward. Foundational data on women in supply chain does not exist elsewhere, particularly in an integrated view across the full spectrum of supply chain roles.”
Recipients of the survey are asked to complete and return their responses. In addition to focusing on women’s advancement into leadership roles in the industry, the survey also asks about specific activities companies are engaged in to attract, develop, and retain women in supply chain organizations.
Previous analysis by Gartner, featured recently on SCDigest.com, suggested “Percent of Women in Supply Chain College Programs is Growing, but Industry Not Seeing the Impact Yet in Terms of Senior Management Roles.”
This analysis shows that although “women now make up 41% of students enrolled in undergraduate university programs related to supply chain management in the US,” the percentage of women in director-level and above supply chain roles drops to just 20%, and women hold only 3% of the top positions in global Fortune 500 companies.
The article poses a number of questions about why this pipeline “leakage” might be happening.
Nancy Nix explained, “The AWESOME/Gartner research can help us better understand and address the gaps and obstacles and improve the environment for advancing women’s leadership.”