New to the CSCO Role? Here are Your First Steps.

Editor’s Note: Dana Stiffler, is Vice President Analyst, Gartner

How can new chief supply chain officers navigate their new role and deliver? Successful CSCOs follow four steps to build standing in their organizations.

When an organization appoints a new chief supply chain officer (CSCO), congratulations, praise and firm handshakes are the usual procedure. There's also an announcement that the transition will be as smooth as possible to set the supply chain organization up for future success. But what happens the next day?

In a typical organization, new CSCOs — new hires as well as internal appointments — are forced to navigate their transitions alone with no standardized process in place. They must onboard themselves and - at the same time- establish a new vision for their organizations as well as quickly execute high-impact projects and changes. This is an overwhelming number of competing tasks during the first few months on the job. And how new CSCOs handle this situation can make or break their future.

With such a massive number of tasks waiting, it's hard to prioritize. There is no one-size-fits-all answer. However, Gartner has developed a framework that defines four areas of focus. CSCOs can use this framework to identify the priorities that fit their profile and situation.

Prepare

Every transition happens in a specific context. For example, frequent leadership changes in the past may have had negative effects on the supply chain organization, or the team could be very open to change, which will make the transition easier. The CSCO role may even be brand-new to the organization, which presents its own set of opportunities and pitfalls.

CSCOs should identify important contextual factors and mitigate the risks that come with them, paying special attention to clarifying your role's scope. Also, don't forget the employees and how you will empower them during this transitional time and beyond. Leaders who focus on empowerment during uncertainty develop higher-performing workforces and their teams show lower aversion to change.

Connect

CSCOs, especially those from outside the organization, should prioritize building robust relationships with their direct reports and crucial stakeholders, especially peers outside the supply chain organization. New executives who quickly build a strong network among company leaders are 50% more likely to succeed in their transitions. Being heard and getting the buy-in for investments is much easier if you can build on an existing trusted relationship.

It can be tempting to trust your gut when it comes to relationships; however, a more intentional approach will yield better results. For stakeholders outside the supply chain organization, prioritize executive relationships that will have the biggest impact on success. Certain executives will be natural allies, others natural challengers. It's important to engage with both.

Inside the supply chain organization, the key task is to build trusted relationships with direct reports. For the new team to work in an optimal way, employees have to feel comfortable providing proactive upward coaching and feedback.

Assess

Every new CSCO has to answer two questions: How mature is the supply chain organization? What is the state of the team with regard to skills, resources and operating model? Simply put: To build a vision and strategy, you have to know where you stand and where you need to invest.

If the transitioning CSCO is an internal hire, the assessment shouldn't take much time. For external hires, the assessment process is both a challenge and an opportunity. The new CSCO goes into the process unbiased and will provide a truly objective assessment.

However, there's the risk of analysis paralysis, where the CSCO is overwhelmed by the volume of insights and postpones important and time-sensitive decisions. Guard against this with a streamlined review against a supply chain maturity checklist with direct reports.

Act

Finally, new CSCOs should take some time to pave a vision and strategy for the future, while addressing the most pressing issues right away.

Ideally, the CSCO can identify two or three top issues that must be addressed within the next three to six months. Those issues should represent obstacles or challenges to the existing supply chain organization. These quick wins will cement the presence of the new CSCO and guarantee buy-in for longer-term projects and investments.

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