President's Viewpoint
Executives in Logistics
From November 25 to 30, twenty four executives from industry and government gathered at the Banff Management Centre to take part in the Executive P.Log Certification Program. Surrounded by mountains, forests, and snow, this group of executives were transformed into a cohesive, high performance team who met the challenge of their assignment to re-engineer two companies.
Ideas were exchanged and business strategies developed. Individuals grew as leaders and professional credentials were earned. Not even the warnings that wolves and cougars were stalking Banff caused them to be deterred from their work.
The Executive Program is a marriage between 6-Sigma and E-3 Leadership. The gap between participant experience and 6-Sigma strategy is minimal. Participating executives are veteran business strategists. E-3 Leadership deals with effort and energy, vision and values. It is designed to further facilitate effective corporate leadership and executives from across Canada are invited to participate in the program. The six days and five nights in the Rockies provides an opportunity for participants to hone skills in a professional context and go beyond ordinary business experiences.
Active learning occurs when “what one knows” and “what one does” intersects. The program is limited to 25 participants with a minimum of 10-years of senior experience. The facilitators do not “teach” in the traditional sense instead they provide opportunities for participants to learn from each other within a strategic learning framework. Collectively, these executives raise the bar on strategic thinking.
Change is at the epicentre of the program. Change is viewed as a pebble dropped into a still pool – it creates ripples, and the ripples have an impact on organizations, the people in them, and the leaders who lead them. How do leaders prevent the ripple from becoming a tidal wave that overwhelms the whole enterprise? This is a scenario which keeps executives awake at night.
Leadership is the exercise of power in the face of change. As initiators of change, executives have the responsibility to “vision the future” and motivate stakeholders to build a “willed future.”
Since 1998, over 200 executives have struggled with these issues as part of the regime of earning the P.Log certification. It underlines two trends in the Canadian logistics community:
• Logistics and supply chain have emerged from the back room to the boardroom. Logistics are strategic to competitive bench strength.
• An increasing number of logistics executives lead organizations in Canada, and they are raising awareness and recognition of P. Log certification.
P.Log. is not just a 4-letter credential. It acts as the public statement of logistical competence and excellence. The bar has been raised on logistics strategy, leadership and professionalism. Welcome to the millennium!
Organizers of the executive program are to be commended. The logistics behind the program are flawless. Karyn Ferguson, the Institute’s Program Director, makes it happen through a combination of personal skill and a commitment to create value. Congratulations are due to the facilitators for the outstanding November 2001 Banff Program.
The executive program is held twice a year: each spring in Ontario and in Alberta in the fall. Since 1998, the autumn program has been held at the Banff Management Centre three times. It has once again been scheduled for November 2002.
“Banff” connotes “boondoggle,” but it is a mistake to view the program as an excuse for a ski junket or an opportunity to enjoy the luxuries of the Banff Springs Hotel. The program’s schedule (daily from 7:00 a.m. breakfast to 10:00 p.m. sessions) does not allow time to ski or visit Banff, never mind the time to take in the Springs.
The Banff Management Centre is not a hotel. It is a not-for-profit campus established by the federal and provincial governments which focuses on the arts (e.g. performing, fine, graphic and plastic arts). Less than 12% of its current budget entails funding as a school. The remainder is raised through festivals, conferences, and business programs (including their leadership programs).
The Centre delivers quality programming far in excess of actual cost. Its conference division is driven by the value proposition to exceed customer expectations, and they succeed royally at this. They are well-organized, flexible and committed to continuous program improvement.
One is surrounded by young people at the Centre – staff, organizers, and participants in cultural programs. The youthful energy that ripples through the place is energizing. And one can only be surprised by their antics. One young man shaved the hair off the back of his head, created a row of pigtails across the crown, and dyed the tips bright green. The youthful antics were refreshing.
A key feature of the program is creating the sense of separation from the everyday. Although participants remain connected through technology, everyone is encouraged to psychologically “leave it all behind.”
Given its location, the Centre allows participants to focus on the issues at hand, and concentrate on strategic thinking. There are no diversions. The Institute has been so impressed by the Centre’s ability to deliver that they are considering the scheduling of all of their executive programs beginning in 2003.
The 2001 Banff Program was over booked by the summer. They were unable to accommodate anyone on the waiting list. The 2002 program is scheduled at the Kingsbridge Centre in Ontario for the last week of April. Seven seats are already sold. At the end of November, the program returns to Banff, and 5 seats have already been booked. For further information and an official invitation, contact Karyn at kferguso@loginstitute.ca.
Banff in November reminds me that Christmas is on the way (elk/snow = reindeer/Santa). On behalf of the staff and Board, I wish you a safe holiday.
In 2001, the Institute achieved significant goals: 1100+ P.Log. professionals, 1000 registrants in Certification Programs, 850+ new contacts interested in certification, popular e-modules, and the Gateway as an emerging reality. We thank you for your support and look forward to continuing our journey together in 2002.