OVERVIEW Background some of the deepest and most comprehensive The Australian Executive Development investigations and analyses of executive and Trends Research Report 2007 (“the leadership development practices and related Report”) is the product of a collaborative trends that has been conducted to date. partnership between Executive Development Associates Inc (EDA), The In translating EDA’s research Leadership Consortium and Dr Scott M. approach and methodology to the Bourke of SRD Consulting (“The Australian context, the involvement Research Partners”). and support of The Leadership Consortium Australia’s – The Leadership Consortium is premier member funded leadership institute Australia’s foremost member based has been invaluable and demonstrates leadership development organisation. 2004, it “In the growing importance of practical The members of The Leadership has become obvious business focused research in Consortium are sixteen that an organization’s understanding and then shaping executive (16) of Australia’s premier executive and development strategy and practice for organisations from across the private leadership talent large Australian organisations. The and public sector. The purpose of the is its greatest and Leadership Consortium has previously Consortium is to work collaboratively most sustainable source sponsored research in the area of with its members to of competitive leadership aspiration and organisational design and deliver an outstanding of advantage. Furthermore, commitment and has the promotion of leadership programs and initiatives that many companies are collaborative knowledge development as a contribute to the personal and approaching a central pillar in its strategic development professional development of senior crossroads: they face platform. executives and the business increasingly complex performance of its members. The questionnaire employed in the strategic and managerial Australian research represents a challenges even as EDA has conducted executive customised version of, and is current executive teams development trends surveys in the United substantially similar to, the survey are nearing retirement. States, and more recently on a global instrument developed and deployed by Cultivating the basis, for the past twenty (20) years. The EDA as part of its most recent executive next generation of firm’s research is designed to heighten development trends research, conducted business leaders is awareness of the critical trends in in 2004. One of the main benefits of a imperative.”1 executive development within the global substantially similar survey instrument context for the benefit Jim Bolt - Chairman was the opportunity this approach of its clients. EDA’s US and afforded for direct comparative analysis international executive development Executive Development of EDA’s 2004 survey findings with those trends research arguably represents Associates of the present study.
OVERVIEW Background “In 2004, it has become obvious that an organization’s executive and leadership talent is its greatest and most sustainable source of competitive advantage. Furthermore, many companies are approaching a crossroads: they face increasingly complex strategic and managerial challenges even as current executive teams are nearing retirement. Cultivating the next generation of business leaders is imperative.”1 Jim Bolt - Chairman Executive Development Associates The Australian Executive Development Trends Research Report 2007 (“the Report”) is the product of a collaborative partnership between Executive Development Associates Inc (EDA), The Leadership Consortium and Dr Scott M. Bourke of SRD Consulting (“The Research Partners”). The Leadership Consortium is Australia’s foremost member based leadership development organisation. The members of The Leadership Consortium are sixteen (16) of Australia’s premier organisations from across the private and public sector. The purpose of the Consortium is to work collaboratively with its members to design and deliver an outstanding of leadership programs and initiatives that contribute to the personal and professional development of senior executives and the business performance of its members. EDA has conducted executive development trends surveys in the United States, and more recently on a global basis, for the past twenty (20) years. The firm’s research is designed to heighten awareness of the critical trends in executive development within the global context for the benefit of its clients. EDA’s US and international executive development trends research arguably represents some of the deepest and most comprehensive investigations and analyses of executive and leadership development practices and related trends that has been conducted to date. In translating EDA’s research approach and methodology to the Australian context, the involvement and support of The Leadership Consortium – Australia’s premier member funded leadership institute has been invaluable and demonstrates the growing importance of practical business focused research in understanding and then shaping executive development strategy and practice for large Australian organisations. The Leadership Consortium has previously sponsored research in the area of leadership aspiration and organisational commitment and has the promotion of collaborative knowledge development as a central pillar in its strategic development platform. The questionnaire employed in the Australian research represents a customised version of, and is substantially similar to, the survey instrument developed and deployed by EDA as part of its most recent executive development trends research, conducted in 2004. One of the main benefits of a substantially similar survey instrument was the opportunity this approach afforded for direct comparative analysis of EDA’s 2004 survey findings with those of the present study.
AusExecTrendsReport_2007_Final.docx