Knowledge Gap: Supply Chain Students and Employers

Abstract

This research aims to identify the gaps between supply chain students and employers for both the preparedness and relative importance of the critical job skills employers seek in graduating students. This research is relevant because students view college as an investment that will pay off through better job placement and higher pay upon graduation. The problem is that some employers feel students do not have the skills necessary to be successful on the job. While there has been extensive research regarding a skills gap in graduating students and common criteria employers use to rank these students, there is minimal research analyzing the gap specifically within supply chain management (SCM). The methodology of this study includes the analysis of existing research and original data collected from a sample of employers and students. The first step involved leveraging existing research to determine the top ten skills employers seek in recent SCM graduates. Next, an electronic survey was created that sought to identify both the feeling of preparedness and relative importance of the predetermined skills. This survey was then sent to a sample of juniors and seniors majoring in SCM and employers that hire students to fill supply chain-related roles. The results of the survey were analyzed to establish if there is a significant difference in responses between students and employers. Finally, recommendations will be given that aim to bridge the gaps. The overall goal of this research is to help students understand expectations of employers and how students can capitalize on their time in college to meet those expectations.