People Factor: Key for Change Driver in Immunization Supply Chain Management
Efficient human resources management is the foundation of an ideal supply chain management process. Desired outcome from a supply chain system cannot be achieved without effective people and innovation management. Due to which, there is a growing trend towards the adoption of next generation immunization supply chain (ISC) management programmes to deal with today’s complex operating environment.
Role of an effective leadership is the key for the success of any immunization program. In every such program, he or she will be the ultimate driver who will empower immunization supply chain with the change or improvements needed.
Before going into the further details, let’s understand what is Immunization Supply Chain?
According to Gavi – The Vaccine Alliance, immunisation supply chain is an ideal healthcare supply chain ecosystem which includes all the stakeholders of an ideal healthcare system from people to activities, infrastructure and resources planning, whose roles are extremely important to transport vaccines to the end users in perfect conditions to ensure the immunization goals of a society or a country.
Foundation of Successful immunization programmes
According to World Health Organisation, an ideal immunisation programme is always designed based on functional, end-to-end supply chain and logistics systems. In such an operation, effective logistics and controlled supply chain process ensures efficient vaccine storage, handling, and stock management within ideal temperature management in the defined cold chain system. In such a scenario, the prime goal of entire end-to-end process is to ensure uniform service delivery towards uninterrupted availability of vaccines.
Change Leadership: An Essential Ingredient for Efficient Supply Chains Management
To encounter the modern-day challenges, there has been a constant process and people evolution witnessed by the supply chain industry. To ensure end-to-end perspective and uninterrupted availability of vaccines to the children, the new age immunization supply chain system must adapt to the ever-evolving industry requirements. But, who will lead the change towards future ready next generation immunization supply chain management?
Change leadership is very complex to define, but is the key element towards transformation, which empowers people to work towards a new vision in supremely controlled environment by minimising disruptions. An ideal change leader crafts an environment that can lead towards desired change which is self-sustainable.
In a modern immunization supply chain setting, change leadership program is a part of systematic human resource development programs. Such development programs rely on the below listed foundation blocks:
- Engagement of key supply chain stakeholders towards the importance of leadership and effective leadership for adaptive supply chain management system
- Sustained growth of human resource as a system with implementation of effective recruitment plans and strategic as well as standard operating procedures
- Regular skill enhancement and training programs for workforce development to tackle modern day challenges
- Formulation of actionable guidelines for better performance management and retention of human resource
- Ensure participation in leadership development programs from the supply chain managers, which will make them industry ready
Leadership for the Next-Generation Immunization Supply Chain
Change leadership needs to be supported by effective management so that innovations provide the desired results. According to a study of Burkina Faso on the need of efficient leadership in district level vaccination program reported that the effective leadership qualities of the appointed medical officer is the prime enabler towards the increase of team performance and widening of vaccine coverage.
This study suggested an array of change management qualities and competencies which are important for adaptive immunization supply chain, these includes,
- Be the role model
- Inspire the team and people with professional excellence, innovation and communication
- Possess the aptitude to foresee and understand the macro environment and the goal to see the bigger picture; also teach others to learn the same
- Lead with social influence
Successes and Challenges in the Field
Adaption towards the next generation immunization supply chain needs improvements across small parts or components of the entire system. In addition to these changes, the need of a change management leader is must, who is capable of driving these required improvements across the supply chain management ecosystem with the power of advocacy and his or her social influence capabilities. With such drives and multilevel end-to-end communications, innovations will flourish and the desired change will be established.
Let’s understand and cultivate the key efficient & effective leadership approaches which help leading successful change management.
- Ensure that the whole ecosystem is focused towards the change that is desired. It is immensely important to drive the entire system and the people towards one goal. Uniformity will reduce dependencies and this will drive people towards innovations and improvements.
- Ensure performance recognitions. Creating a space for performance recognitions and conversations drives creativity and helps in overcoming road blocks.
- Upshift to co-creating future. Gone are the days of the reactive approaches. Today, creative tensions demand immediate resolution and recurring shifts towards co-creation for the sustained future. In a co-creating environment, immunization supply chain focus on three key enablers:
- Effective supply chain managers
- Concrete supply chain management improvement plans
- Data driven future ready supply chain actions
Efficient data management and data driven decision enables the modern-day immunization supply chain management. Such evidence-based decisions and operations allow supply chain leaders and managers to take informed decisions for future developments, evaluate outcomes and performance over a period of time.
People Factor: Key for Change Driver in Immunization Supply Chain Management
Final Thoughts
Towards driving the required change, improvements and sustainability immunization supply chain demands an effective change management leader. In today’s complex business environments, human resource plays a pivotal role in identifying and grooming such a leader who is armed with right skills, accountability and motivation to drive the desired improvements.
As mentioned, effective leadership must be well placed in the context of comprehensive change management. However, there are no short cuts to it; such leadership traits and qualities need to be groomed and cultivated in a formal human resource setting.