An Alignment Analysis of the U.S. Navy Supply Corps Officer's Career Guidance With Naval Supply Systems Command's Strategic Publications

Abstract

The U.S. Navy Supply Corps officer community's professional development guidance does not solidly link to the organization's strategic vision, goals, or objectives. This study qualitatively analyzes the degree of alignment between officer development guidance and strategic initiatives. It evaluates two sets of documents: near-, mid-, and long-term strategy and individual career guidance playbooks. As Supply Corps officers progress through military service, career milestones do not reflect the radical shift in corporate culture needed by Naval Supply Systems Command (NAVSUP) to better serve U.S. Navy customers. This research examines two constructs that bind employees to organizational strategy: performance management and employee engagement. The study recommends adopting industry-standardized professional certification programs to validate functional knowledge, skills, abilities, and competencies to provide (1) a metric for measuring progress toward strategic initiatives and (2) an incentive for attaining and maintaining functional competency in the U.S. Navy Supply Corps. Professional certification benefits the individual through validated knowledge and association with industry-recognized professional organizations. More importantly, the organization benefits in formalizing its relationship with external organizations (through its officers), gains the credibility needed for contributing when in partnership with Joint Naval Support Network partners, and provides a metric by which NAVSUP can measure its progress toward strategic goals.