SMaaS™: When succession planning becomes a strategic discipline
5 min read
Succession management is increasingly becoming a strategic discipline at board and executive management level. With SMaaS™, Odgers introduces a structured approach that strengthens the basis for decision-making regarding future leadership.
Succession management is no longer a periodic exercise, but an integral part of strategic management.
For organisations characterised by complexity and ambition, succession is about ensuring continuity, decision-making capacity and robust leadership preparedness, even during periods of change.
At the same time, many organisations operate in a market characterised by increased competition for experienced leaders, where requirements for transparency and documentation have become more stringent.
This places greater demands on the approach.
Succession Management - SMaaS™ SMaaS™ (Succession Management as a Service)
SMaaS™ is Odgers’ structured approach to succession management, developed for organisations where management decisions have significant strategic implications.
This approach establishes succession planning as an ongoing discipline across the board of directors and the executive board.
SMaaS™ creates a comprehensive basis for decision-making by combining:
- Clear definition of future leadership requirements
- Systematic assessment of internal talent pipelines
- Insight into the external market
- Ongoing alignment between the Board of Directors and the Executive Board
“Even the most structured executive recruitment processes operate within a search scope defined by industry, networks and experience. SMaaS systematically identifies both these candidates and those who fall outside this scope, across sectors and levels, and provides the analytical evidence for talent decisions that the board and CEO expect in all other strategic contexts.”
Five good reasons to work with SMaaS™
1. Continuity in critical leadership roles
Ensures that the organisation is prepared for transitions – both planned and unforeseen.
2. A more informed basis for decision-making
Supports management decision-making by providing a structured and up-to-date assessment of the pipeline and the market.
3. Alignment across the management team
Creates a shared understanding between the board of directors and the executive management of risks, timing and opportunities.
4. Making better use of internal and external opportunities
Combines internal talent with an understanding of the external market into a single, comprehensive assessment.
5. A more resilient and forward-looking organisation
Establishes an ongoing contingency plan that can be adapted to changes in strategy, the market and the organisation.
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From plan to ongoing discipline
Succession creates the greatest value when it is a continuous process rather than a one-off exercise.
SMaaS™ supports this by integrating succession with key disciplines such as leadership assessment, executive search and ongoing monitoring.
This gives:
- A realistic and up-to-date overview of leadership capacity
- Clarity on development needs and critical roles
- Better timing of transitions
- A stronger foundation in the face of unforeseen changes
A stronger foundation for strategic management
For organisations characterised by complexity and ambition, succession management is a key part of governance.
SMaaS™ helps to elevate the work from one-off exercises to a structured and firmly established discipline, where decisions are made on a consistent and informed basis over time.
Contact Us
We would be happy to start a confidential discussion about how SMaaS™ can be applied in your specific context.
Lars Smith