Succession Planning: Exploring Learning Management Systems for Leadership Development

This study explored the importance of succession planning in technology corporations and the influence of the process from the organization's learning management system (LMS) on the development of future leaders. The research focuses on the relationship between succession planning strategy and the companies’ LMS from the employees' perspective. The data consists of thirteen semi-structured interviews that solicit the participants about the succession process carried out. The population included employees in leadership from three engineering departments who experienced the succession process from technology companies in the Southwestern United States. As part of the study, a modified technology acceptance model was used to explore the perceived usefulness and ease of use of the corporations’ learning management systems, with the succession planning process defined as the behavioral intent of use. The six themes identified were implications of an informal process, need for preparing a successor, low acceptance from leaders, flexible but devoid of interaction, leader development and growth, and value of knowledge and mentorship. The results disclosed an informal succession process and disagreement about the perception of the organization’s LMS. It also contributed to companies by highlighting gaps in their succession processes, raising awareness of necessary adjustments in their LMS strategies, and presenting the perceived usefulness and ease of use based on informants' experiences. The study suggests the implementation of a formal succession planning process, increasing the use of the LMS, and additional research combining both methods.