What does the future of supply chain hold? According to Gartner Inc., supply chain officers should expect a future demanding substantial reinvention of supply chain management — unlocking the potential for supply chains to play an increasingly prominent role in business. 

Day 2 of Gartner’s Supply Chain Symposium showcased how human-centric supply chains contribute to growth, while cognitive overload hinders progress. We also saw results from the research firm’s annual ranking of top North American university programs.

Here are some highlights:

Sentience is another key features of future #supplychains, which means they must sense, perceive and respond to change #GartnerSC

— SupplyChainBrain (@SCBrain) June 7, 2022

How can supply chain leaders reduce complexity? Just say "no" to decision making that's not mission-critical, says #GartnerSC's Ken Chadwick pic.twitter.com/wvTZzvZKbv

— SupplyChainBrain (@SCBrain) June 7, 2022

We asked Gartner analysts: What's the biggest threat to supply chains right now? Strategy and planning analyst Amber Salley said "fear of failure," which is "leading to decision paralysis."

We're asking #GartnerSC Symposium speakers and attendees: What's the biggest threat to supply chains right now? Here's what Gartner strategy and planning analyst Amber Salley had to say pic.twitter.com/cshdXaSHJS

— SupplyChainBrain (@SCBrain) June 7, 2022

Procurement analyst Ryan Polk said "cognitive overload" is a top threat.

The biggest threat to procurement leaders today is "cognitive overload," says Gartner analyst Ryan Polk #GartnerSC pic.twitter.com/BJhJ5vLCpP

— SupplyChainBrain (@SCBrain) June 8, 2022

Companies need to "create a more simple environment to operate within," he says.

For the second year in a row, University of Arkansas topped Gartner's ranking of top 25 supply chain university programs in North America. Beyond a "perfect curriculum score," the program's strength is in its industry partnerships with companies like Walmart, General Mills and JB Hunt, said Gartner analyst Caroline Chumakov.

These are North America's top 25 #supplychain university programs this year, according to Gartner #GartnerSC pic.twitter.com/T1RhNMDzzc

— SupplyChainBrain (@SCBrain) June 7, 2022

"The reason they've been able to improve their curriculum is really through their industry relationships...and their opportunities for experiential learning and practicing global problem solving," Chumakov said during a live announcement of the ranking at #GartnerSC Symposium.

Chumakov said there's progress to be made in diversity, which could benefit the supply chain talent shortage.

Women are better represented among students than faculty in supply chain university programs, but remain minorities overall, research shows #GartnerSC pic.twitter.com/dYM7cLUlqM

— SupplyChainBrain (@SCBrain) June 7, 2022

The #supplychain talent shortage will leave more than 2 million jobs unfilled over the next decade, says Gartner analyst Caroline Chumakov #GartnerSC

— SupplyChainBrain (@SCBrain) June 7, 2022

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