Need:

The Schwan Food Company, with headquarters in Marshall, Minnesota, is the largest branded frozen-food company in the United States and the second largest privately held firm in Minnesota. Schwan's goal is to double the company's size by 2007, and senior management wanted to begin developing a pool of leaders in key roles to help drive the company's growth.

Solution:

Schwan's tailored DDI's Acceleration Pool^® model to meet its business needs. Schwan started by creating success profiles based on 15 competencies the company identified as essential for executive leadership success. Next, Executive Committee members nominated 31 high-potential leaders from the business units. DDI consulted with Schwan to create the nomination criteria and process, assessment and development approaches, and communications strategy. DDI also facilitated the two-day review/selection process that decided on 15 finalists. These finalists were invited to apply for admission to Schwan's Senior Executive Development Program, and 10 of the 15 were accepted for 2002. These participants completed full-day assessments at DDI's Acceleration Center^®. In 2003, another eight completed the program.

Results:

Schwan filled a number of senior-level positions from the Acceleration Pool^®, saving an estimated $3 million in external recruitment, assessment, on-boarding, and development costs. In addition, Schwan realized a faster-than-normal return on learning-to-contribution time for its leaders by placing Acceleration Pool^® members in positions that would immediately impact the company's strategic and operational effectiveness—such as project-specific (fix-it) or functional-specific (turnaround) assignments. Schwan's efforts earned second place in the 2003 Best Awards competition sponsored by the American Society for Training and Development (ASTD).