Succession Systems in the Public Sector: Lessons from the Oklahoma Department of Corrections

Abstract

The task of preparing and selecting the next generation of leadership is one all organizations face. This article describes the innovative and progressive practices that constitute the succession system of the Oklahoma Department of Corrections. A great deal of this organization's resources are devoted to the two central challenges in managing succession systems: capitalizing on the opportunities for learning inherent in succession events and promoting systematic executive development. The aims of this article are to stimulate discussion and debate about the Oklahoma model, suggest extensions to it, and challenge public sector executives in their thinking about how to develop and select their successors.