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Amazon Uses the SDI 2.0 to Develop the Team Responsible for Securing its Global Assets
Amazon Global Security Operations has integrated the SDI 2.0 in multiple ways as part of its ongoing learning and development training. The SDI 2.0 is used as part of onboarding programs, one-on-one executive coaching, team development activities for intact teams, and new manager assimilation.
The Challenge
Amazon Global Security Operations team members face the critical task of protecting the safety and security of employees, vendors, visitors, and assets at Amazon customer fulfillment centers, customer service centers, and transportation centers across the globe. In their roles, team members are regularly immersed in high-stakes situations requiring sharp decision-making skills, the ability to quickly and efficiently mitigate risks, and rapidly resolve key issues. Doing so relies on effective communication among team members and defusing conflict before it takes hold.
In order to address the challenges his organization faced, Matt Dawson, Worldwide Talent Development Manager, Global Security Operations for Amazon, looked for mechanisms to employ that provide a baseline assessment of each team member to support developmental conversations. “Part of my work is about making people aware of their own behaviors, of their own mindsets and then driving additional insights around those things through dialog, conversations both one-on-one and in groups, and in 360-type mechanisms,” commented Dawson.
Dawson originally learned about Core Strengths and the Strengths Deployment Inventory (SDI) during his academic experience and was confident it could address the key challenges Amazon Global Security Operations was facing.
The Core Strengths Solution
Amazon Global Security Operations initially introduced the SDI by piloting it within the organization to first prove its value, to create buzz among people who have taken the course, and to see how it resonated with participants before moving to scale. Once it was proven to be successful, Dawson and his team started deploying the SDI 2.0 in mixed methods across the organization.
One of the areas where the SDI 2.0 was deployed was the onboarding program for the general associate population. Integrating the SDI 2.0 helped create awareness among participants of their own strengths and motives as well as those of the people with whom they work closely.
Dawson and his team have also used the SDI 2.0 to enable more effective one-on-one executive coaching, to support team development exercises for intact teams, and to help assimilate new managers into the organization.
Benefit
Amazon has achieved some early gains from the use of the SDI 2.0 in its training and development programs. Specifically, Dawson and his team have observed first hand how the tools have fostered healthier conversations among team members. Demand for the program has also been strong among employees as well as a desire to have leaders take the SDI 2.0 assessment to enable stronger relationships between direct reports and their managers.
Amazon plans on expanding the use of the SDI 2.0 within its training and development programs given its proven ability to improve communication and reduce conflict.
About the Company:
Amazon.com, Inc., is a global e-commerce and cloud computing company based in Seattle, Washington. Its focus is on e-commerce, cloud computing, digital streaming, and artificial intelligence enabled products. Amazon Global Security Operations is a division within the parent company which protects the safety and security of employees, vendors, visitors, and assets at Amazon customer fulfillment centers, customer service centers, and transportation centers across the globe.
