The Demand for Executive Skills

By: Stephen Hansen, Tejas Ramdas, Raffaella Sadun and Joseph B. Fuller

Format:Print
| Language:English

Abstract

We use a unique corpus of job descriptions for C-suite positions to document skills requirements in top managerial occupations across a large sample of firms. A novel algorithm maps the text of each executive search into six separate skill clusters reflecting cognitive, interpersonal, and operational dimensions. The data show an increasing relevance of social skills in top managerial occupations, and a greater emphasis on social skills in larger and more information intensive organizations. The results suggest the need for training, search and governance mechanisms able to facilitate the match between firms and top executives along multiple and imperfectly observable skills.

Keywords

Executives; Management Skills; Competency and Skills

Citation

Hansen, Stephen, Tejas Ramdas, Raffaella Sadun, and Joseph B. Fuller. "The Demand for Executive Skills." NBER Working Paper Series, No. 28959, June 2021.