TD Synnex's integration process has begun and should in a couple of months present "a clear view as to what our platform tools and application suite looks like," says CEO Rich Hume. He also discusses supply chain challenges and why the deal with Synnex is really a continuation of digital transformation efforts at Tech Data.

The most successful distributor advisory councils have buy-in from leadership, a cross-section of distributor members, a focus on common issues and open honesty that promotes trust, writes Jim Hlavacek, chairman and founder of the Corporate Development Institute. Effective DACs also have strong bylaws, clear meeting agendas and high commitment from distributors, Hlavacek writes.

The lack of port workers and truck and package delivery drivers is holding up shipments of products to retailers and consumers, with manufacturers such as Nike also experiencing supply chain disruptions from shutdowns of factories in Vietnam. The problems could be addressed by wider adoption of automation, artificial intelligence tools and real-time visibility, industry experts say.

Over 80% of respondents to an OpenText survey said they would be willing to spend more and wait longer to ensure that products they buy are ethically sourced. Meanwhile, 71% said companies should require their suppliers to meet ethical criteria.

Lead scoring hasn't always been as effective as it should have been, mainly because data management practices were lacking in the past, writes Armando Biondi. Today, lead scoring has evolved to become more effective than ever, in part because of the shift of business to online and improved tech stacks.

Finalists for the 2021 Content Marketer of the Year award share their tips for creating engaging, compelling and effective content strategies. "We've worked hard to make content marketing a strategic function and an integral part of marketing," explains Salesforce's Jessica Bergmann, while Northwell Health's Julie Shapiro advises marketers to "get to know your audience and give the people what they want."

Informal or project-based leadership roles can give employees a taste of responsibility but can also be draining, especially if those employees lack formal support from their managers, according to researchers. "Building an informal leadership pipeline not only reduces the burden on any one informal leader, but also ensures that the team will continue to be successful if informal leaders are promoted into other roles or decide to take a step back from their new responsibilities," the researchers write.

People follow their boss' example, even if that person is toxic, a workaholic or does not communicate well, writes Jennifer V. Miller, citing research. "Whether or not managers' actions set a positive example depends on conscious effort on their part to model civil and consistent behaviors from the start of their interactions with team members," she writes.