According to a recent McKinsey survey, half of respondents indicate capability building is at least a top-three business priority. The survey indicates the most important reasons for developing capability are to meet customer demands and strategic needs.
Essential capabilities are the “secret sauce” of an agency that equips them with the skills, processes and systems they need to conduct business. Sometimes, it is only when an agency is faced with an emerging trend that creates a need they are unequipped to address that they recognize an essential capability gap.
According to the survey, few organizations have a process in place to assess capabilities and identify gaps. They recommend:
- Diagnosing systematically – identify institutional and individual capabilities that have the biggest impact
- Designing and delivering learning to address individual needs
- Aligning capability-building with and linking it to business performance.