Jason Jury and Li-Ming Yang from Booz Allen Hamilton led a session that provided a comprehensive overview of what a capability academy entails. It’s not just another training program but a centralized platform designed to enhance job-relevant skills, assess current competencies, foster collaboration, and align with business objectives.
They began the session by providing a short history of corporate training from a traditional, elearning, blended model through self-directed learning to this capability model.
I see a lot of similarities to a badging constellation where skills are stacked into courses and certificates. Certificates are then stacked into degrees.
This article, “The Capability Academy: Where Corporate Training Is Going” by Josh Bersin, provides extensive detail on corporate academies.
Identifying Business Needs and Capabilities
Before launching a capability academy, assessing the organization’s specific needs is crucial. This involves identifying essential business capabilities and understanding the skills required to meet those needs. Through thorough analysis and consultation with stakeholders, organizations can pinpoint areas where skill development is most needed.
They recommended reviewing pressing issues, strategic goals, business opportunities, and existing resources.
Building Strategic Partnerships
One key aspect highlighted in the workshop is the importance of building strategic partnerships. These partnerships can range from collaborations with external training providers to leveraging internal expertise within the organization. By partnering with industry leaders and subject matter experts, organizations can access high-quality resources and ensure the relevance of their learning programs. They created technical experience groups to help develop the capability academy.
They created a detailed matrix of roles and responsibilities so they knew who was responsible for a specific aspect of the workflow.
Creating a Framework for Success
A well-defined framework is essential for the success of a capability academy. This framework outlines the learning program’s structure, content, and delivery methods. It provides guidance for curriculum development, assessment strategies, and ongoing evaluation. Organizations can ensure consistency and effectiveness in their learning initiatives by establishing a clear framework.
Utilizing Technology to Enable Learning
Technology plays a crucial role in enabling learning within a capability academy. From learning management systems to digital badges and interactive content, technology can enhance engagement and accessibility for learners. By leveraging the right technological tools, organizations can create a seamless learning experience that caters to the diverse needs of their workforce.
They highlighted six major categories of technology:
- Social
- Platforms
- Central Hub
- Community of Practice
- Capability Portal
- Partner Portal
The two platforms they used for the instructional content were Degreed and Udemy.
Identifying Metrics for Success
Measuring the success of a capability academy requires identifying relevant metrics and key performance indicators (KPIs). These metrics may include learner engagement, completion rates, performance improvements, and business impact. By tracking these metrics, organizations can gauge the effectiveness of their learning programs and make data-driven decisions for continuous improvement.
Conclusion: Empowering Your Workforce
A capability Academy is a strategic initiative to empower your workforce with the skills and knowledge needed to thrive in today’s dynamic business environment. Organizations can create a learning ecosystem that drives innovation, collaboration, and success by following a structured approach and leveraging the right resources.
Photo by Emirhan Albayrak
