COREvis Services LLC

Capability Planning

What is Capability Planning?

Capability planning is “taking inventory of an organization’s resources (people, partnerships/alliances, available funding, et al.) and examining the degree to which a strategy can be accomplished.” All too often organizations and businesses create strategies without examining if they have the capability to execute that strategy in a timely and efficient manner. Some consultants focus on capability and planning in two distinct steps and that often leads to identifying gaps, planning to “bridge” the gap and the acquiring resources to close the gap. At COREVIS, we address these activities in parallel in an effort to minimize the attention that is often placed on “gap analysis.” When the “gap” is not closed, many organizations blame the implementation team and not those who created the gap in the first place.  Instead of blaming anyone, we assist in making the planning process work more effective and thus the “gap” needs less attention.

Who Can Benefit?

Organizations that are interested in developing strategies that is capable of being successfully implemented. With “change” being constant, organizations must update their strategies if they are to remain competitive. Unfortunately, strategies are often developed and then resources are inventoried only to find that they are inadequate to make the strategy work. As an alternate, we find it more effective to create and adjust the plan early on into the planning process.

How do COREVIS' coaches/consultants deliver this service?

COREVIS Services consultants work with business leaders during the strategy planning phase to gain an understanding of the strategic changes being considered as well the reasons why the strategy is being changed. We work closely with these business leaders to minimize the challenges that often occur when “gap analysis” FOLLOWS strategy development. We encourage this “parallel” approach to avoid creating an expectation of the organization that is not possible. Continue two different approaches:

-- The strategy is developed using tools such as a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) analysis. Once the strategy is agreed upon, resources are inventoried and examined. Upon completion of these two steps, a “gap analysis” is done. This typically leads to the creation of teams to address the gaps and possibly seek additional resources to fill the gap. In most cases this involves changing personnel, training staff, infrastructure modifications, new management systems, and more efficient business processes.

-- The second approach is similar to the first except the business leaders who are responsible for developing the strategy are also responsible for understanding the limits of their organization early in the process. The limits are not drawn around “existing” resources but around “expanded” resources that the organization is willing to acquire or partner with.

At COREVIS Services, we have found that many organizations create “gaps” that they will never allocate sufficient resources to close. The different approaches contrast whether you do “strategy and development” and “resource planning” in a parallel or sequential process. By managing this process in a parallel manner, you identify early on what it will take to make the strategy work. With enormous pressures on minimizing cost, this iterative process creates a strategy that is more doable than it would be otherwise.

What are the benefits?

The primary benefit is getting your organization moving more quickly in implementing your strategy.

What Are Our Principles and/or Approach?

COREVIS Services brings discipline to the planning process and challenges your business leaders in balancing what you “want” with “what you are willing to acquire.” The strategy often represents what business leaders feel is required to meet their strategic goals and at the same time these leaders may not be willing to make the necessary changes to make the strategy workable. We look at the goals of the organization from the top down to ensure there is alignment throughout. We also look at the communication of the strategy and the willingness of leaders to support movement towards meeting new goals. Often it is necessary for teams and departments to “stop doing” many things that they have been doing. But all too often individuals attempt to do more of the new things required to implement the strategy and they have insufficient time to do everything.

Who does CAPABILITY PLANNING for COREVIS?

COREVIS utilizes consultants who have worked both as line managers and professionals who have been supporting organizations from an Organizational Development vantage point. Our consultants have been leaders in many different capacities (Operations, Human Resources, Staff Managers, et al) and we have a good understanding of the challenges that organizations face when creating and modifying strategies. We also understand the challenges of developing a “gap analysis” and then not being able to secure the resources to close the gap.