Talent vs. Capabilities: What Truly Drives Organizational Success?

Damani Short delves into a pivotal question faced by organizations worldwide: Do businesses thrive on talent, or is it the capabilities that truly matter? 

What are business capabilities?

Business capabilities are the combined elements of people, processes, and systems that enable an organization to achieve its goals and execute its strategies. These capabilities can be technology-enabled or otherwise, and they form the core of an organization’s ability to perform and succeed.

The Role of Talent When Developing Business Capabilities 

Talent plays a critical role in developing business capabilities by providing the necessary skills and expertise needed to execute processes and utilize systems effectively. However, talent alone is not enough; it must be integrated with effective processes and systems to build strong business capabilities.

The discussion transcends the conventional either-or narrative, offering a nuanced perspective on how the integration of people, processes, and systems—whether technology-driven or not—forms the essence of business capabilities. This analysis not only highlights the indispensable role of talent but also emphasizes the overarching importance of capabilities in shaping long-term organizational strategies and fostering talent development. 

Capabilities Seems to be The Answer

Dive into this insightful dialogue to understand why focusing on capabilities could be the game-changer in your talent strategy and organizational growth.

Focusing on capabilities is more valuable because it encompasses the broader combination of elements—people, processes, and systems—that drive organizational effectiveness. Capabilities provide a comprehensive framework for achieving business objectives and adapting to changes, supporting the development of a more robust talent strategy.

Looking to implement a capability-driven approach to talent? Contact Lexico.


TRANSCRIPT:

Yeah, so fun one when I go speak at different places, I’ll say, pose the question, do businesses need talent or do they need capabilities? 

So, Now, of course the answer’s both or Yes. But it’s really to just stretch our thinking a little bit, because it’s really capabilities at the end of the day, when large enterprises have initiatives they’re trying to attack, whether they be near medium term or long term, it’s ultimately about developing capabilities, which is really the combination of people processes and systems, whether they be technology enabled or otherwise. 

So it’s really that, that combination of those things that make up a business capability. So if we think about that, yes, of  course talent plays a critical role. But the capability thread is much more valuable to an organization long term in terms of how it enables the development of the talent strategy in a very different way.