Building the Skills-Based Organization

Identify and develop workers’ skills to build diverse, agile teams.

Technology is rapidly creating new jobs and rendering others obsolete, requiring companies and employees to adapt quickly. However, few companies use up-to-date job descriptions that accurately reflect the work people do or the skills they need to do it. Instead of hiring people for specific roles, become more flexible by assigning people to projects according to their skills. This approach breaks down barriers between departments and allows people throughout the organization to collaborate on innovative solutions to new challenges. By tracking industry trends and proactively developing workers’ skills, you ensure that your workforce remains competitive in the future.

J.D. Dillon, chief learning officer at Axonify, recalls that when he worked as an operations manager at a popular roller-coaster ride, he had to keep the guest experience running smoothly at all times, even when several staff members called in sick. He used a certification tracking system to find qualified employees who could fill roles. Dillon observes that corporate jobs often require skill sets that prove more difficult to measure...