Get Instant Access
to This Blueprint

Talent Acquisition icon

Create and Leverage a Skills Inventory

Effectively prepare for the changing business landscape by increasing awareness around internal skills to boost competitive advantage.

  • Skills required for organizational success will constantly change to adapt to a world that is volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous (referred to as “VUCA”).
  • There will always be a skills gap to some degree. Organizations must plan ahead as best as possible to adequately prepare for this gap, especially in a VUCA environment.
  • As baby boomers retire, they are likely to take essential skills with them.

Need Extra Help?
Speak With An Analyst.

  • Get on-demand project support
  • Get advice, coaching, and insight at key project milestones
  • Go through a Guided Implementation to help you get through your project
Book Analyst Call

Our Advice

Critical Insight

  • Lack of clarity around key skills creates a vicious cycle: talent shortages are addressed by hiring externally, but external hires often lack the skills required to meet organizational needs. This results in a perpetual skills shortage with no clear idea of how to address it.
  • Don’t create a skills inventory if you aren’t prepared to maintain it in the long term. The more accurate it is, the more value it provides.

Impact and Result

  • Mass retirement paired with rapid organizational change demands an adaptable workforce and a comprehensive, well-aligned skills inventory to proactively address these issues and boost competitive advantage.
  • A skills inventory provides data to boost competitive advantage by:
    • Proactively combating the projected gap to prevent business interruption or a lag in productivity
    • Enabling better use of internal resources through assessment of workforce skills
    • Placing a greater focus on key skills aligned with organizational goals to allow for targeted development efforts
    • Increasing efficiency of internal practices, e.g. workforce planning, talent acquisition, and learning & development

Create and Leverage a Skills Inventory Research & Tools

1. Define project scope and objectives

Determine the scope of the project and understand the skill categories and proficiency levels.

Create and Leverage a Skills Inventory Storyboard
Create and Leverage a Skills Inventory Executive Briefing

2. Determine approach and create a communication plan

Define the data collection method and communication strategy for the project and compile a list of FAQs for employees.

Skills Inventory Communication and Action Plan Template

3. Build skills inventory

Define and document skills within the inventory, collect internal data, then populate and distribute the skills inventory.

Skills Inventory Tool

4. Leverage skills inventory

Conduct a gap analysis and prioritize development efforts, then plan to leverage the inventory internally and define the process for ongoing maintenance.

Create and Leverage a Skills Inventory preview picture

About McLean & Company

McLean & Company is an HR research and advisory firm providing practical solutions to human resources challenges via executable research, tools, diagnostics, and advisory services that have a clear and measurable impact on your business.

What Is a Blueprint?

A blueprint is designed to be a roadmap, containing a methodology and the tools and templates you need to solve your HR problems.

Each blueprint can be accompanied by a Guided Implementation that provides you access to our world-class analysts to help you get through the project.

Need Extra Help?
Speak With An Analyst

Get the help you need in this 4-phase advisory process. You'll receive 6 touchpoints with our researchers, all included in your membership.

Guided Implementation 1: Define project scope and objectives
  • Call 1: Discuss project objectives as they relate to the determined scope of the project to ensure greatest positive impact of the skills inventory initiative.

Guided Implementation 2: Determine approach and create a communication plan
  • Call 1: Review the ideal data collection method for your organization based on internal processes and discuss drafted messaging as part of the communication plan.

Guided Implementation 3: Build skills inventory
  • Call 1: Review the comprehensive list of skills that make up the inventory.
  • Call 2: Discuss the data collection process and troubleshoot any pending issues.
  • Call 3: Work through the plan for data entry and finalization of the skills inventory.

Guided Implementation 4: Leverage skills inventory
  • Call 1: Review all follow up initiatives related to the gap analysis and internal initiatives, and outline a plan for the ongoing upkeep of the inventory.

Contributors

  • David Bernstein, VP, Big Data for Human Resources, eQuest
  • Lynette Budhoo, Sr. Consultant, Human Resources Clinical Programs, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
  • Bobby Guhathakurta, Talent Deployment & Development Manager, Advisory, EY Canada
  • Sharon Jobity, VP, Human Resources, Ontario Centres of Excellence
  • N. Robert Johnson, Practice Leader, Workforce Communications
  • Bonnie Langer, Senior VP, Human Resources, AGF Management Limited
  • Dirk Nieuwoudt, Associate Manager, Talent Management, EPI-USE Africa (Pty) Ltd.
  • Masahito Ninagawa, Expert, Lean IT, Loblaw Companies Limited
  • Lucy Norman, Manager, Talent Acquisition, Info-Tech Research Group
  • Ugo Orsi, IT VP Technology Operations, Loblaw Companies Limited
  • Jordan Santos, HR Manager, E&E Manufacturing Co, Inc.
  • Rika Snip, Communications Instructor, Lethbridge Community College
© Mclean & Company | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy