People & capabilities

The People & Capabilities building block defines the skills, behaviours, and culture that enable the organisation to operate effectively. It covers how people are developed, supported, and engaged, as well as how leadership, collaboration, and learning are fostered. This view ensures the organisation has the right talent and mindset to execute its strategy and continuously adapt.

Why it's important

Even the best structures, processes, or systems cannot succeed without the right people and capabilities. This building block ensures the organisation is not only staffed but also empowered, skilled, and motivated. A focus on people helps create resilience, innovation, and long-term performance, while neglect leads to capability gaps, disengagement, and resistance to change.

Interactions with other building blocks

Organisation – Defines roles and reporting relationships that people fill.
Processes – Require specific skills and behaviours to run effectively.
Systems & Technology – Adoption depends on people’s digital literacy and training.
Performance & Metrics – Capabilities influence outcomes and improvement potential.
Governance & Policies – Define rules for people management, compliance, and ethics.

Common challenges

When defining this building block, key questions include:

What skills and competencies are critical to deliver value?
How do we build a culture that supports collaboration, trust, and adaptability?
What leadership behaviours are expected at different levels?
How are people recruited, developed, and retained?
How do we ensure continuous learning and knowledge sharing?
How do we balance formal role definitions with the dynamic capabilities needed in a changing environment?