MAPability – our diagnostic tool

What is MAPability?

At MAP Training, we work with clients who want to develop advanced technical skills in their people to support the filling of existing capability gaps and succession gaps which otherwise could undermine the achievement of strategic objectives. MAPability is our own unique diagnostic tool that allows us to assess and benchmark capability strength and depth in this area. In addition to an objective assessment of current capability, MAPability also allows us to provide a clear set of recommendations for improvement.

We have identified eight critical dimensions – both strategic and operational – which an organisation needs to have in place in order to build advanced technical capability in its people. Each of these dimensions can be broken down into further smaller areas and we will assess an organisation against all of these factors.

The MAPability Tool

There are eight dimensions to the tool and these are briefly explained as follows:

1. Corporate commitment

A clearly articulated commitment to technical excellence should be evident throughout the organisation and aligned to business strategy. There should be clear ownership for the development of technical excellence at the highest level within the business, supported by measurable and achievable targets.

2. Culture

A culture that fosters technical excellence should be apparent throughout the business. One way in which this can be evidenced is having career paths in place that recognise the importance of technical capability right the way up to Board level.

3. Resources

The commitment to technical excellence should be backed up by discrete and adequate budgets dedicated to the development of technical skills at all levels within the business, not just at graduate and early years’ career development.

4. Infrastructure & Process

A company truly committed to technical excellence will have an infrastructure and processes in place supporting this goal. One area evidencing this is having a licence/authority framework for technical staff that clearly lays out the authority they have – based upon their technical knowledge and skills, not just their position within the organisation.

5. Realistic understanding of current state

To enable a business to direct its finite resources to the development of its priority capability requirements, it should have the ability to undertake a detailed capability review linked to its licence/authority and knowledge and skills infrastructure. Combined with an external market map, the owners of technical development should have clear and approved plans for capability improvement aligned to the business strategy.

6. Training & Development Solutions

This dimension is very much focussed on the quantity and quality of training and development solutions in place across the business and how these tie into the business strategy and priorities. MAPability only focusses on what is in place for the development of advanced technical skills across the business.

7. Embedding Training & Development

A good business recognises that delivering the training solution is only the start of the next phase of development for its senior technical staff. It will have processes in place to embed learning and maximise the value to the business.

8. Measures

The age old adage of “what gets measured gets done” is every bit as applicable in this area. A good organisation will have clear targets across all of the above dimensions that are regularly measured and drive subsequent action.

The Process

How does this work?

Using a team of two or three experienced consultants, MAP Training would conduct a series of structured interviews with key staff in relevant technical functions, technical training and HR.

With the consolidated feedback from each interview and evidence gathered during the process, we score each area of the MAPability model and provide both overall score and individual dimension scores. This will also generate a series of recommendations for improvement covering quick wins and longer term improvements required. The team will be using their breadth of experience in technical training and development plus their knowledge of insurance companies’ capability (benchmarking). This is therefore a qualitative and quantitative assessment.

The findings and recommendations will be delivered via a workshop/presentation to the key stakeholders.

For more information please contact us.