Case Studies | Capability Management

Acumen has undertaken considerable work in assisting the development of capability of staff within organisations. This has involved facilitating Boards, executive and leadership groups in developing and coordinating the delivery of training and development courses and activities; developing Capability/Competency Frameworks, oversighting and facilitating selection and recruitment processes. In this respect the following examples are provided:

Capability/Competency Frameworks

• Acumen facilitated the development of Classification Descriptors for the Outside workforce at the Cities of Wanneroo, Stirling, Bayswater and Perth.
• Acumen also facilitated the development of Competency Frameworks for all inside staff at the City of Wanneroo and the City of Bayswater.
• Acumen (and previously Gent Consulting) facilitated the development of a Competency Framework for outside workers (Grave Diggers and Landscape Gardeners) at the Metropolitan Cemeteries Board which underpinned the provision of Recognition of Prior Learning processes.
• Acumen (and previously Gent Consulting) has developed numerous Competency Frameworks for numerous job families across the WA Public Sector covering Natural Resource Management Officers, Project Management Officers, Research Officers, Human Resource Management Officers, Finance Officers, Water Allocation Officers, and Ministerial Liaison Officers.

Coaching and Mentoring

Much of our work is undertaken with organisational leaders. Our approach to every assignment encompasses working with leaders and staff and enabling them to continue growing and improving beyond our involvement. Much of our success results from coaching and mentoring those we work with and sharing our knowledge and experience. We also learn from their experience and have developed many long-term relationships that continue today.

Our coaching and mentoring spans:

• Senior leaders seeking to become executives.
• Operational leaders transitioning towards senior leadership roles.
• Human resources, accounting and other professionals – in functional leadership.
• Business development and strategy professionals.

Our mentees come from various industries and jurisdictions within WA. Our approach is personal and designed to guide and support their development, or simply provide ideas for overcoming workplace problems or creating improved workplaces. We aim to bring carefully considered knowledge and suggestions to enhance each person’s technical, managerial and leadership capabilities.

Training and Development

Acumen consultants have run courses covering a variety of areas including Performance Management, Recruitment and Selection and Classification Management. We have also developed various programs to assist organisations, such program covering onboarding/induction; offboarding and other exit processes.

Leadership Development

In 2017 we were engaged by a regulatory body to design and coordinate the delivery of a comprehensive suite of leadership development programs for the executive, senior leaders and future leaders. We also coordinated a program focused on operational leaders starting their journey towards senior leadership. Acumen procured and managed learning and development professionals to deliver a series of transformational and operational leadership programs. The programs incorporated the use of 360° feedback and alignment of personal and business values.

Selection and Recruitment

In more recent times Acumen has assisted with over 400 selection and placement processes in implementing the revised operating model and structure at the Department of Education. These processes covered positions from Senior Executive Service positions, through all the levels down to Level 2. These selection processes were undertaken over a 12-week period.