Business Capability

Business Capability

Business Capability Jonathan Poland

A business capability is a broad term that refers to the things that a business is able to do or achieve. It describes the capabilities of the business as a whole, without regard to the specific processes or strategies that are used to achieve those capabilities. Business capabilities can be described at various levels of detail, such as at the organizational, departmental, or team level. They provide a high-level view of a business’s abilities and capabilities, and are often used to inform strategic planning and decision-making. The following are illustrative examples of business capabilities.

Manage Risk
A bank manages risk.

Manage Credit Risk
A bank’s global credit department manages credit risk.

Analyze Client Credit Ratings
An analyst team in a bank’s global credit department analyzes client credit ratings.

Sales Pipeline Management
The sales department of a telecom company manages a sales pipeline.

Qualify Sales Leads
A sales operation team qualifies sales leads before they enter a sales pipeline.

Information Security Management
An IT department provides information security management.

Security Risk Identification
A security team identifies information security risks as a part of an annual audit.

Pricing
A marketing department prices products and services.

Price Testing
A marketing operations team is able to test different price configurations to optimize revenue and margins.

Product Development
A marketing department develops and launches products.

Product Design
A design team designs products.

Customer Service
An airline provides customer service.

Meal Service
A flight crew provides meal services.

Lost Baggage Claims
An airline operations team processes lost baggage claims.

Economic Moat Jonathan Poland

Economic Moat

An economic moat is a concept in business strategy that refers to a company’s ability to maintain a competitive advantage…

Brand Perception Jonathan Poland

Brand Perception

Brand perception refers to the way that a brand is perceived by its target audience. It’s important for companies to…

Strategic Direction Jonathan Poland

Strategic Direction

Strategic direction refers to the long-term vision and direction of an organization, and it serves as a guiding principle for…

Narrative 101 Jonathan Poland

Narrative 101

Sales and marketing are the lifeblood of business and should be integrated into one function to drive business and brand narrative.

Digital Channels Jonathan Poland

Digital Channels

A digital channel is a means of distributing or selling products or services electronically, as opposed to through physical channels…

Unknown Risk Jonathan Poland

Unknown Risk

An unknown risk is a potential loss that is not recognized or identified. In the context of risk management, unknown…

Systems Thinking Jonathan Poland

Systems Thinking

Systems thinking is the practice of analyzing the entire system, rather than just its individual parts, in order to understand…

Analytical Skills Jonathan Poland

Analytical Skills

Analytical skills are the abilities, knowledge, and experience related to the gathering, processing, organizing, and interpreting of information. These skills…

Gap Analysis Jonathan Poland

Gap Analysis

A gap analysis is a method used to determine the distance between an organization’s current state and its desired future…

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Innovation Objectives Jonathan Poland

Innovation Objectives

Innovation objectives are aims to significantly improve something through the use of experimentation, risk-taking, and creativity. These goals tend to…

Visual Branding Jonathan Poland

Visual Branding

Visual branding is the use of visual elements, such as color, typography, imagery, and design, to create a cohesive and…

Technology Factors Jonathan Poland

Technology Factors

Technology factors are any external changes related to technology that may affect an organization’s strategy. Identifying and analyzing technology factors…

Customary Pricing Jonathan Poland

Customary Pricing

Customary pricing refers to the pricing practices that are considered typical or normal in a particular industry or market. This…

External Risk Jonathan Poland

External Risk

An external risk is a type of risk that is outside of your control and cannot be influenced or managed…

Sales Tactics Jonathan Poland

Sales Tactics

Sales tactics are specific strategies or approaches that salespeople use to persuade customers to buy a product or service. Sales…

Examples of an Argument Jonathan Poland

Examples of an Argument

An argument is a series of statements or reasons that support a particular position or viewpoint. This position can be…

The GSA Process 150 150 Jonathan Poland

The GSA Process

The General Services Administration (GSA) is an independent agency of the United States government responsible for managing and supporting the…

Middlemen Jonathan Poland

Middlemen

A middleman is a person or organization that acts as an intermediary between a producer and a consumer. In a…