Tag: SBO

Skills Architecture is the key to SBO – and AI is the tech enabler

Posted on by Isabelle Bichler

Talent acquisition specialists are continuously challenged to match candidates with the right skills to positions that feed evolving business needs. Technology and data are the one-two punch that empowers HRs to do so effectively.

Skills Architecture: Building the SBO Foundation

A comprehensive skills architecture helps HR leaders start the process with a clear understanding of what skills are already within their talent pool and where the skills gaps lie so they can target the right candidates more quickly. 

As such, skills architecture acts as the blueprint that defines and structures the skills within an organization, unifying skills language and moving beyond traditional job descriptions to establish an agreed-upon nomenclature. It’s the foundation on which a centralized Skills-Based Organization is built, pulling together skills data across teams to form a larger, more strategically malleable view.

“We’ve always historically said that this system doesn’t talk to this system, and this system doesn’t talk to this system, and the spaghetti plate of systems is what disables us from getting data or from making informed decisions that are embedded and rooted in true data and analytics,” says Sadia Ayaz, VP of Talent Management for Veolia. “Here we are today, capable of doing that. AI can take all of that unstructured data and make sense of it.” 

AI: The SBO Tech Enabler

AI’s machine learning algorithms and expedited data analytics are the technological backbone of a sophisticated skills architecture. This is due to its ability to: 

  • Ingest vast datasets to identify both existing and emerging skills within an organization 
  • Detect patterns and trends, allowing HRs to stay ahead of critical skill gaps or areas that require upskilling
  • Reveal hidden talent within an existing workforce, uncovering internal job candidates for consideration

Beyond talent acquisition, AI-driven technologies also fortify talent management strategies in a Skills Based Organization. Through personalized learning paths and recommendations, AI enables employees to acquire new skills in alignment with organizational goals, while also benefiting from individualized professional development. 

By harnessing the power of AI to construct a detailed and dynamic skills architecture, and engaging AI as the tech enabler for a successful Skills-Based Organization, HRs can hire and retain the right talent to fuel an SBO workforce model. Synergy between skills architecture and AI is the cornerstone of shaping the future of talent acquisition and organizational success.

Learn more about the power of retrain.ai’s Talent Intelligence platform here.

SBO moves from theory to practice; AI matures as the tech enabler

Posted on by Isabelle Bichler

As AI-driven HR technology advances, and as Skills-Based Organizations move from strategy to execution, the SBO workforce model is primed to mature in 2024. 

First, the technology.

Generative AI was the tech buzz of 2023, spotlighting its almost unlimited potential to automate tasks and streamline business processes. As such, AI has quickly become vital to the Skills-Based Organization workforce model; specifically in its ability to screen hundreds of resumes at lightning speed and to pull skills information from resumes, job descriptions, and any labor related content. retrain.ai’s Talent Intelligence Platform which was built on the next generation AI from the ground up, offers the Skills Architecture Module as the foundational element for managing the workforce and understanding the current organizational skills state, benchmarking it against the skills required in the industry and recommending which top skills to adopt and enhance, allowing significantly greater agility in acquiring, developing and deploying talent. 

Organizations enamored with the idea of AI for AI’s sake, however, can find themselves with more applications than are needed to address their specific needs, with the additional costs that come with them. In 2024, HR leaders will continue to evolve into more tech savvy professionals, collaborating with their counterparts to first identify problems to solve, and then carefully choose platforms that offer the right solutions to talent acquisition and talent management challenges.

Then, the data.

With the best technological solutions in place, HR leaders are on the right path to solving business problems. Ultimately, though, the goal is reached with data.

“We need to think less about platforms and more about data,” says Dr. Sandra Laughlin, Chief Learning Scientist and Global Head of Talent Enablement & Transformation for EPAM Systems. “As new tools are coming out, new and better data sources are revealed. Generative AI can offer feedback on things that are difficult to observe and coach.” 

To fuel efficient skill-based talent acquisition efforts, for example, AI-driven data insights enable precise candidate matching based on exact skills and attributes required for specific roles. Skills-focused data–and the lack of demographic and other potentially biased data–supports diverse talent pools and an inclusive pipeline.

“The big difference [between the types of AI companies] is that a great AI company is a data company. They get a lot of data, they know what the data means, they spend a lot of time making sense of the data,” says analyst Josh Bersin of The Josh Bersin Company. “They use the data in your company matched against (exterior) data so that the data in your company can be classified and used in a more and more intelligent way.” 

retrain.ai was honored to be recognized as one of the “built on AI” type of  companies, based on billions of labor market data points, with accurate and automated skills detection and assessment, enabling in-depth skills analysis and forecasts to inform and improve strategic workforce planning efforts, increasing quality of hire when used to match internal and external candidates to open positions, and empowering reskilling and upskilling initiatives to improve learning and career path recommendations.

Learn more about the power of retrain.ai’s Talent Intelligence Platform here.

Announcing the retrain.ai Partnership Program

Posted on by retrain.ai

NYC / August 9, 2023 – retrain.ai, a leading AI-driven Talent Intelligence Platform, has announced the launch of an exclusive Partner Program available to consulting and recruiting firms. The company describes its new offering as a way for exclusive partnership with premier firms to bring their prospects and clients into the future of work with an AI-fueled, data-driven understanding of what they need to become a Skills-Based Organization.

The company uses a data driven, Responsible AI-driven operating model using billions of data points to help enterprises achieve a Skills-Based modality. 

“Becoming a Skills-Based Organization is the key to success for today’s enterprise HR leaders, but many don’t know where to start. When they ask a consultant for guidance on transforming to an SBO model they may get information, but not the tools they need to get started,” says retrain.ai Co-founder and COO Isabelle Bichler-Eliasaf. “We provide those tools, along with the expertise to optimize them for success.”

To accomplish this, retrain.ai centralizes data to create an adherent skills strategy to unify and standardize data sets to remove silos within HR functionalities.  This unified data set, paired with the company’s Responsible AI, equips HR’s to move faster and with more agility and efficiency. The platform continuously updates to eliminate future skills gaps within the organization where it is already implemented. 

Consultants in the retrain.ai Partner Program will have access to the talent intelligence platform’s Skills Architecture module to generate a skills-map of an enterprise client’s workforce, including unified skills language and agreed-upon job architecture. With better visibility into their employees’ strengths and skill gaps, HR leaders can spot hidden talent, reveal internal mobility opportunities and deploy talent efficiently during times of rapid change.

“Our platform provides HRs with a comprehensive understanding of their workforce and the right data to align with organizational goals,” says Bichler-Eliasaf. “Once our partner consultants provide their enterprise clients with a comprehensive skills catalog of the core competencies, technical proficiencies, and soft skills needed for each role in their organization, they can begin to strategize an SBO operating model.”

 

retrain.ai is a Talent Intelligence Platform designed to help enterprises hire, retain, and develop their workforce, intelligently. Leveraging Responsible AI and the industry’s largest skills taxonomy, enterprises unlock talent insights and optimize their workforce effectively to hire the right people, keep them longer and cultivate a successful skills-based organization. retrain.ai fuels Talent Acquisition, Talent Management and Skills Architecture all in one, data-driven solution.

What are the steps to become a Skills-Based Organization?

Posted on by Isabelle Bichler

Our previous post discussed the key benefits of transformation into a skills-based organization, including agility, adaptability, talent optimization, employee engagement and DEI support. So how does an enterprise make the shift to an SBO model?

Here are five key steps:

  1. Skills Assessment. An enterprise’s first step is determining which skills are already in its workforce. A comprehensive skills inventory can be built using skills assessment tools, self-assessment questionnaires, and feedback mechanisms to capture the diverse skill sets present within the organization.
  2. Skills Mapping. Next, HR leaders need to identify the critical skills required for each role and project within the organization, mapping the existing employee skills against these requirements to identify skill gaps and potential opportunities for upskilling or reskilling.
  3. Skills Development. To engage employees in the process, enterprises need to create a culture of continuous learning and skill development, offering training programs, mentoring opportunities, and access to relevant resources. HR leaders can then encourage employees to take ownership of their skills development and provide avenues for them to showcase their skills within the organization.
  4. Skills-Based Hiring and Talent Mobility. Transitioning to an SBO model needs buy-in across the board, meaning hiring practices must focus on skills rather than traditional job titles, skills-based assessments and interviews are used to identify best-fit candidates, and employees are empowered to move across teams and projects based on their skill sets and interests.
  5. Technology Enablement. Leveraging Responsible AI-driven HR technologies can facilitate skills tracking, mapping, and matching at scale. Enterprises must invest in tools that allow employees to showcase their skills, create skill-based profiles, and connect with others via an internal talent marketplace.

retrain.ai is a Talent Intelligence Platform designed to help enterprises hire, retain, and develop their workforce, intelligently. Leveraging Responsible AI and the industry’s largest skills taxonomy, enterprises unlock talent insights and optimize their workforce effectively to lower attrition, win the war for talent and the great resignation. retrain.ai fuels Talent Acquisition, Talent Management and Skills Architecture, all in one, data-driven solution. To see it in action, request a demo.

What is a Skills-Based Organization?

Posted on by Isabelle Bichler

One of the most significant shifts taking place within the realm of HR and talent management is the transition to a skills-based organization. Rather than focusing solely on job titles and traditional hierarchies, organizations are recognizing the importance of assessing and leveraging employees’ skills and capabilities to better drive success and foster innovation. But what exactly does it mean to transform into a skills-based organization? Why is it seemingly crucial for HR professionals to lead this paradigm shift?

Understanding the Skills-Based Organization

A skills-based organization places skill sets and capabilities at the core of its talent management strategy. Instead of relying on job titles and formal qualifications, enterprises instead shift their focus to identifying, developing, and utilizing the skills their employees possess so as to effectively match individuals to best-fit projects, initiatives, and roles.

What are the benefits of becoming an SBO?

  • Agility and Adaptability. In today’s rapidly changing business environment, enterprises need to be nimble and adaptable. By focusing on skills, companies can quickly respond to market shifts and reconfigure their teams as required. Skills-based organizations have the advantage of assembling cross-functional teams with complementary skill sets, empowering them to tackle new challenges and seize opportunities efficiently.
  • Talent Optimization. Traditional hiring practices often rely on predefined roles, limiting the potential of employees who may possess valuable skills outside their designated functions. A skills-based approach allows organizations to tap into the full potential of their workforce by unlocking hidden talents and engaging individuals to contribute in areas where they excel.
  • Employee Engagement and Growth. Engaged employees are more likely to be motivated, productive, and loyal to their organizations. In a skills-based organization, workers have opportunities to develop and showcase their skills, leading to increased job satisfaction and a sense of fulfillment. By promoting skill development and growth, organizations can foster a culture of continuous learning, which modern professionals highly value.
  • Diversity and Inclusion. Traditional job descriptions can use terminology that inadvertently creates barriers to entry. A skills-based approach promotes inclusivity by focusing on what an individual can do rather than where they come from or what their previous job title might have been. By removing biases associated with traditional hiring practices, enterprises can build diverse and dynamic teams.

In our next post, we’ll go over the key steps involved in transitioning to a Skills-Based Organization.

 

retrain.ai is a Talent Intelligence Platform designed to help enterprises hire, retain, and develop their workforce, intelligently. Leveraging Responsible AI and the industry’s largest skills taxonomy, enterprises unlock talent insights and optimize their workforce effectively to lower attrition, win the war for talent and the great resignation. retrain.ai fuels Talent Acquisition, Talent Management and Skills Architecture, all in one, data-driven solution. To see it in action, request a demo. 

Event Recap: Responsible HR Forum 2023 presented by retrain.ai

Posted on by Isabelle Bichler

There’s something incredible that happens when thought leaders and knowledge seekers gather to explore a critical topic. Such was the vibe at the first-ever Responsible HR Forum presented by retrain.ai. Below, find a brief overview of the day’s sessions, which you can now access as podcast or vidcast recordings.


Keynote: EEOC Commissioner Keith Sonderling

Starting off the day, keynote speaker Commissioner Keith Sonderling of the EEOC shared insights on the expansion of Responsible AI governance across the U.S., emphasizing that current regulations put the onus on businesses using AI systems to ensure they generate fair end results–not on the makers of AI systems.

Watch the vidcast | Listen to the podcast

 

Ready or Not, Regulations Are Coming 

Talk of Responsible AI continued into the first panel discussion, where Commissioner Sonderling was joined by Scott Loughlin of Hogan Lovells, Rob Szyba of Seyfarth Shaw and Niloy Ray of Littler to discuss the new AI Audit Law in New York City, the far-reaching implications of seemingly local regulations, and how the European Union’s approach to AI governance differs from the U.S.

Watch the vidcast | Listen to the podcast


The Paradox of the HR Mission: Creating a Multidimensional View of Talent

In conversation with retrain.ai’s Amy DeCicco, Dr. Anna Tavis of the Human Capital Management Department at New York University and Dr. Yustina Saleh from The Burning Glass Institute posed provocative questions, encouraging attendees to think about questions like whether empathy is truly a skill or a trait, or how HR leaders can tell from a skills profile whether or not a candidate will be able to do the job needed.

Watch the vidcast | Listen to the podcast


Becoming a Skills-Based Organization: More Than a Trend?

With more enterprises talking about transforming to an SBO model, Dr. Sandra Loughlin of EPAM Systems shared lessons learned from her company’s transformation, while Heidi Ramirez-Perloff discussed The Estee Lauder Company’s exploration into SBO strategy. Urmi Majithia of Atlassian delved into executing technology to help overcome the challenges of becoming an SBO, and Ben Eubanks of Lighthouse Research & Advisory broke down the larger SBO concept to a tangible level regarding individual employees and hiring managers.

Watch the vidcast | Listen to the podcast


The Hidden Architecture of a Skills-Based Organization

Following the panel discussion, Dr. Loughlin sat down for a one-on-one with retrain.ai CEO Dr. Shay David to go more in depth into EPAM’s experience developing a thriving SBO strategy, sharing benefits, pitfalls and lessons learned along the way.

Watch the vidcast | Listen to the podcast

 

Can Innovation and Regulation Co-Exist? How ChatGPT Sparked the Conversation

No discussion around Responsible HR would be complete without an exploration of the huge impact ChatGPT and other generative AI solutions are having on the tech space.  Leading a fascinating discussion on the topic were Yuying Chen-Wynn of Wittingly Ventures and Art Kleiner of Kleiner Powell International, who examined the potential of generative AI to greatly improve business systems, as well as the ethical AI use questions that remain in the midst of growing regulation.

Watch the vidcast | Listen to the podcast


Continuing the Conversation: The Responsible HR Council

To conclude the Responsible HR Forum, retrain.ai announced the formation of our Responsible HR Council. Like the Forum, our Council will involve experts from academia, law, enterprise, government and nonprofit sectors. We’ll meet quarterly to get up to speed on new AI legislation, new AI technologies, and the melding of the two within Responsible HR practices. Check back for details soon! 

retrain.ai is a Talent Intelligence Platform designed to help enterprises hire, retain, and develop their workforce, intelligently. Leveraging Responsible AI and the industry’s largest skills taxonomy, enterprises unlock talent insights and optimize their workforce effectively to lower attrition, and win the war for talent and the great resignation. retrain.ai fuels Talent Acquisition, Talent Management and Skills Architecture, all in one, data-driven solution. To see it in action, request a demo.