VicRoads technical capacity building program and capability reporting tool

Once a baseline level of technical capability is possible for a Road Management Authority, there are numerous choices to be made in deploying enhanced technical capabilities to improve business performance. Identifying a set of technical capabilities valued by the organisation enables describing multiple development paths for staff with diverse technical business areas such as: road safety and network access; regional strategies; major projects; network and access planning; technical consulting and registration and licensing. Measuring and assessing capability according to five reference points: novice, advanced beginner competent, proficient and expert level enables the organisation to position current capabilities against a useful scale. This further permits strengths and areas for development to be identified and actioned. Development solutions are targeted towards specific segments of the technical workforce breaking down the tradition of prescribing a 'one size fits all' approach to capability building. VicRoads approach to capability measurement is designed to maximise the impact of peoples' development on VicRoads business and target development resources to where they are needed most. Patterns and themes emerging from the data further encourages managers to consider recommendations from numerous on-the-job development configurations for individuals, groups and the business. The level of clarity afforded by the measurement program removes much of the guesswork associated with skills development across a broad and diverse technical workforce. An important feature of the VicRoads technical capability building program is linking and rewarding staff via the individual's Capability Development Plan (CDP). Other reporting features include using a seven-year forecast window to estimate probable long-term changes in capability levels due to shifts in workforce demographic. Technical capability building efforts overall are monitored at the executive level within a single organisational wide reporting and risk management framework. This paper explains the purpose of VicRoads Technical Capability Building Program, processes used for gathering and assessing capability levels across a diverse technical and engineering organisation and it's benefits to managers.