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Capabilities Modelling is a way of describing an [[organisation's]]
Capabilities Modelling is a way of describing an [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/organisation organisation's] available capabilities throughout all of its functions. Often it is used to describe the entire organisation on a single page and at a very high level, yet structured in such a way as to be a meaningful tool for planning, debate and analysis.
available capabilities throughout all of its functions. Often it is used
to describe the entire organisation on a single page and at a very high
level, yet structured in such a way as to be a meaningful tool for
planning, debate and analysis.
Capability in this context is a defined function or set of functions
that the organisation uses or delivers that defines to itself and others
the organisation at a high level.


[[File:819224.png|frameless]|736x532px]
Capability in this context is a defined function or set of functions that the organisation uses or delivers that defines to itself and others the organisation at a high level.


.confluence-embedded-manual-size} For the Workshop we used this straw
===== Strawman Workshopping Example =====
man example but at the end of discussing it we had two groups work on
[[File:819224.png|frameless|736x532px]]
examples from their own Customers.
Although in discussing the straw man we covered most of the uses of the
4 categories and their structure it wasn't formally defined. This was a
specific request at the end of this session and as a way of covering
this important topic we will define it here and then look at some of the
actual examples.
 
Categories {#CapabilitiesModelling-Categories}
==========


==== Four Capability Categories ====
There are four major categories of capability, within those categories
There are four major categories of capability, within those categories
are further sub categories depending on the context, and within those
are further sub categories depending on the context, and within those
Line 42: Line 27:
         capabilities already described in the other three categories.
         capabilities already described in the other three categories.


 
==== Data Streams ====
 
Data Streams {#CapabilitiesModelling-DataStreams}
============
 
In this straw man there are five sub-categories of Data Streams (or if
In this straw man there are five sub-categories of Data Streams (or if
preferred identifiable data sources).
preferred identifiable data sources).
[![](attachments/819225/819232.png?width=602){.confluence-embedded-image
[[File:819232.png|frameless|602x124px]]
width="602" height="124"}]{.confluence-embedded-file-wrapper
.confluence-embedded-manual-size}
 
Curated Content {#CapabilitiesModelling-CuratedContent}
---------------


===== Curated Content =====
This is content that the organisation has editorial control over. If
This is content that the organisation has editorial control over. If
it's a content company then it would include content on their web pages
it's a content company then it would include content on their web pages
Line 66: Line 43:
readily available.
readily available.


Curated Data {#CapabilitiesModelling-CuratedData}
===== Curated Data =====
------------
 
This is data which the organisation has either produced itself or
This is data which the organisation has either produced itself or
acquired, cleaned, aggregated and available to be used for further
acquired, cleaned, aggregated and available to be used for further
Line 76: Line 51:
knowledge later) and generate insights and knowledge.
knowledge later) and generate insights and knowledge.


Curated Knowledge {#CapabilitiesModelling-CuratedKnowledge}
===== Curated Knowledge =====
-----------------
 
This is more about the structure of knowledge domains rather than the
This is more about the structure of knowledge domains rather than the
knowledge that's mined or generated. So this includes
knowledge that's mined or generated. So this includes
[ontologies](https://www.w3.org/standards/semanticweb/ontology){.external-link}
[https://www.w3.org/standards/semanticweb/ontology ontologies]
of domains, taxonomies, models, vocabularies. Gold sets of data for
of domains, taxonomies, models, vocabularies. Gold sets of data for  
training are more an example of Curated Data
training are more an example of Curated Data


Event Data {#CapabilitiesModelling-EventData}
===== Event Data =====
----------
 
This is all of the event data captured and processed or held by the
This is all of the event data captured and processed or held by the
organisation, it includes application events, user events, process
organisation, it includes application events, user events, process
events.
events.


Customer Data {#CapabilitiesModelling-CustomerData}
===== Customer Data =====
-------------
 
As well as the data provided by organisation customers, the transactions
As well as the data provided by organisation customers, the transactions
that have been made by them or for them it also includes the behavioural
that have been made by them or for them it also includes the behavioural
Line 105: Line 74:
rigorous personal data regulation.
rigorous personal data regulation.


Data Storage & Processing {#CapabilitiesModelling-DataStorage&Processing}
==== Data Storage & Processing ====
=========================
This category is structured to describe a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lambda_architecture lambda architecture] driving the processing of data in an organisation. It's a very opinionated view on processing data and many organisations wouldn't recognise all of the architecture as being either in use or appropriate.


This category is structured to describe a [lambda
[[File:819238.png|frameless|602x70px]]
architecture](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lambda_architecture){.external-link}
driving the processing of data in an organisation. It's a very
opinionated view on processing data and many organisations wouldn't
recognise all of the architecture as being either in use or
appropriate.
[![](attachments/819225/819238.png?width=602){.confluence-embedded-image
width="602" height="70"}]{.confluence-embedded-file-wrapper
.confluence-embedded-manual-size}
It's worth keeping as an example though as all data architectures rely
upon batch processing and any reasonable organisation will use a serving
layer to deliver views of data to service and presentation layer
applications. Many organisations though will not yet be using or
contemplating a speed layer where batch views are improved or predicted
in 'real time'.
It should go without saying that the Data Storage & Processing category
should reflect the organisation being modelled and not constrained to
any particular flavour of architecture.
The definitions below are from the same [Wikipedia
article](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lambda_architecture){.external-link}.


Batch Layer {#CapabilitiesModelling-BatchLayer}
It's worth keeping as an example though as all data architectures rely upon batch processing and any reasonable organisation will use a serving layer to deliver views of data to service and presentation layer applications. Many organisations though will not yet be using or contemplating a speed layer where batch views are improved or predicted in 'real time'.
-----------


[The batch layer precomputes results using a distributed processing
It should also go without saying that the Data Storage & Processing category should reflect the organisation being modelled and not constrained to any particular flavour of architecture. The definitions below are from the same [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lambda_architecture Wikipedia article].
system that can handle very large quantities of data. The batch layer
aims at perfect accuracy by being able to process *all* available data
when generating views. This means it can fix any errors by recomputing
based on the complete data set, then updating existing views. Output is
typically stored in a read-only database, with updates completely
replacing existing precomputed views.]{colorid="zs5kjbarbv"}


Serving Layer {#CapabilitiesModelling-ServingLayer}
===== Batch Layer =====
-------------
The batch layer precomputes results using a distributed processing system that can handle very large quantities of data. The batch layer aims at perfect accuracy by being able to process *all* available data when generating views. This means it can fix any errors by recomputing based on the complete data set, then updating existing views. Output is typically stored in a read-only database, with updates completely replacing existing precomputed views.


[Output from the batch and speed layers are stored in the serving layer,
===== Serving Layer =====
Output from the batch and speed layers are stored in the serving layer,
which responds to ad-hoc queries by returning precomputed views or
which responds to ad-hoc queries by returning precomputed views or
building views from the processed data.]{colorid="tit2nxybp0"}
building views from the processed data.


Speed/Streaming Layer {#CapabilitiesModelling-Speed/StreamingLayer}
===== Speed/Streaming Layer =====
---------------------
The speed layer processes data streams in real time and without the requirements of fix-ups or completeness. This layer sacrifices throughput as it aims to minimize latency by providing real-time views into the most recent data. Essentially, the speed layer is responsible for filling the "gap" caused by the batch layer's lag in providing views based on the most recent data. This layer's views may not be as accurate or complete as the ones eventually produced by the batch layer, but they are available almost immediately after data is received, and can be replaced when the batch layer's views for the same data become available.


[The speed layer processes data streams in real time and without the
==== Core Services ====
requirements of fix-ups or completeness. This layer sacrifices
There are a set of core services that are suitable for most
throughput as it aims to minimize latency by providing real-time views
organisations as a starting point.
into the most recent data. Essentially, the speed layer is responsible
for filling the "gap" caused by the batch layer's lag in providing
views based on the most recent data. This layer's views may not be as
accurate or complete as the ones eventually produced by the batch layer,
but they are available almost immediately after data is received, and
can be replaced when the batch layer's views for the same data become
available.]{colorid="zcl8k577rt"}


Core Services {#CapabilitiesModelling-CoreServices}
[[File:819244.png|frameless|602x75px]]
=============


There are a set of core services that are suitable for most
In the straw man most if not all of the capabilities will be in any reasonably sized organisation that sells products and services and manages and processes data. Even if an organisation has no identity
organisations as a starting point.
management and authentication for customers it undoubtedly will have for its own internal use, even if that simply uses embedded capabilities within vendors' operating systems and networks.
[![](attachments/819225/819244.png?width=602){.confluence-embedded-image
width="602" height="75"}]{.confluence-embedded-file-wrapper
.confluence-embedded-manual-size}
In the straw man most if not all of the capabilities will be in any
reasonably sized organisation that sells products and services and
manages and processes data. Even if an organisation has no identity
management and authentication for customers it undoubtedly will have for
its own internal use, even if that simply uses embedded capabilities
within vendors' operating systems and networks.
A capability doesn't have to be fully formed or complete to be mapped,
indeed it is one way of exposing capabilities that need developing and
improving.


Outcomes {#CapabilitiesModelling-Outcomes}
A capability doesn't have to be fully formed or complete to be mapped, indeed it is one way of exposing capabilities that need developing and improving.
========


===== Outcomes =====
Outcomes are the visible useable capabilities of an organisation that
Outcomes are the visible useable capabilities of an organisation that
uses the core services, data processing and data sets in combination
uses the core services, data processing and data sets in combination
Line 187: Line 111:
or as an internal set of products which themselves inform and improve
or as an internal set of products which themselves inform and improve
the delivery of products and services to the customer.
the delivery of products and services to the customer.
[![](attachments/819225/819250.png?width=602){.confluence-embedded-image
width="602" height="112"}]{.confluence-embedded-file-wrapper
.confluence-embedded-manual-size}


Products {#CapabilitiesModelling-Products}
[[File:819250.png|frameless|602x112px]]
--------


It was an important realisation in the Workshop Exercise that the
===== Products  =====
Products category is made up of not Product names but capabilities that
In Workshopping it should become apparent that the Products category is made up of not Product names but capabilities that can be separately identified. They could be considered as broad use cases or otherwise major features. The flexibility that this gives the organisation enables strategic planning around the capabilities that are core business and recognising capabilities that are either missing or
can be separately identified. They could be considered as broad use
cases or otherwise major features. The flexibility that this gives the
organisation enables strategic planning around the capabilities that are
core business and recognising capabilities that are either missing or
incomplete.
incomplete.


Knowledge {#CapabilitiesModelling-Knowledge}
===== Knowledge =====
---------
The Knowledge category includes all of the capabilities around BI but also fundamental capabilities such as understanding the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Data_lineage#Data_Provenance provenance] of all data and the ways in which it is used. It could also include the results of Machine Learning and provide the knowledge sets (and knowledge graphs) used in customer facing products.
 
The Knowledge category includes all of the capabilities around BI but
also fundamental capabilities such as understanding the
[provenance](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Data_lineage#Data_Provenance){.external-link}
of all data and the ways in which it is used. It could also include the
results of Machine Learning and provide the knowledge sets (and
knowledge graphs) used in customer facing products.
 
Exercise {#CapabilitiesModelling-Exercise}
========
 
The Exercise consisted of:
 
-  In each group choose one Customer with which you're familiar.
-  Make a list of the capabilities that their IT and systems deliver
    for them.
-  Try and categorise them , use the example slide as you need but
    don't feel constrained.
-  Afterwards present what you have to everyone in the room.
-  There were two groups, one decided to work on modelling a
    supermarket chain customer; the other initially on a prospective
    financial sector customer and then on Schuberg Philis itself.
 
Supermarket modelling {#CapabilitiesModelling-Supermarketmodelling}
=====================
 
[![](attachments/819225/819256.png?width=602){.confluence-embedded-image
width="602" height="803"}]{.confluence-embedded-file-wrapper
.confluence-embedded-manual-size}
The group had a lively discussion and were able to concentrate on the
Core Services and Outcomes whilst thinking about some of the Data sets
and processes. The Core Services capabilities came out quite naturally.
The team discovered the key point in modelling capabilities was deciding
when to split capabilities out and when to aggregate them together. For
example, there was some discussion on the Shop capability and whether
the shopping basket was simply part of the shop or a separate
capability. When it was pointed out that the shopping basket could be
implemented in many ways and might be provided by a vendor and
integrated, or internally developed it clarified that this was a
separate capability that could be improved without affecting the overall
Shop.
The team seemed to get benefit from the Exercise.
 
Bank modelling {#CapabilitiesModelling-Bankmodelling}
==============
 
This team began with a prospective Customer prior to a meeting the
following day. The discussion began around a similar set of areas as the
first team but ran across difficulties in talking frankly about a
prospective customer. But what was covered seemed to break down into
familiar capabilities in the Financial Sector.
Partly to break the deadlock it was suggested to turn the focus onto
Schuberg Philis itself and model that into a set of capabilities.


Modelling Schuberg Philis {#CapabilitiesModelling-ModellingSchubergPhilis}
===== Exercise =====
=========================
The Exercise consists of:
Splitting the members of the Workshop into groups means they can work separately on different kinds of Customer or Client.
* Each group chooses one Customer or Client with with which they're familiar.
* They should make a list of the capabilities that their IT and systems deliver for them.
* Then try and categorise them, use the example slide as needed but they are not constrained.
* Afterwards each group presents what they have found to the room.


The team discovered much of the same issues around how to formulate the
----------------------------------------------------------------------
proper level of capabilities but also asked questions about whether a
==== Links ====
capability could appear in more than one category. The suggested answer
* [[Seville]]
at the Workshop was yes, so long as it made sense and gave value. In
* [[G30 Consultants]]
later consideration I've thought since that although the nature of the
capability can be provided in different categories it would be useful to
express its use clearly.
[![](attachments/819225/819262.png?width=602){.confluence-embedded-image
width="602" height="452"}]{.confluence-embedded-file-wrapper
.confluence-embedded-manual-size}
As an example, Software configuration management would be a Core Service
but would also be available as a capability for the customer and part of
a Product and Service delivery, possibly as an integral capability of
K/Cosmos; or called out separately as Application configuration
management. I think the important decision is to whether the capability
would ever be different or separately implemented as a Core Service and
an available service to the Customer.
During this discussion it was interesting how complicated it could get
to describe Schuberg Philis in capabilities. Partly because many of
those capabilities are non-functional and difficult to define. But I
personally came away with the conviction that this would be a separately
useful project and would inform greatly the process of applying it to
Customers.
:::

Latest revision as of 10:55, 13 September 2024

Capabilities Modelling is a way of describing an organisation's available capabilities throughout all of its functions. Often it is used to describe the entire organisation on a single page and at a very high level, yet structured in such a way as to be a meaningful tool for planning, debate and analysis.

Capability in this context is a defined function or set of functions that the organisation uses or delivers that defines to itself and others the organisation at a high level.

Strawman Workshopping Example

Four Capability Categories

There are four major categories of capability, within those categories are further sub categories depending on the context, and within those sub-categories are actual capabilities. Each of the four major categories will be detailed separately but in summary they are:

- Data Streams

   -   The collection of data sets or collected data around specific
       data types or entities.

- Data Storage & Processing

   -   The various storage and processing capabilities the organisation
       uses and understands.

- Core Services

   -   These are the capabilities available as services across the
       organisation and shared amongst different delivery systems.

- Outcomes

   -   These are the capabilities that make use of all of the internal
       capabilities already described in the other three categories.

Data Streams

In this straw man there are five sub-categories of Data Streams (or if preferred identifiable data sources).

Curated Content

This is content that the organisation has editorial control over. If it's a content company then it would include content on their web pages for whichever content types the organisation concerns itself in. In a more general sense it will include all of the informational pages and documents. It is also important to always remember it is not just capabilities that are delivered through Technology that form part of the Capability Model. An archived document produced on more manual systems is still a data set or piece of content, though it may not be very readily available.

Curated Data

This is data which the organisation has either produced itself or acquired, cleaned, aggregated and available to be used for further analytical processing either alone or with other data sets. It is the classic big data (regardless of size), capability of being able to prepare data sets, manage them, their provenance (expressed as knowledge later) and generate insights and knowledge.

Curated Knowledge

This is more about the structure of knowledge domains rather than the knowledge that's mined or generated. So this includes ontologies of domains, taxonomies, models, vocabularies. Gold sets of data for training are more an example of Curated Data

Event Data

This is all of the event data captured and processed or held by the organisation, it includes application events, user events, process events.

Customer Data

As well as the data provided by organisation customers, the transactions that have been made by them or for them it also includes the behavioural data captured or inferred whether its in a standard CRM sense or the use and behaviour on the organisation's website including any recommendations and their outcomes. The recognition of where and when data was captured about a customer is becoming increasingly important not simply for BI purposes but also in the case of individuals to be able to be compliant with increasingly rigorous personal data regulation.

Data Storage & Processing

This category is structured to describe a lambda architecture driving the processing of data in an organisation. It's a very opinionated view on processing data and many organisations wouldn't recognise all of the architecture as being either in use or appropriate.

It's worth keeping as an example though as all data architectures rely upon batch processing and any reasonable organisation will use a serving layer to deliver views of data to service and presentation layer applications. Many organisations though will not yet be using or contemplating a speed layer where batch views are improved or predicted in 'real time'.

It should also go without saying that the Data Storage & Processing category should reflect the organisation being modelled and not constrained to any particular flavour of architecture. The definitions below are from the same Wikipedia article.

Batch Layer

The batch layer precomputes results using a distributed processing system that can handle very large quantities of data. The batch layer aims at perfect accuracy by being able to process *all* available data when generating views. This means it can fix any errors by recomputing based on the complete data set, then updating existing views. Output is typically stored in a read-only database, with updates completely replacing existing precomputed views.

Serving Layer

Output from the batch and speed layers are stored in the serving layer, which responds to ad-hoc queries by returning precomputed views or building views from the processed data.

Speed/Streaming Layer

The speed layer processes data streams in real time and without the requirements of fix-ups or completeness. This layer sacrifices throughput as it aims to minimize latency by providing real-time views into the most recent data. Essentially, the speed layer is responsible for filling the "gap" caused by the batch layer's lag in providing views based on the most recent data. This layer's views may not be as accurate or complete as the ones eventually produced by the batch layer, but they are available almost immediately after data is received, and can be replaced when the batch layer's views for the same data become available.

Core Services

There are a set of core services that are suitable for most organisations as a starting point.

In the straw man most if not all of the capabilities will be in any reasonably sized organisation that sells products and services and manages and processes data. Even if an organisation has no identity management and authentication for customers it undoubtedly will have for its own internal use, even if that simply uses embedded capabilities within vendors' operating systems and networks.

A capability doesn't have to be fully formed or complete to be mapped, indeed it is one way of exposing capabilities that need developing and improving.

Outcomes

Outcomes are the visible useable capabilities of an organisation that uses the core services, data processing and data sets in combination either as a direct set of products and services to sell and distribute or as an internal set of products which themselves inform and improve the delivery of products and services to the customer.

Products

In Workshopping it should become apparent that the Products category is made up of not Product names but capabilities that can be separately identified. They could be considered as broad use cases or otherwise major features. The flexibility that this gives the organisation enables strategic planning around the capabilities that are core business and recognising capabilities that are either missing or incomplete.

Knowledge

The Knowledge category includes all of the capabilities around BI but also fundamental capabilities such as understanding the provenance of all data and the ways in which it is used. It could also include the results of Machine Learning and provide the knowledge sets (and knowledge graphs) used in customer facing products.

Exercise

The Exercise consists of: Splitting the members of the Workshop into groups means they can work separately on different kinds of Customer or Client.

  • Each group chooses one Customer or Client with with which they're familiar.
  • They should make a list of the capabilities that their IT and systems deliver for them.
  • Then try and categorise them, use the example slide as needed but they are not constrained.
  • Afterwards each group presents what they have found to the room.

Links