The Josh Bersin Company

Why The Genius Bar Is Genius. What We've Learned About Skills and Jobs

Aug 8, 2021

Discover how the pandemic reshaped job architecture and the emergence of hybrid roles. Learn why the Apple Genius Bar is a groundbreaking model for skills and jobs. Explore how organizations like NASA and Telcos are evolving their skills for new challenges. Dive into Epic's streamlined approach with just seven job categories. Unpack the importance of skills taxonomies in a changing job market, especially in tech and renewable energy sectors. Finally, understand how aligning analytics with business goals can unlock strategic success.

36:30

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Quick takeaways

Modern organizations must transition from hierarchical job structures to flexible role-based configurations that foster collaboration and innovation.

Establishing a cohesive skills taxonomy is crucial for organizations to adapt to evolving demands and enhance employee development strategies.

Deep dives

The Need for New Job Architecture

Companies are currently facing challenges in creating a new job architecture due to the transformations brought about by the pandemic. Increased remote work has led to more cross-functional teams, pushing organizations to rethink their operational strategies. In response to disruptions from technology, businesses must balance current execution needs with future agility and adaptability. Modern organizational designs require a shift from traditional hierarchical structures to more dynamic and collaborative environments that support creative problem-solving.

Intro

11min

Innovative Approaches to Job Architecture and Skills Development

13min

Building Future-Ready Skills Taxonomy

7min

Understanding the Relevance of Skills in Today’s Job Market

2min

Aligning Analytics with Business Purpose for Strategic Success

3min

In this longer podcast, I walk through everything we’ve learned about skills taxonomies, job architectures, and the new world of hybrid work. And to really get your attention I explain why the Apple Genius Bar is a genius idea, which builds on all that’s going on in the world of skills and jobs.

We are clearly entering a new world of organization design. You no longer need to model your company like a gigantic pyramid, it’s truly a network of hybrid roles. We’ve gone from jobs to roles and from skills to capabilities, and in this podcast, I explain how this all works. I also explain how NASA has redefined its skills model for its mission to Mars, and how Telcos are rethinking skills in the age of 5G, and how Epic (one of the most successful software companies in the world) organizes its jobs into only seven categories. And I give you the three business strategies that create effective skills taxonomy projects.

And here are some other references to help.

What Is A Skills Taxonomy Anyway?

The Global HR Capability Project

The War Of The Skills Clouds

BurningGlass Acquires EMSI: A Leader In Jobs Data?

Let’s Stop Talking About Softskills: They’re PowerSkills

Hybrid Work: Ten Things We Have Learned

Accounting for Slavery: Masters and Management (a fascinating book that’s all about organization design)