Powering Transformation with People: A Method for Translating Strategy into Future Skills

Abstract

Libraries must deliver ambitious strategies in fast-changing environments, yet how do we ensure our teams have the right skills? At HKBU Library, we developed a people-centric method to build the relevant evidence base within our emerging Talent Management Framework.

This poster presents our practical approach for translating strategy into role-appropriate capabilities. We began by identifying future skills through an inclusive, supervisor-led process, creating a two-level design: five library-wide skills (e.g., AI / Digital Literacy) and band-specific skills that evolve with seniority. To prioritize development, we then baselined proficiency and importance across the library (70% participation). The results revealed a critical "how-to" gap between staff-requested technical training and leadership's identified strategic needs, the need to develop change skills at every level, and the persistent challenge of cross-unit (internal and external) collaboration.

This analysis now provides a data-driven foundation for our talent development strategy, enabling us to guide immediate investment and design learning pathways for high-priority skills. We will share our methodology, key findings, and visualizations, offering a transferable model for libraries seeking to create a data-informed agenda for people development.