Capabilities FAQs
Common questions about setting up and using the Capabilities feature in Acorn.
1. Getting Started & Implementation
How long does it take to set up the Capabilities module?
Most organisations can stand up the Capabilities Module in 4-6 weeks. If you already have a capability framework and proficiency levels, it’s as simple as uploading a CSV and assigning cohorts. For more complex rollouts with phased cohort deployment or integrations, we’ll work with you on a tailored timeline.
Can we upload our own capability framework into Acorn?
Yes. You can upload your own capability library using our guided CSV importer. You’ll be able to define your own capability sets, capabilities, and proficiency levels. If you’re unsure of the format, we provide a downloadable template to help structure your content correctly.
Do we need to use Acorn’s proficiency levels, or can we configure our own?
You can define your own proficiency levels. Acorn supports a fixed number of levels platform-wide for consistency in reporting, but you control the level names and can toggle levels on or off for each capability to match your framework.
Can we start small and scale up later?
Absolutely. Many of our customers begin with a targeted rollout to one or two cohorts — such as a leadership group or critical roles — and scale to the broader organisation over time. The system is built to support both approaches.
How does Acorn support organisations that already have a mature capability framework?
If you already have a framework in place, Acorn helps you digitise and operationalise it quickly. Our tools are designed to adapt to existing structures rather than forcing you to rebuild from scratch. You maintain control over your content — we simply make it easier to deliver, assess and report on at scale.
What if we don’t have a capability framework?
You don’t need to start from scratch. Acorn provides a proprietary capability library you can use out of the box, or you can select from a range of publicly available frameworks we’ve pre-formatted for upload. We also offer AI-assisted recommendations based on your strategic goals, job descriptions or learning content.
2. Flexibility & Configuration
How configurable is the Capabilities Module to our organisation’s structure?
Acorn is built for flexibility. You can structure your capability library around your job families, departments, business units, or any cohort logic that fits your organisation. Capabilities can be targeted at specific groups, and visibility is controlled at the cohort level.
Can we assign different capabilities to different cohorts or user groups?
Yes. You can assign specific capabilities to any cohort — whether it's based on role, level, geography, or business unit. This ensures users only see the capabilities relevant to them and allows for tailored assessments and development plans.
Can we customise which proficiency levels display for each capability?
You can toggle proficiency levels on or off for each capability. For example, if you only want to show three levels for some capabilities and five for others, that’s fully supported. The levels themselves are standard across the platform for reporting consistency, but visibility is flexible.
Can we edit our capability sets or capabilities after uploading them?
Yes. Admins can edit capability set names, descriptions, and icons, as well as individual capabilities and their proficiency descriptions at any time. Changes can be made safely without affecting historical data, and edits don’t go live until you choose to publish them.
3. AI Features & Use Cases
Can your AI map job descriptions to cohorts and relevant capabilities?
Yes. You can upload up to 10 job descriptions, and our AI will recommend whether to create a new cohort or use an existing one. It then suggests capabilities based on the job tasks and language, helping you build role-based capability profiles faster and more accurately.
Will the AI recommend content aligned to specific capability uplift?
Absolutely. Acorn’s AI can suggest relevant learning content for a selected capability and proficiency level. You can review each recommendation before confirming it, and the system will record and track these mappings across your content library.
Will the AI recommend content from third-party provided likes LinkedIn Learning or Go1 to aligned to specific capability uplift?
No, it will not. Currently the AI only maps to internal content in your own Acorn catalogue.
Can we edit or override AI recommendations before publishing?
Yes. All AI recommendations — whether for content mapping or cohort capability alignment — are fully reviewable. You can accept, modify, or discard them before publishing. You stay in control of what gets deployed.
Is AI optional or required to use the Capabilities Module?
AI is completely optional. You can use Acorn’s full capability functionality without AI if you prefer a manual, controlled approach. Many customers use a mix — AI to accelerate the heavy lifting, with human review for context and nuance.
4. User Experience
What does the capability assessment process look like for employees?
Users can complete assessments via a direct link in an email or through their profile in the platform. They’re guided to select a proficiency level for each capability and provide a short written example of how they’ve demonstrated that level. The process is clear, intuitive, and mobile-friendly.
Is it mobile-friendly and intuitive for non-technical users?
Yes. The user interface is designed to be clean and easy to navigate, even for those unfamiliar with capability frameworks. Most users complete assessments or development plan activities without needing additional support.
Can users build their own development plans?
They can. Users can select capabilities they want to develop and choose relevant learning content from curated recommendations. The process is guided but flexible, giving users ownership of their development while aligning with organisational goals.
How are supervisors involved in assessments or reviews?
Supervisors can complete parallel assessments of their team’s capabilities, view self-assessment results, and receive automated reminders. They also get visibility into their team’s development plan progress through a dedicated dashboard widget.
How visible are capabilities to individual users?
Visibility is fully controlled at the cohort level. Users only see the capabilities assigned to them and can access them from their profile. If the capability module is not enabled for a cohort, users won’t see it.
5. Reporting & Analytics
What types of capability reports are available?
Acorn includes a suite of pre-built reports covering capability assessments, development plans, capability usage, historical trends, and gaps. Reports include:
- Capability Report
- Development Plan Report
- Capability Assessment History Report
- Capability Assessment Report
- Capability Assessment Gap Analysis
- Capability Details Report
Can we track development plan progress at the individual and team level?
Yes. Users can view their own progress directly from their profile, and supervisors can track their team’s development via dedicated widgets and reports. Admins can view development completion across cohorts or business units.
Will we be able to see trends in capability uplift over time?
You can. The Capability Assessment History Report shows how individual or group proficiency ratings change over time. It’s ideal for tracking growth, evaluating program impact, or informing succession planning.
Can reports be filtered by cohort, role, or other custom fields?
Yes. Most reports include filtering options by cohort, capability set, proficiency level, and user attributes — including any custom fields you’ve configured. This lets you segment insights however you need.
Can we export reports or automate reporting cycles?
All reports can be exported to CSV. While automated report scheduling is on our roadmap, many customers currently use Acorn’s reporting filters to create regular views they can quickly regenerate and export as needed.
6. Cohorts, Permissions & Access Control
Can we control who sees which capabilities?
Yes, to a degree. Capabilities are assigned at the cohort level, and users will only see the capabilities mapped to their cohort on their profile. Users can self-select additional capabilities they’re interested in developing by viewing the entire capability library via Interest Capabilities.
How do you handle large, diverse workforce structures (e.g. business units)?
Acorn is designed to scale with complex organisations. You can create cohorts based on business unit, location, job role, seniority, or any other attribute. Capability assignments, visibility, assessments, and reporting all respect these structures.
Can we assign capabilities by cohort, role, or location?
Absolutely. Capability assignments can be made by any cohort logic you define — including role, geography, job level, or project team. This gives you fine-grained control over who sees and develops which capabilities.
7. Development Planning
How do development plans link back to assessed capability gaps?
After a user completes a capability assessment, they can immediately build a development plan based on the capabilities where they need uplift. The system recommends relevant content aligned to their selected capabilities and proficiency levels.
Can we recommend specific learning activities based on capabilities?
Yes. You can map learning content to capabilities and proficiency levels manually or via AI. Once mapped, the system automatically recommends that content to users as they build their plans.
Can supervisors track their team’s development plans?
Supervisors have access to a dedicated widget showing development plan progress for each of their team members. They can see completion rates, outstanding actions, and areas of focus — all from one place.
Are development plans personalised or standardised across cohorts?
Development plans are user-driven and personalised. While capabilities can be cohort-assigned, each user selects the specific capabilities they want to work on, and chooses content from a curated set. This gives users ownership while maintaining strategic alignment.
8. System Integration & Scalability
Does the Capabilities Module integrate with our existing HR systems?
Yes. Acorn supports integrations with HRIS platforms, single sign-on (SSO), and identity providers. We can also integrate user fields and cohort data to ensure capability assignments align with your org structure.
Can we use our existing learning content and align it to capabilities?
Absolutely. You can map any existing content in your Acorn LMS to capabilities and proficiency levels — manually or using our AI. This allows you to repurpose what you already have without duplicating effort.
How does Acorn handle multiple tenancies or complex org structures?
Acorn supports multi-tenancy configurations and is already used in highly distributed organisations (including governments and large enterprises). You can maintain separate libraries, cohorts, and visibility settings across business units while retaining central oversight.
Can the platform scale to hundreds or thousands of users?
Yes. Acorn is used by organisations with tens of thousands of users and is built to handle enterprise-scale deployments — including bulk user uploads, mass cohort assignments, and high-volume reporting.
9. Governance, Control & Support
Who manages capabilities in the system — us or Acorn?
You do. Acorn gives you full control over your capability framework, proficiency levels, assignments, and mappings. Our team supports you during setup and onboarding, but day-to-day management remains in your hands — with no reliance on Acorn for routine changes.
How do we manage changes to capability frameworks over time?
Capabilities and proficiency levels can be edited at any time. You can update descriptions, toggle levels on or off, or reassign capabilities to different sets or cohorts. Changes only take effect once you confirm them, so you can safely iterate before publishing.
Can we preview changes before publishing them?
Yes. All edits can be made in draft before you click confirm. You can also save partial updates and return later — ensuring you never push changes live before you're ready.
What kind of support or onboarding does Acorn provide?
We provide full implementation support during setup — including framework upload, configuration, cohort design, and capability mapping. After go-live, you’ll have access to our Help Centre, guided walkthroughs, and a dedicated customer success contact for ongoing support.
10. Outcomes & Strategic Value
How does the Capabilities Module support workforce planning?
Acorn helps you understand the current state of workforce capability at scale — across roles, teams, and cohorts. You can identify critical capability gaps, track uplift over time, and make data-driven decisions about succession, hiring, and development priorities.
Can it help us identify critical capability gaps?
Yes. Through self and supervisor assessments, gap analysis reports, and trend tracking, you’ll be able to pinpoint where capability gaps exist — whether across the whole organisation or within specific groups. This helps you target investment where it’s most needed.
How does this support retention, performance, or succession planning?
By giving employees visibility into their capabilities, supporting tailored development, and enabling transparent conversations between staff and managers, Acorn helps build engagement and career pathways. This contributes directly to retention, readiness, and long-term organisational performance.