What are capabilities?
Capabilities is Acorn's competency management module. It lets you define a framework of skills, rate learner proficiency, create development plans, and track growth over time.
Key concepts
- Capability Framework: The overall structure of skills and competencies relevant to your organisation.
- Capability Set: A grouped collection of capabilities relevant to a specific role, team, or function (e.g. 'People Manager', 'Data & Analytics').
Capability: A specific, measurable skill within a set (e.g. 'Coaching', 'Data Visualisation'). - Proficiency Level: A rating scale for each capability (e.g. 1–4, Beginner–Expert).
- Assessment: A self-assessment or manager review of a learner's proficiency.
- Development Plan: A personalised learning path to improve proficiency in target capabilities.
Enabling Capabilities
Capabilities must be enabled by Acorn Support. Once enabled, you will see the Capability Dashboard in the Admin navigation menu.
Quick start
- Build your framework — see Configuring Your Capability Framework.
- Run assessments — see Learner Assessments & Development Plans.
- Monitor progress in reports — see Capabilities Reporting & Insights.
Who can manage Capabilities?
The Acorn Admin role grants full access to create and edit frameworks, run assessments, and view reports. See Capabilities Administration for role details.