Talent Analytics at BDO

Susan Willems, Manager of Talent & Management Development at BDO, discusses their approach to strategic talent management using modular talent identification and analytics:

• Identifying employee potential early for specific talent deployment and development
• Providing quick insights to make employees accountable for their career growth
• Using talent insights to enhance mobility
• Leveraging existing leadership potential with development programs to foster organizational growth

Approach

BDO has established three profiles to align with different career phases and the core values of the organization:

• Talent Profile
• Management Profile
• Partner Profile

Modular Talent Identification

To support objective selection and development decisions, GITP implemented a modular talent identification system for BDO, comprising online tools and live assessment modules like simulation games and interviews. The results from these tools and assessments are compiled into reports that provide insights into the match between personal talents and BDO's profiles.

To interpret these reports, BDO certified its advisors, recruiters, and business partners through GITP. They conduct discussions with candidates and employees about their fit with BDO and their development potential concerning the profiles.

Supporting Career Transitions

BDO uses online tools and live assessments to guide employees transitioning to new career phases. These assessments determine the employee's current standing and what needs to be developed for the next career step. BDO supports further talent development with coaching sessions and online coaching tools, ensuring continuous monitoring of talent development.

Developmental Assessments with a BDO Panel

To encourage more employees within BDO to participate in assessments, the development assessments are designed in collaboration with GITP. "We have chosen to conduct assessments with a combined panel. The panel consists of a business manager, a talent management advisor or HR business partner, and a GITP advisor."

Employees can directly discuss their development with the panel, gaining insights and feedback from various perspectives (business, HR, GITP) on both current and potential talents and how best to develop them.

The added value of this approach is that employees receive attention and involvement from a business manager, which allows management to see the talents of their employees. This approach also ensures that further development is implemented in practice through follow-up discussions between the employee, manager, and HR.

Talent Analytics for Strategic Talent Management

Beyond identifying talent for development and selection, BDO aims to reuse talent data for strategic talent management to:

• Promote mobility based on insight into where employees excel.
• Develop skills based on talent insights.
• Understand organizational development directions.
• Plan succession for the long term.

With Talent Analytics, GITP provides concrete insights into the existing and potential talent of employees. The results from the online tools are visually translated into a so-called Talent Map.

This Talent Map enables BDO to analyze the organization’s status on specific competencies and identify where the talent for these competencies is located within the organization. This insight allows for a highly targeted and strategically supported approach to Talent Management.

Results

Early and Targeted Talent Utilization and Development

In talent management, BDO strives to gain early insights into employees' talents to guide their development. This approach allows employees to take charge of their growth. Using the Talent Map, BDO can evaluate groups of employees to determine logical career progressions and succession planning. This provides solid input for strategic discussions with the executive team about business development and employee management.

Implementing Development Programs and Policy Choices

Since 2015, BDO has focused on Talent Analytics. Initially, the focus was on daily talent management, but now it has shifted to strategic talent management. Talent Management has become an essential tool for achieving goals and anticipating future developments. GITP’s Talent Analytics equips BDO with the tools to design development programs and make policy decisions that enable optimal utilization of available talent to realize the organization’s strategy.