Business capabilities¶
Business capabilities describe what Defra does - not how, not who, and not with which system. They are the stable backbone that strategy, investment and technology hang from.
Defra's business capability map¶
The nine core capabilities are what Defra exists to do for the public and the environment. The two supporting capabilities are what the department needs to do to deliver them.
The model is deliberately the same across the core department and Defra's arm's length bodies. The Environment Agency, Natural England, the Animal and Plant Health Agency, the Rural Payments Agency, Cefas, the Marine Management Organisation and others each deliver several of these capabilities, often for different sectors. That shared language is what lets us spot common needs.
What makes a good capability¶
| Attribute | What it means |
|---|---|
| Oriented on meaningful outcomes | Each capability exists to deliver an outcome for the public, the environment or the department. |
| Stable over time | Capabilities change far more slowly than organisations, processes or systems. |
| Independent of organisation structure | A capability can be delivered by core Defra, an arm's length body or a partner. |
| Independent of technology | Capabilities say what we do, never which product does it. |
| Measurable | We can assess maturity, cost, risk and investment against each capability. |
| Expressed in active, plain language | Verb first, no jargon, understandable by anyone. |
A useful test: if a reorganisation or a new system would change it, it is not a capability.
Capabilities in detail¶
Level 1 capabilities are agreed. Level 2 capabilities are a draft - informed by Gartner research on government and human services business capability models and other public sector reference models - and we want your help improving them.
To see which technology capabilities each business capability is likely to depend on, see capability mapping. That mapping is a draft.
Core capabilities¶
01 Act as a custodian of the environment and ecosystems (BC01)¶
Understand, protect, restore and enhance the natural environment - land, water, air, seas, habitats and species - for current and future generations.
Outcomes
- Thriving plants and wildlife
- Clean air and clean and plentiful water
- Reduced risk from environmental hazards
Level 2 capabilities (draft)
- Monitor environmental condition
- Protect and recover species and habitats
- Manage land, water, air and marine resources
- Designate and manage protected sites
- Manage flood and coastal erosion risk
- Manage natural capital and biodiversity net gain
02 Conduct research and analyse evidence (BC02)¶
Build and use the scientific, economic and social evidence base that underpins policy, regulation and operational decisions.
Outcomes
- Decisions grounded in robust evidence
- Trusted official statistics
Level 2 capabilities (draft)
- Commission and conduct research
- Collect and curate evidence
- Analyse, model and forecast
- Publish official statistics
- Horizon scan for emerging risks
03 Create policy and legislation (BC03)¶
Develop, consult on, implement and evaluate policy, legislation and regulation, including international and trade agreements.
Outcomes
- Effective, proportionate policy and regulation
- Policy informed by those it affects
Level 2 capabilities (draft)
- Develop and appraise policy options
- Consult and gather views
- Draft and maintain legislation
- Negotiate international agreements
- Evaluate policy impact
04 Engage with citizens and organisations (BC04)¶
Inform, advise, listen to and build relationships with the public, farmers, businesses, partners and other stakeholders.
Outcomes
- Users can find what they need and do what they need to do
- Strong relationships with the sectors we work with
Level 2 capabilities (draft)
- Provide information and guidance
- Manage customer and stakeholder relationships
- Handle enquiries, complaints and information requests
- Run campaigns and communications
- Gather and act on feedback
05 Issue licences and permits (BC05)¶
Decide whether and on what terms people and organisations can carry out regulated activities, and keep registers of what has been permitted.
Outcomes
- Regulated activity happens safely and lawfully
- Fast, predictable decisions for applicants
Level 2 capabilities (draft)
- Determine eligibility and requirements
- Assess and determine applications
- Issue licences, permits and certificates
- Vary, renew, suspend and revoke
- Maintain public registers
06 Enforce compliance (BC06)¶
Check that people and organisations meet their obligations and take proportionate action when they do not.
Outcomes
- High levels of compliance
- Harm prevented, and stopped quickly when it happens
Level 2 capabilities (draft)
- Plan risk-based regulation
- Inspect, sample and audit
- Gather intelligence and investigate
- Take enforcement action
- Manage appeals and sanctions
07 Administer funds and grants (BC07)¶
Design and run schemes that pay public money for public goods, from application to payment, verification and recovery.
Outcomes
- Public money delivers environmental and economic outcomes
- Payments are accurate, on time and protected from fraud
Level 2 capabilities (draft)
- Design schemes
- Manage applications and agreements
- Verify claims
- Make payments
- Recover payments and manage irregularities
- Evaluate scheme outcomes
08 Respond to incidents and crises (BC08)¶
Prepare for, detect, respond to and recover from emergencies such as animal and plant disease outbreaks, floods, droughts and pollution.
Outcomes
- Faster detection and containment
- Reduced harm to people, animals, plants and the environment
Level 2 capabilities (draft)
- Plan and exercise for emergencies
- Detect and assess incidents
- Coordinate response
- Contain and control
- Recover and learn lessons
09 Operate and deploy assets (BC09)¶
Plan, build, operate, maintain and dispose of physical assets such as flood defences, laboratories, vessels, land and estate.
Outcomes
- Assets are available and perform when needed
- Whole-life value for money
Level 2 capabilities (draft)
- Plan and invest in assets
- Build and commission assets
- Operate assets
- Inspect and maintain assets
- Dispose of assets
Supporting capabilities¶
10 Set organisational direction (BC10)¶
Set strategy and priorities, allocate investment, manage performance and risk, and govern the department and its arm's length bodies.
Outcomes
- Clear priorities and accountable delivery
- Investment aligned to outcomes
Level 2 capabilities (draft)
- Set strategy and priorities
- Manage portfolio and investment
- Manage performance and risk
- Govern and assure
- Design the operating model
11 Provide shared services (BC11)¶
Provide the people, finance, commercial, digital, data and technology, estates, legal and information services the rest of Defra relies on.
Outcomes
- Efficient, consistent corporate services
- Staff have the tools and support to do their jobs
Level 2 capabilities (draft)
- Manage people
- Manage finance
- Manage commercial and procurement
- Provide digital, data and technology services
- Manage estates and facilities
- Manage information and records
Capabilities and services¶
Business capabilities are not services. A service is everything government provides to deliver an outcome for its users, such as getting a licence to do works by a river. A capability is what Defra does, such as "Issue licences and permits", whichever services, organisations and systems do it. One capability usually supports many services, and one service often draws on several capabilities.
In Defra's service taxonomy, business capabilities are level 4, common business capabilities: below services and products, and above the components and data that realise them. See services and capabilities for the taxonomy's definitions and how the handrail fits into it.
Improving the model¶
The model lives in capabilities/business-capabilities.yaml. To propose a change, open a pull request explaining which attribute it improves. Changes to level 1 capabilities are reviewed by the Technical Design Authority and approved by the Technology Governance Board.