Flevy Management Insights Q&A
How can Business Capability Modeling improve project delivery and outcomes in the construction industry?
     Joseph Robinson    |    Business Capability Model


This article provides a detailed response to: How can Business Capability Modeling improve project delivery and outcomes in the construction industry? For a comprehensive understanding of Business Capability Model, we also include relevant case studies for further reading and links to Business Capability Model best practice resources.

TLDR Business Capability Modeling improves project delivery in construction by aligning projects with strategic goals, optimizing resources, enhancing risk management, and driving performance improvement.

Reading time: 5 minutes

Before we begin, let's review some important management concepts, as they related to this question.

What does Business Capability Modeling mean?
What does Strategic Alignment mean?
What does Resource Optimization mean?
What does Risk Management mean?


Business Capability Modeling (BCM) serves as a strategic framework that enables organizations to visualize and understand the essential functions necessary to achieve their business objectives. In the construction industry, characterized by its complex projects and the need for meticulous planning and execution, BCM can significantly enhance project delivery and outcomes. This approach aligns projects with the organization's strategic goals, optimizes resource allocation, and improves risk management, leading to increased efficiency and competitiveness.

Strategic Alignment and Resource Optimization

In the construction industry, strategic alignment and resource optimization are critical for the success of any project. BCM facilitates these by providing a clear map of the organization's capabilities and identifying how each project aligns with these capabilities. This ensures that projects are not only aligned with the strategic goals of the organization but also that resources are allocated efficiently. A study by McKinsey & Company highlighted that projects aligned with an organization's strategic priorities have a 57% higher chance of meeting their original goals and business intent. By leveraging BCM, construction leaders can ensure that their projects are strategically aligned, thereby increasing their chances of success.

Resource optimization is another area where BCM offers significant benefits. By understanding the capabilities required to execute a project, leaders can make informed decisions about where to allocate their resources. This not only includes financial resources but also human capital and equipment. For instance, if a capability model reveals that a project requires a high level of expertise in sustainable building practices, the organization can allocate more resources to training and hiring in this area. This targeted approach to resource allocation ensures that projects are not only completed within budget but also meet or exceed quality standards.

Furthermore, BCM aids in identifying redundancies and inefficiencies within the organization's processes. By mapping out the capabilities required for project delivery, it becomes easier to spot areas where processes overlap or where resources are underutilized. This can lead to significant cost savings and productivity improvements, giving construction firms a competitive edge in a highly competitive market.

Are you familiar with Flevy? We are you shortcut to immediate value.
Flevy provides business best practices—the same as those produced by top-tier consulting firms and used by Fortune 100 companies. Our best practice business frameworks, financial models, and templates are of the same caliber as those produced by top-tier management consulting firms, like McKinsey, BCG, Bain, Deloitte, and Accenture. Most were developed by seasoned executives and consultants with 20+ years of experience.

Trusted by over 10,000+ Client Organizations
Since 2012, we have provided best practices to over 10,000 businesses and organizations of all sizes, from startups and small businesses to the Fortune 100, in over 130 countries.
AT&T GE Cisco Intel IBM Coke Dell Toyota HP Nike Samsung Microsoft Astrazeneca JP Morgan KPMG Walgreens Walmart 3M Kaiser Oracle SAP Google E&Y Volvo Bosch Merck Fedex Shell Amgen Eli Lilly Roche AIG Abbott Amazon PwC T-Mobile Broadcom Bayer Pearson Titleist ConEd Pfizer NTT Data Schwab

Risk Management and Performance Improvement

Risk management is a critical component of successful project delivery in the construction industry. BCM enhances risk management by providing a comprehensive view of the organization's capabilities and how they are applied to each project. This allows for the identification of potential risks early in the project lifecycle, enabling proactive mitigation strategies. For example, if a capability analysis reveals a gap in the organization's ability to manage subcontractors effectively, this can be addressed before it impacts project delivery. Accenture's research supports this, indicating that organizations with strong capabilities in risk management are 36% more likely to achieve project success.

Performance improvement is another significant benefit of BCM. By aligning projects with the organization's strategic capabilities, construction firms can ensure that they are not only completing projects but doing so in a way that enhances their core competencies. This continuous improvement approach leads to higher quality outcomes, increased customer satisfaction, and improved financial performance. A report by PwC found that companies that excel in aligning their projects with their strategic capabilities report a 19% higher profit margin than their peers.

Moreover, BCM facilitates the adoption of best practices across the organization. By mapping out capabilities and the processes that support them, construction firms can standardize their approaches to project management, quality control, and safety. This standardization not only improves efficiency but also ensures that every project contributes to the organization's body of knowledge, further enhancing performance over time.

Driving Innovation and Competitive Advantage

Innovation is a key driver of competitive advantage in the construction industry. BCM supports innovation by identifying capabilities that can be leveraged or developed to create new value propositions. For instance, if a capability model highlights a strong competency in digital modeling, the organization can explore innovative construction techniques such as Building Information Modeling (BIM) to differentiate itself from competitors. This proactive approach to leveraging capabilities for innovation can open new markets and improve profitability.

Competitive advantage also stems from an organization's ability to adapt quickly to changes in the market. BCM provides a framework for understanding how changes external to the organization, such as new regulations or technological advancements, impact its capabilities. This understanding allows construction firms to pivot their strategies and operations more effectively, staying ahead of competitors who may be slower to adapt. For example, a capability analysis might reveal that adopting drone technology for site surveys could significantly reduce project timelines and costs, providing a competitive edge.

In conclusion, Business Capability Modeling offers a strategic framework that can significantly improve project delivery and outcomes in the construction industry. By facilitating strategic alignment, optimizing resource allocation, enhancing risk management, and driving performance improvement, BCM enables construction firms to achieve operational excellence. Moreover, by supporting innovation and providing a basis for competitive advantage, BCM ensures that organizations can not only survive but thrive in the ever-evolving construction landscape.

Best Practices in Business Capability Model

Here are best practices relevant to Business Capability Model from the Flevy Marketplace. View all our Business Capability Model materials here.

Did you know?
The average daily rate of a McKinsey consultant is $6,625 (not including expenses). The average price of a Flevy document is $65.

Explore all of our best practices in: Business Capability Model

Business Capability Model Case Studies

For a practical understanding of Business Capability Model, take a look at these case studies.

E-Commerce Platform Digital Transformation for Specialty Retail

Scenario: A specialty retail firm in the e-commerce sector is facing challenges in aligning its technology investments with strategic business outcomes.

Read Full Case Study

Business Capability Transformation in Sports Media

Scenario: The organization, a sports media company, faces challenges in adapting its Business Capability Model to the rapidly evolving digital landscape.

Read Full Case Study

Capability Model Refinement for Telecom Operator

Scenario: The organization is a leading telecom operator facing challenges with its existing Business Capability Model which has become misaligned with the evolving market dynamics and technology landscape.

Read Full Case Study

Strategic Business Capability Modeling for Aerospace Manufacturer in Competitive Landscape

Scenario: The organization in focus operates within the aerospace sector and has recently encountered operational hurdles impacting its market competitiveness.

Read Full Case Study

Telecom Capability Transformation for a European Mobile Operator

Scenario: The organization in question is a well-established mobile telecom operator in Europe facing a plateau in growth and market share.

Read Full Case Study

E-Commerce Capability Model Refinement for Luxury Apparel Retailer

Scenario: A mid-sized luxury apparel retailer has seen its e-commerce market share stagnate in a highly competitive online retail space.

Read Full Case Study




Flevy is the world's largest knowledge base of best practices.


Leverage the Experience of Experts.

Find documents of the same caliber as those used by top-tier consulting firms, like McKinsey, BCG, Bain, Deloitte, Accenture.

Download Immediately and Use.

Our PowerPoint presentations, Excel workbooks, and Word documents are completely customizable, including rebrandable.

Save Time, Effort, and Money.

Save yourself and your employees countless hours. Use that time to work on more value-added and fulfilling activities.




Read Customer Testimonials

  •  
    "FlevyPro has been a brilliant resource for me, as an independent growth consultant, to access a vast knowledge bank of presentations to support my work with clients. In terms of RoI, the value I received from the very first presentation I downloaded paid for my subscription many times over! The "

    – Roderick Cameron, Founding Partner at SGFE Ltd
  •  
    "Flevy is our 'go to' resource for management material, at an affordable cost. The Flevy library is comprehensive and the content deep, and typically provides a great foundation for us to further develop and tailor our own service offer."

    – Chris McCann, Founder at Resilient.World
  •  
    "I have found Flevy to be an amazing resource and library of useful presentations for lean sigma, change management and so many other topics. This has reduced the time I need to spend on preparing for my performance consultation. The library is easily accessible and updates are regularly provided. A wealth of great information."

    – Cynthia Howard RN, PhD, Executive Coach at Ei Leadership
  •  
    "Flevy is now a part of my business routine. I visit Flevy at least 3 times each month.

    Flevy has become my preferred learning source, because what it provides is practical, current, and useful in this era where the business world is being rewritten.

    In today's environment where there are so "

    – Omar Hernán Montes Parra, CEO at Quantum SFE
  •  
    "The wide selection of frameworks is very useful to me as an independent consultant. In fact, it rivals what I had at my disposal at Big 4 Consulting firms in terms of efficacy and organization."

    – Julia T., Consulting Firm Owner (Former Manager at Deloitte and Capgemini)
  •  
    "Last Sunday morning, I was diligently working on an important presentation for a client and found myself in need of additional content and suitable templates for various types of graphics. Flevy.com proved to be a treasure trove for both content and design at a reasonable price, considering the time I "

    – M. E., Chief Commercial Officer, International Logistics Service Provider
  •  
    "As a niche strategic consulting firm, Flevy and FlevyPro frameworks and documents are an on-going reference to help us structure our findings and recommendations to our clients as well as improve their clarity, strength, and visual power. For us, it is an invaluable resource to increase our impact and value."

    – David Coloma, Consulting Area Manager at Cynertia Consulting
  •  
    "As a small business owner, the resource material available from FlevyPro has proven to be invaluable. The ability to search for material on demand based our project events and client requirements was great for me and proved very beneficial to my clients. Importantly, being able to easily edit and tailor "

    – Michael Duff, Managing Director at Change Strategy (UK)



Download our FREE Strategy & Transformation Framework Templates

Download our free compilation of 50+ Strategy & Transformation slides and templates. Frameworks include McKinsey 7-S Strategy Model, Balanced Scorecard, Disruptive Innovation, BCG Experience Curve, and many more.