Assessments Diagnose Capability Before You Invest in Change Diagnose Capability Before You Invest in Change Most organizations invest in training, frameworks, and transformation initiatives before they fully understand where capability gaps exist. As a result, they solve the wrong problems, over-invest in low-impact development, and struggle to measure return on their efforts. At Sequent Learning Networks, we believe effective capability building starts with diagnosis. Our assessments provide leaders with objective, data-driven insight into both individual capability and organizational enablement, so decisions about development, structure, and investment are grounded in reality, not assumptions. The Knowing–Doing Gap Across decades of diagnostic and benchmarking work, we see a consistent and costly pattern: organizations confuse what people know with what they can really do. Employees may: Describe frameworks fluently Earn certifications Participate actively in training Yet still struggle to apply what they’ve learned under real business conditions. This gap between knowledge and execution, the knowing–doing gap, is where training investment disappears and performance stalls. Our assessments are designed specifically to reveal this gap. Two Distinct Questions Leaders Must Answer Before deciding how to invest in development, leaders need clarity on two very different questions: 1. Do our people have the capability to do this work? This is a question of individual and team competency. 2. Have we designed the organization to let them succeed? This is a question of organizational practices, structure, and leadership systems. Most organizations address the first and overlook the second. Effective capability building requires understanding both. Together, these assessments provide the diagnostic foundation for growth capability by revealing where individual competency gaps and organizational barriers are limiting execution. Our Diagnostic Framework Sequent provides two complementary types of assessments that together create a complete picture of capability. Competency Assessments Assess individual and team capability Our competency assessments measure both knowledge and application, revealing not only what people understand but how effectively they can execute in real situations. They are used to: Identify skill and experience gaps Target training and coaching investments Support talent development and readiness Measure capability improvement over time These assessments focus on people. They do not evaluate organizational structure, governance, or operating models. Explore Competency Assessments Product Management Organizational Assessments Assess how the organization enables or constrains performance The Product Management Organizational Practices Assessment evaluates whether the organization itself is designed to support product management as a business function. It examines: Structures and operating models Decision rights and governance Portfolio and investment discipline Leadership alignment and support Systems, processes, and metrics Product management organizational readiness This assessment reveals systemic barriers that even highly capable individuals cannot overcome on their own. It focuses on the system, not the people. Individual skill gaps cannot be solved at this level, only organizational design issues. Explore Product Management Organizational Practices Assessment Why Assessment Comes First Without diagnosis: Training addresses symptoms instead of root causes Leaders lack a shared view of current-state capability Organizational barriers remain invisible ROI is difficult to measure With assessment: Development investments are targeted and precise Capability gaps are clearly prioritized Structural and leadership issues surface early Progress can be measured objectively over time Assessment turns capability building from a guessing game into a disciplined, evidence-based process. How Organizations Use Our Assessments Organizations typically use Sequent’s assessments to: Establish a baseline before training or transformation Align leadership on capability reality Design targeted development programs Improve consistency in decision-making Measure the impact of training and organizational change Assessments may be used independently or as part of a broader capability-building initiative A Diagnostic Partner, Not a Testing Vendor Sequent’s assessments are grounded in more than two decades of organizational diagnostics, benchmarking, and real-world experience across industries. We don’t deliver scores and walk away. We help leaders interpret patterns, understand implications, and connect insight to action, so assessment becomes a decision-support tool, not a one-time event. Where Should You Start? Not sure which assessment you’ll need, we’ll help you decide. If you’re unsure where gaps exist, assessment is often the most effective place to begin. If you’re want to assess skills, fine-tune your product management talent strategy, or strategizing about training ROI, start with Competency Assessments If you want to determine if you have the right product management operating model, organizational structure, or how to organize your product organization, start with the Organizational Practices Assessment If you’re addressing both, we’ll help you sequence them for optimal impact Frequently Asked Questions What types of assessments does Sequent offer? Sequent offers competency assessments to evaluate individual and team capability, and organizational practices assessments to evaluate whether systems and leadership structures support execution. How do I know which assessment to start with? If you’re questioning skills, readiness, or training ROI, start with a competency assessment. If you’re questioning structure, governance, or execution consistency, start with an organizational practices assessment. Can assessments be used together? Yes. Many organizations use both to understand whether performance issues stem from capability gaps, organizational constraints, or both. Do assessments replace training? No. Assessments guide training by identifying where development will have the greatest impact and where organizational barriers must be addressed first. Ready to Gain Clarity? Stop guessing where capability gaps exist.Start with diagnosis that reveals both knowing and doing, people and systems. Explore Competency AssessmentsExplore Organizational Practices Assessment Get In Touch First Name(Required)Last Name(Required)Email(Required)Phone NumberCompany NameMessage(Required)
