Introduction to Department/Function/Team
Safety Assessment Tool

This tool has been developed to assess how progressive, safe, or at risk a department, function, or team is within the organisation, based on two key factors: the depth of its Skills and the strength of its Network, which includes both interdepartmental connections and external stakeholders. The tool follows an input–output model: department leaders or their representative provide the input, and the tool generates a safety/risk profile with insights and recommendations.

What determines a department’s safety in times of internal changes or external disruption?

In times of organisational restructuring, technological disruption, or strategic pivots, a department’s resilience depends on three primary factors:

1. Departmental Skills – the strength and relevance of a team’s capabilities and their ability to adapt collective competencies to emerging needs
2. Network of Influence – the department's connections, collaborative strength, and visibility within the organisation and industry
3. External Factors – these can include luck, market forces, and policy changes, among others. While largely uncontrollable, their impact can be mitigated by a strong skill set and a solid circle of influence.

In essence, to stay relevant, departments can and must focus on what’s within their sphere of control: building skills and strengthening strategic relationships.

Why This Assessment Matters

Departments that don’t actively invest in upskilling or fail to align their work with evolving cross-functional and strategic priorities are at risk of:

• Being deprioritised in resource and budget allocation
• Becoming obsolete due to automation or outsourcing
• Facing staff reductions or functional absorption by other units.

What This Tool Offers

• A mirror for departments to reflect on their current relevance and resilience
• Actionable insights on where to improve: skill gaps, collaboration levels, or strategic contribution to business
• The way forward for department heads to proactively manage their team’s future rather than react to organisational shifts.

How This Tool Works

1. Step 1. Enter your details.


2. Step 2. Select 3 of your department’s top skills.


3. Step 3. Rate each skill on 8 essential attributes.


4. Step 4. Select your top 5 connections (internal or external stakeholders).


5. Step 5. Rate each connection on their ability and willingness to support you.


6. Step 6. Click Submit to generate your personalised Department Safety Assessment Report.

Best wishes,

(Rohit Goel)