What is the purpose of a capabilities based-assessment (cba)

Keywords capability capability assessment

On 20 October 2003, the Joint Requirements Oversight Council (JROC) issued a memorandum on a recently completed study of forcible entry operations. This memorandum directed that “…The Director, J-8, Joint Staff, in coordination with the Commander, US Joint Forces Command, and the Services, develop a Forcible Entry Joint Operating Concept (JOC) by 31
December 2003. …The Director, J-8, Joint Staff, in coordination with the Services, use the JOC-derived tasks to
conduct a capabilities-based assessment by 30 September 2004.” [JROCM 199-03, 2003] Suppose that this memo landed on your desk, with a handwritten note telling you that you would lead the assessment. Your first thought might be one of self-satisfaction, since the four-star generals and admirals charged with determining the needs of the DoD have chosen you to lead an analysis of a critical mission area.

More likely, however, your first thoughts would be:

1. What’s the background?
2. What’s the issue? What’s the real issue?
3. What’s a capabilities-based assessment?
4. How am I going to do this?

Uncovering the answers to the first two questions is necessary for any staff action, and we will reinforce the importance of knowing the answers to these questions. But, the thrust of this paper is to help you answer the last two questions. You may think that Question 3 should be easy, and there is a short, authoritative answer available.
CJCSI 3170.01G, Joint Capabilities Integration and Development System (JCIDS), states that the CBA identifies:

The capabilities and operational performance criteria required to successfully execute missions; the shortfalls in existing weapon systems to deliver those capabilities and the associated operational risks; the possible non-materiel approaches for mitigating or eliminating the shortfall, and when appropriate recommends pursuing a materiel solution. [2009, p. GL-3] So yes, there is a compact answer to the question “what is a CBA?” But understanding what a CBA is
requires a bit more discussion.

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JCS J-8

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3

Date published

2009-03

Language

English

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trainer's guide

Pages

97

Defines standard

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What is the purpose of a capabilities based-assessment (cba)

Foreword

The Joint Capabilities Integration and Development System (JCIDS) was established in 2003 to overcome several shortcomings in the existing requirements process. Among other things, JCIDS introduced the notion of a “Capabilities-Based Assessment” (CBA) as the starting point in identifying the DoD’s needs and recommending solutions. This document offers practical advice on how to conduct such an assessment. Since the original
version of this guide was published in January 2006, JCIDS instructions and manuals have been revised several times, and many CBAs have been done by various organizations. This update addresses both the regulatory changes and what we have learned about doing these analyses.

This guide does three things:

• first, it advises an action officer on how to organize and execute a CBA;
• second, it connects the CBA process to both the overarching strategic guidance and the
proven analytical methods available in the DoD; and
• third, it uses an informal, readable style.

As a result, this paper discusses bureaucratic realities that would not be addressed in an instruction,
points out the occasional area where strategic guidance is immature, inconsistent, or conflicting, and
aims at engaging the reader.

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U.S. Department of Defense (DoD)

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Roughly 4.5% of U.S. households – or 5.9 million – didn't have a checking or savings account with a bank or credit union in 2021, a record low, according to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation's most recent survey of unbanked and underbanked households. 

Roughly 45% of households that received a stimulus payment, jobless benefits or other government assistance after the start of the pandemic in March, 2020 said those funds helped compel them to open an account, according to the biennial report which has been conducted since 2009.

"Safe and affordable bank accounts provide a way to bring more Americans into the banking system and will continue to play an important role in advancing economic inclusion for all Americans,'' FDIC acting chairman Martin J. Gruenberg said in a statement.  

A lack of banking options delayed some households from getting federal payments aimed at helping the country weather the economic fallout from the COVID-19 health crisis.

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The FDIC initiated an educational campaign to get more Americans to open an account to enable the direct deposit of those funds. And banks such as Capital One and Ally Financial ended  overdraft and other fees that have been a key barrier to some Americans accessing the banking system. 

What does it mean to be unbanked?

A household is deemed unbanked when no one in the home has an account with a bank or credit union. That share of households has dropped by nearly half since 2009. And since 2011, when 8% of U.S. households were unbanked, the highest since the start of the survey, and the record low reached in 2021, roughly half of the drop was due to a shift in the financial circumstances of American households the FDIC says.

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A bank manager helps a woman open up a new account.

Those who have a checking or savings account, but also use financial alternatives like check cashing services are considered underbanked. The underbanked represented 14% of U.S. households, or 18.7 million, last year.   

Why are people unbanked or underbanked?

Many of those who are unbanked say they can't afford to have an account because of the fees for insufficient funds and overdrafts that are tacked on when account balances fall short. Roughly 29% said fees or not having the required minimum balance were the primary reasons they didn't have a checking or savings account, as compared to 38% who cited those obstacles in 2019.

Are some groups more likely to be unbanked? 

The numbers of the unbanked were greater among households that included those who were working age and disabled, lower income, included a single mother, or were Black or Hispanic. Among white households for instance, 2% didn't have a bank account last year as compared to 11% and 9% of their Black and Hispanic counterparts.

Meanwhile, nearly 15% of households with a working age member who had a disability were unbanked compared to almost 4% of other households. And  nearly 16% of households with a single mother were unbanked as compared to about 2% of married couples who lacked an account. 

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Will the number of unbanked rise if the U.S. has a recession? 

Perhaps.

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What are capability based assessments?

Capability-based assessments are used to assess candidates against the capabilities, knowledge and experience at the required level for the role. Using multiple methods helps provide a full picture of a candidate's strengths and development needs and increases the reliability and validity of the assessment process.

What is the first step of capabilities based assessment?

Identify required capabilities and their associated operational characteristics and attributes, • Identify capability gaps and associated risks, • Prioritize the capability gaps, • Identify potential solutions, • Conduct an initial assessment of the viability of the potential approaches or solutions, • Provide ...

What is the purpose of the CBA?

A collective bargaining agreement (CBA) is a written legal contract between an employer and a union representing the employees. The CBA is the result of an extensive negotiation process between the parties regarding topics such as wages, hours, and terms and conditions of employment.

Which document is developed next if the capabilities based assessment CBA recommends a materiel solution?

– If a materiel solution is proposed, an Initial Capabilities Document (ICD) is developed.