Compare build, buy, borrow and redesign
Course overview · 4 min reading + 12 min practice, estimated
Principles and method
For each gap, compare internal development, external hiring, temporary specialist capacity and changes to the work itself. Consider lead time, supervision, continuity, cost, risk and whether demand is durable. These routes can be combined. A contractor does not automatically resolve a long-term capability gap, and training is not immediate capacity. Evaluate employment and supplier arrangements with the appropriate specialists. State decision criteria before scoring options. Document the cost of doing nothing and which options preserve flexibility if demand changes. Include knowledge transfer where external help is intended to build internal capability.
Worked example
A six-week launch gap precedes uncertain long-term demand. A fictional plan combines a limited specialist engagement, internal shadowing and a hiring decision after confirmed orders. It does not commit to permanent expansion on an unverified sales forecast.
Put it into practice
Compare three responses to the gap from your matrix using time, continuity and uncertainty.
Use fictional information and keep your work in your own notes.
Compare your approach: self-review guidance
A strong option table explains why a route fits the horizon and identifies supervision costs. A blended plan names the handover deliverable and the trigger for changing course rather than relying on an indefinite temporary arrangement.
Sources and further reading
Original Academy teaching and fictional examples. These references provide context, not endorsement. Edition 2026.09; updated 2026-09-24.
- CIPD: Workforce planning
Further reading on workforce demand and supply.
- CIPD: Recruitment
Professional context for the recruitment lifecycle.