The strategic gatekeeper of investment who balances resources across human and agent capabilities within business domains.
A Capability Portfolio represents the complete set of abilities—both human and digital—that an organization deploys within a business domain. In the Agentic Enterprise, this includes humans, their skills, AI agents, traditional applications, and the integrations that connect them.
The Capability Portfolio Manager operates at the intersection of business strategy and operational execution. They ensure that investment decisions align with the organization's operating model—determining not just what to build, but who (human or agent) should perform which work.
This role evolved from traditional IT Portfolio Management, but with a critical expansion: the portfolio now includes both technology assets and the human-agent combinations that use them. The CPM thinks in terms of domain capabilities, not just applications.
The Capability Portfolio Manager balances strategic investments with tactical needs across business domains.
Determines how resources are distributed across domains, balancing strategic initiatives against operational needs and maintenance.
Ensures each business domain has the right mix of human expertise and agent capabilities to deliver on business objectives.
Oversees investment in enterprise-grade applications and agents that require professional development, governance, and long-term support.
Manages the ecosystem of "Just-In-Time" solutions—citizen developer tools, lightweight agents, and tactical automations that emerge organically.
In the Agentic Enterprise, every business domain requires a deliberate blend of human expertise and agent capabilities.
For each business domain, the Capability Portfolio Manager determines the optimal mix: How many humans with what skills? Which agents handling which tasks? What applications and integrations support them? The goal is complete domain coverage with the right balance of human judgment and agent efficiency.
Every organization faces a critical tension: invest in enterprise-grade strategic solutions or enable rapid tactical innovation?
Enterprise-Grade Investment
Core systems that require formal governance, professional development, and long-term support. These are the backbone of domain operations.
Citizen-Enabled Innovation
Tactical solutions that emerge from frontline needs. Quick to build, focused on immediate problems, enabled by citizen developers.
"The CPM's art lies in knowing when to elevate a JITware solution to strategic status, when to sunset a strategic investment, and how to maintain the right balance for each domain's needs."
The Capability Portfolio Manager and Value Stream Engineer form a strategic partnership that shapes the operating model.
What to Build
How It Flows
"The CPM decides where to invest; the VSE ensures those investments deliver value. Together, they architect the machine—the CPM provides the components, the VSE ensures they work together efficiently."
The Capability Portfolio Manager is one piece of the Shed & Shift framework. Discover how all the roles work together.
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