Mapping Success: Harness the Power of the 9-Box Grid

The 9-Box Grid, a pivotal tool for evaluating and investing in individuals, is thought to have its roots within the consulting firm, McKinsey. It was created as a method for assessing different business units and prioritizing resource allocation.

In the late 1960s and 1970s, this tool was specifically adapted for General Electric (GE) with the aim of helping them evaluate the potential of their employees. This allowed GE to prioritize their investments and strategize more effectively.

Interestingly, the 9-Box Grid is said to have been inspired by the "Boston Box," a model developed by the Boston Consulting Group. Originally, the "Boston Box" was used to evaluate business or product potential. However, in the 9-Box Grid, this concept is applied to individuals, offering a unique perspective on talent management.

The 9-Box Grid is a popular tool used in human resource management to evaluate and plot a company's talent pool. It's a matrix that assesses employees based on their performance and potential. The grid consists of nine boxes, each representing a different combination of performance and potential. Here's a brief description of what each box signifies: