Skills Framework for the Information Age

The Skills Framework for the Information Age (SFIA, pronounced like the name Sophia) is a model for describing and managing competencies for ICT professionals for the 21st century, and is intended to help match the skills of the workforce to the needs of the business.^[1] The Skills Framework for the Information Age (SFIA) was created by a consortium of 30 organizations over 22 years, spearheaded by the British Computer Society (BCS). Participating organizations include representatives from the UK government, multinational corporations such as IBM and Microsoft, and educational and representative organizations such as BCS, IET, Intellect UK, and many others.^[2] The IEEE Computer Society will use the SFIA as a key part of its work in defining IT curricula, an IT Competency Model, and an IT Body of Knowledge (ITBoK), and The IEEE Computer Society is working with the Canada Association for IT Professionals, the Australian Computer Society, and the Federation of Enterprise Architecture Professional Organizations (FEAPO) in developing the ITBoK.^[3] It maps out the range of skills as a two-dimensional table, by tagging each skill with a category and responsibility level.

These categories are divided into six main areas: Strategy and Architecture; Change and Transformation; Development and Implementation; Delivery and Operation; Skills and Quality; and Relationships and Engagement. Each of these is then further divided into sub-categories, mapping out 102 separately identifiable professional skills. Each of these skills has a general description and a description at one or more of the seven levels of responsibility.

These are the seven levels of responsibility, in ascending order: Follow; Assist; Apply; Enable; Ensure and advise; Initiate and influence; and Set strategy, inspire and mobilise. Each of these responsibility levels has a generic description showing the level of autonomy, influence, complexity, knowledge and business skills required.

From a Professional Services perspective, responsibility levels 3-7 can be thought of as equivalent to seniority levels: Associate professional, Professional, Senior professional, Principal professional, and Lead professional.^[4]

Each level of responsibility within each skill has a brief description of the typical characteristics of someone with that skill at that level. Skills apply at one or more of the seven levels.

SFIA is formally owned and managed by the SFIA Foundation, a not-for-profit organization with 5 corporate members - the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), e-skills UK, the British Computer Society (BCS), IMIS and the itSMF (UK). However, as the Foundation is a global not-for-profit organization, and the Framework is updated by the global user base, it is effectively 'owned' by the user base.

The current published version of the SFIA Framework is version 7, published in June 2018. A programme of translations has begun into the standard languages that SFIA supports; English, Spanish, German, Arabic, Japanese and Chinese. With a further 7 languages having been requested by the global user base either in progress or being considered for 2108.

As with previous versions of SFIA, the updates to the SFIA Framework for version 7 have been as a result of a global consultation process of change requests and discussions involving a great many users from over 140 countries. These changes are discussed and actioned by Design Authority Board and the Framework subsequently updated.

The process of consultation is continuous and work on the next release of SFIA has already begun and this is coordinated by Ian Seward (SFIA General Manager and SFIA Design Authority Chairman) and Peter Leather (SFIA Update Manager and Independent Consultant, SME).

Levels of responsibility

Levels of responsibility run from level 1 (the most junior) to level 7 (the most senior):

1. Follow

Basic capability to complete tasks under close supervision. Not expected to use much initiative. Should be organised.

2. Assist

Uses some discretion and has a wider circle of interaction than level 1, especially in speciality. Works on a range of tasks, and proactively manages personal development.

3. Apply

Complete work packages with milestone reviews only. Escalates problems under own discretion. Works with suppliers and customers. May have some supervisory responsibility. Performs a broad range of tasks, takes initiative, and schedules own and others work.

4. Enable

Works under general direction in a framework. Influence at account level, works on a broad range of complex activities. Good level of operational business skills.

5. Ensure and advise

Broad direction, supervisory, objective setting responsibility. Influences organisation. Challenging and unpredictable work. Self sufficient in business skills.

6. Initiate and influence

Authority for an area of work. Sets organisational objectives. Influences policy, significant part of organisation, and customers and suppliers at a high level. Highly complex and strategic work. Initiates and leads technical and business change.

7. Set strategy, inspire, and mobilise

Authority includes setting policy. Makes decisions critical to organisation, influences key suppliers and customers at top level. Leads on strategy. Full range of management and leadership skills.

Skills

The competencies are grouped into categories and sub-categories. Please see the SFIA Foundation website for more information (note: you will need to register to gain access, but it is free for non-commercial uses).

Benefits of SFIA

SFIA alone does not deliver any business benefits, however, it does create a foundation to leverage and create additional value to the organization. Benefits of SFIA can include:^[5]

• Enable ICT and the broader Business to work toward similar goals
• Can provide a clear understanding of standardized, leveled ICT skills across the organization
• Enable targeted training, to address specific skill gaps
• Improve ICT recruitment
• Assist with Performance Development of existing staff

References

External links

• SFIA Foundation