The global skills and competency framework for the digital world

Data management DATM

Developing and implementing plans, policies and practices that control, protect and optimise the value and governance of data assets.

Revision notes

Updates for SFIA 9

  • Theme(s) influencing the updates for this skill: Continued refinement for data and analytics skills, Application of SFIA skills for digital health, Making SFIA easier to consume (enhance readability/guidance/descriptions), Making SFIA easier to consume (new levels).
  • New level 2 added to support entry-level roles.
  • New levels have been added at levels 2 and 3.
  • Readability improvements have been made to levels 4, 5, and 6.
  • You can move to SFIA 9 when you are ready - SFIA 8 skill descriptions will still be available to use.
  • Previous SFIA assessments or skills mapping may be impacted by this change.

Guidance notes

Activities may include, but are not limited to:

  • developing and enforcing data governance policies to ensure data quality, compliance and ethical usage
  • developing plans, policies and practices related to areas including, but not limited to, classification, storage, security, quality, sharing, availability, retrieval, retention and publishing
  • managing data in all its forms, ensuring alignment with business objectives and regulatory requirements
  • analysing information structures, including logical analysis of taxonomies, ontologies, data, metadata and industry reference data
  • ensuring data is appropriately stored and archived, in line with relevant legislation
  • implementing data management practices for cloud-based services
  • applying ethical principles when handling data.
  • developing innovative ways to manage data assets
  • integrating data from multiple sources to support data pipelines and enable additional operations on the data.

Understanding the responsibility levels of this skill

Where lower levels are not defined...
  • Specific tasks and responsibilities are not defined because the skill requires a higher level of autonomy, influence, and complexity in decision-making than is typically expected at these levels. You can use the essence statements to understand the generic responsibilities associated with these levels.
Where higher levels are not defined...
  • Responsibilities and accountabilities are not defined because these higher levels involve strategic leadership and broader organisational influence that goes beyond the scope of this specific skill. See the essence statements.

Developing skills and demonstrating responsibilities related to this skill

The defined levels show the incremental progression in skills and responsibilities.

Where lower levels are not defined...

You can develop your knowledge and support others who do have responsibility in this area by:

  • Learning key concepts and principles related to this skill and its impact on your role
  • Performing related skills (see the related SFIA skills)
  • Supporting others who are performing higher level tasks and activities
Where higher levels are not defined...
  • You can progress by developing related skills which are better suited to higher levels of organisational leadership.

Show/hide extra descriptions and levels.

Levels of responsibility for this skill

2 3 4 5 6

Data management: Level 2

Level 2 - Assist: Essence of the level: Provides assistance to others, works under routine supervision, and uses their discretion to address routine problems. Actively learns through training and on-the-job experiences.

Assists in implementing data management activities under close guidance and supervision.

Helps create and maintain documentation of data management activities.

Helps identify and report issues and discrepancies.

Data management: Level 3

Level 3 - Apply: Essence of the level: Performs varied tasks, sometimes complex and non-routine, using standard methods and procedures. Works under general direction, exercises discretion, and manages own work within deadlines. Proactively enhances skills and impact in the workplace.

Implements standard data management practices based on detailed organisational requirements.

Monitors and maintains data quality through regular reviews and validation checks.

Communicates the details of data management procedures to others, helping with their understanding and compliance.

Data management: Level 4

Level 4 - Enable: Essence of the level: Performs diverse complex activities, supports and guides others, delegates tasks when appropriate, works autonomously under general direction, and contributes expertise to deliver team objectives.

Devises and implements data governance and master data management processes for specific subsets of data.

Assesses the integrity of data from multiple sources.

Advises on transformation of data between formats or media. Maintains and implements data handling procedures.

Enables data availability, integrity and searchability through formal data and metadata structures and protection measures.

Data management: Level 5

Level 5 - Ensure, advise: Essence of the level: Provides authoritative guidance in their field and works under broad direction. Accountable for delivering significant work outcomes, from analysis through execution to evaluation.

Devises and implements data governance and master data management processes.

Derives data management structures and metadata to support consistent data retrieval, integration, analysis, pattern recognition and interpretation across the organisation.

Independently validates external information from multiple sources. Plans effective data storage, sharing and publishing practices within the organisation.

Identifies and addresses issues preventing optimal use of information assets. Provides expert advice to maximise data asset value, ensuring data quality and compliance.

Data management: Level 6

Level 6 - Initiate, influence: Essence of the level: Has significant organisational influence, makes high-level decisions, shapes policies, demonstrates leadership, promotes organisational collaboration, and accepts accountability in key areas.

Leads the strategic direction for data management and data governance, establishing policies and frameworks that align with business and regulatory requirements. Derives an overall strategy of master data management that supports the development and secure operation of data and digital services.

Creates organisational policies, standards and guidelines for data management, ensuring ethical principles are applied.

Plans, establishes and manages processes for regular and consistent access to external data sources, ensuring their validation and integration.

Keywords
New level Large change