Change requests
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If you have any problems creating a change request – please contact the SFIA Updates Manager – [email protected].
Change requests are reviewed by the SFIA Design Authority. You can review the current status of each change request below.
- Accepted: change requests which will be incorporated into requirements and solutions for the next version of SFIA. They may be combined with other change requests and/or themes.
- Declined: change requests which have been rejected. Reasons for rejection are given.
- Deferred: change requests which have merit but which are not yet fully agreed. Deferred requests will be considered for the next-but-one revision of SFIA.
Pending change requests are awaiting a decision.
We welcome your comments on how we plan to meet the accepted change requests in the upgrade to SFIA 9.
Search change requests
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Pending (140)
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Accepted (3)
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Declined (1)
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Deferred (0)
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Acceptance criteria as part of REQM 0 #1557 9 Apr 2024
A prerequisite of acceptance testing is that criteria have been agreed in line with requirements definition
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Add architecture responsibilities to Software design skill 0 #1556 22 Mar 2024
The proposed amendments to the "Software Design" skill aim to explicitly include software architecture within its scope, aligning the SFIA framework with industry standards such as SWEBOK Version 4. These changes will provide clarity and ensure comprehensive coverage of both software design and arch…
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Lower level for Availability Management 0 #1555 14 Mar 2024
Split out activity statements that could be lower levels
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Add Level2, Level 3 and Level 4 for Business Process Improvement 2 #1554 29 Feb 2024
Add Level 2 Level 3 and Level 4 to Business Process Improvement skill
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Level alignment for Certification Scheme Operation (CSOP) 0 #1553 14 Feb 2024
Ensure all level descriptions align with the levels of responsibility
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Show that Competency Assessment (LEDA) and performance appraisals are not the same 0 #1552 14 Feb 2024
Clarity that this is a specialist area separate from the understanding of staff capability needed as an input to performance management or professional development.
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Clarify when Resourcing (RESC) should be used by recruiting managers 0 #1551 14 Feb 2024
Need better guidance/descriptions to value resourcing as it's own skill/domain separate from both general staff management, and separate from workforce planning.
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Better guidance for Workforce Planning (WFPL) 1 #1550 14 Feb 2024
Unnecessary formality in some parts. In others this skill can be confused for more general planning of work (not the workforce).
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Updates to Employee Experience (EEXP) 0 #1549 14 Feb 2024
Ensure Employee Experience (EEXP) has a clear purpose distinct from Performance Management (PEMT)
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Untangle Performance Management (PEMT) from PDSV/EEXP and check level alignment 0 #1547 14 Feb 2024
Separate staff development from performance management
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Untangle Performance Management (PEMT) from PDSV/EEXP and check level alignment 0 #1548 14 Feb 2024
Separate staff development from performance management
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Make Business Administration (ADMN) more accessible with better examples 1 #1546 14 Feb 2024
Ensure Business Administration (ADMN) covers a wider range of business/team/exec support and administration
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Better alignment of descriptions with levels for Customer Service Support (CSMG) 0 #1545 14 Feb 2024
Need better level indicators
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Better alignment of descriptions with levels for Customer Service Support (CSMG) 0 #1544 14 Feb 2024
Need better level indicators
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Expand sourcing to non-RFx methods 0 #1543 14 Feb 2024
Use of RFPs, RFI, etc is very formal. A lot of sourcing doesn't require this level of formality.
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Expand sourcing to non-RFx methods 0 #1542 14 Feb 2024
Use of RFPs, RFI, etc is very formal. A lot of sourcing doesn't require this level of formality.
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Update level descriptors for Incident Management (USUP) to align with other skills 0 #1541 14 Feb 2024
Need better level indicators
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Updated guidance for Service Level Management (SLMO) 0 #1540 14 Feb 2024
Reduce the formality of SLAs in SLMO. "Service expectations" for example are used in some organisations which are typically less formal/robust
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Do we need a facilities/OT/data center design skill? 0 #1539 14 Feb 2024
We have faciliaties mangement, but not a design skill
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Confirm interaction of Service Acceptance (SEAC) with other process skills 0 #1538 14 Feb 2024
Clarify intended interaction of RELM, CHMG, SEAC, as they seem to overlap unnecessarily
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Confirm interaction of Change Control (CHMG) with other process skills 0 #1537 14 Feb 2024
Clarify intended interaction of RELM, CHMG, SEAC, as they seem to overlap unnecessarily
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Confirm interaction of Release and Deployment (RELM) with other process skills and HSIN 0 #1536 14 Feb 2024
Clarify intended interaction of RELM, CHMG, SEAC, HSIN - RELM, CHMG, SEAC in particular seem to overlap unnecessarily
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Improved guidance for Systems Installation and Removal (HSIN) 0 #1535 14 Feb 2024
HSIN seems to cover the work of packaging and software virtualisation, but it's difficult to see this in the skill guidance or level descriptions
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Ensure Network Support (NTAS) levels align with ITOP and others 1 #1534 14 Feb 2024
Looking for parity across the IT operational skills
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Refresh of System Software (SYSP) level descriptions 1 #1533 14 Feb 2024
Looking for parity across the IT operational skills
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Improved guidance for Technology Service Management (ITMG) 0 #1532 14 Feb 2024
Many non-management users of SFIA are selecting this during self-assessment when a skill like ITOP or ASUP at level 5 might be a better fit
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Clarify scope of Knowledge Management (KNOW) 0 #1531 14 Feb 2024
Knowledge Management (KNOW) only covers part of the knowledge management domain and seems to be a little too focussed on maintaining the tool
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Add level 2 description for Data Visualisation (VISL) 0 #1530 14 Feb 2024
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Strengthen Database Administration (DBAD) and align with similar skills like ITOP 1 #1529 14 Feb 2024
Looking for parity across the IT operational skills
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Re-add level 2/3 for Data Management (DATM) 0 #1528 14 Feb 2024
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Better guidance and examples for Animation Development (ADEV) 0 #1527 14 Feb 2024
Is ADEV bigger than game development?
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Is Radio Frequency Engineering (RFEN) too broad? 1 #1526 14 Feb 2024
Do we need to split up RFEN?
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Make Systems Integration and Build (SINT) descriptions less software focussed 0 #1525 14 Feb 2024
Skill level descriptions make the skill seem narrower than the guidance notes
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Better level descriptors and remove design from Programming/Software Development (PROG) 1 #1524 14 Feb 2024
Request to provide more descriptive level descriptions and to remove design now we have SWDN
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Extend Hardware Design (HWDE) to data centre design (or add new skill) 0 #1523 14 Feb 2024
Data center design (covering layout, heat management, security, etc) is a critical skill, even though many organisations are moving to the cloud
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Level 3 and improved guidance for Systems and Software Life Cycle Engineering (SLEN) 0 #1522 14 Feb 2024
Level 3 and improved guidance for Systems and Software Life Cycle Engineering (SLEN)
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Guidance for Systems Development Management (DLMG) 0 #1521 14 Feb 2024
We've noticed quite a few managers to whom this skill applies skipping it as they felt it was for senior delivery staff
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Separate Product Owner/Manager and make Product Management (PROD) less commercial 0 #1520 14 Feb 2024
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Emphasis on engaging people needed in Organisational Change Management (CIPM) 0 #1519 14 Feb 2024
Organisational Change Management (CIPM) has a heavy focus on the processes for change, but barely mentions people which is a critical part of change management.
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Level 4 and improved guidance for Benefits Management (BENM) 0 #1518 14 Feb 2024
We need a level 4 descriptor for preparing the benefits realisation plan or supporting these, but without the accountability for the actual realisation
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Separate design and implementation within Organisation Design and Implementation (ORDI) 0 #1517 14 Feb 2024
Although the skill name covers both these are two separate sets of actions and should be split out. The implementation side might be better covered in CIPM
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Update level 5 of Organisational Capability Development (OCDV) 0 #1516 14 Feb 2024
Better alignment to Levels of responsibility needed
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Level 4 description for Business Process Improvement (BPRE) and move analysis to BUSA/REQM 1 #1515 14 Feb 2024
Arguably BPRE is about the implementation not the analysis. Never-the-less we do need to recognise those who support the implementation with a lower level of this skill.
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Distinguish Acceptance Testing (BPTS) from Testing (TEST) 1 #1514 14 Feb 2024
Too much overlapping content - too easy for users to pick both skills without better guidance/descriptions.
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Tidy up of Business Modelling (BSMO) 1 #1513 14 Feb 2024
Remove knowledge statements
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Re-align level descriptions for Requirements Definition and Management (REQM) 1 #1512 14 Feb 2024
Par-down expectations at lower levels and provide clearer distintinctions between levels
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Remove methods/tools from Portfolio, Programme and Project Support (PROF) 0 #1511 14 Feb 2024
Remove the overlap with METL
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Better level descriptiors for Project Management (PRMG) 0 #1510 14 Feb 2024
We need better ways to distinguished the levels of project management.
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Add level 5 for Programme Management (PGMG) and clarify project vs programme 0 #1509 14 Feb 2024
Recognise smaller scope programmes and clarify which model or models SFIA is leaning on.
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Better guidance/descriptions for Methods and Tools (METL) 1 #1508 14 Feb 2024
Help SFIA users to better understand purpose of METL
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Better level descriptors for Specialist Advice (TECH) 2 #1507 14 Feb 2024
Ensure level-based expectations are consistent with levels of responsibility. Current descriptions don't help distinguish levels of advice clearly.
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Refresh Consultancy (CNSL) levels 4/6/7 0 #1506 14 Feb 2024
Ensure level-based expectations are consistent with levels of responsibility
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Update level 3 description for Quality Management (QUMG) 0 #1505 14 Feb 2024
Update level 3 description for Quality Management (QUMG)
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Clarify architecture input from Information Security (SCTY) skill 0 #1504 14 Feb 2024
Should references to architecture input be left out of the Information Security (SCTY) skill?
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Update to clarify levels for Continuity Management (COPL) 0 #1503 14 Feb 2024
Some level descriptions for Continuity Management (COPL) don't seem to align to the levels of responsibility
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Add level 3 description for Investment Appraisal (INVA) 0 #1502 14 Feb 2024
Lower level of analysis/review needed
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Add level 4 description for Demand Management (DEMM) 0 #1501 14 Feb 2024
Need a level for DEMM below level 5
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Rename Innovation (INOV) to Innovation Management 2 #1500 14 Feb 2024
Rename Innovation (INOV) to Innovation Management. Add lower levels also.
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Clarify purpose of Strategic Planning (ITSP) 0 #1499 14 Feb 2024
Clarify purpose of Strategic Planning (ITSP)
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New skill for coaching and supporting the implementation of "ways of working" 0 #1498 14 Feb 2024
Skill to cover embedding of change that covers methods, practices, culture through (often iterative) improvements toward a defined way of working.
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New skill for audio-visual systems support 0 #1497 14 Feb 2024
Existing skills don't cover support activities for complicated AV systems (e.g. lecture theatres, medical imaging environments, conferencing environments)
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New skill for audio-visual systems design 0 #1496 14 Feb 2024
Existing skills don't cover design activities for complicated AV systems (e.g. lecture theatres, medical imaging environments, conferencing environments)
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Review the overlap of user experience, accessibility, usability 0 #1495 14 Feb 2024
These terms are bundled together across some of the user experience subcategory … this means the evaluation of user stories is now bundled with testing accessibility
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Update Professional Development (PDSV) to include line management responsibility for staff development 0 #1494 14 Feb 2024
This would pull the staff development references from Performance Management (PEMT) into Professional Development (PDSV) providing one skill for professional development.
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Refocus Performance Management (PEMT) on managing staff (which includes employees and contractors) 0 #1493 14 Feb 2024
Performance Management (PEMT) has too much staff development responsibility to be appropriate for the management of contractors, but otherwise seems to cover the responsibility for performance. Move the staff development references to PDSV and refocus PEMT on performance management
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New skill for managing contractors 0 #1492 14 Feb 2024
Performance Management (PEMT) has too much staff development responsibility to be appropriate for the management of contractors
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Separate identity and access management (IAM) from Security Operations (SCAD) 0 #1491 14 Feb 2024
Identity and access management is a more specialist area than general security operations.
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New skill for Bid/Proposal Management 1 #1490 14 Feb 2024
Suppliers/vendors spend a lot of time writing and managing bids/proposals but we don't have a skill to cover this.
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New skills for Customer/Client Management (or more generically Contract Management) 0 #1489 14 Feb 2024
We don't currently have a skill for a supplier to use to manage their customer/client. This might the reverse side of the SUPP and ITCM skill from the supplier point of view.
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New skill for Purchasing 0 #1488 14 Feb 2024
General purchasing is not well covered by SORC, SUPP, ITCM but is a common activity with different levels of responsibility
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New skill for Monitoring & Event Management 0 #1487 14 Feb 2024
Monitoring/Event Management is mentioned to some degree in existing skills (e.g. ITOP, MEAS) but there are plenty of examples of roles with a specialist focus on designing, maintaining, and operating monitoring systems and event management processes separate from the systems-operations skills like I…
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New skill for Graphical Design 0 #1486 14 Feb 2024
This was covered to some degree by previous versions of HCEV but now there is no longer a good skill for this.
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New skill for Service Design 0 #1485 14 Feb 2024
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New skill for Communications Management 0 #1484 14 Feb 2024
Separate from RLMT and INCA - this skill would be for those who craft and manage the delivery of communications.
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New skill for Operations Technology 0 #1483 14 Feb 2024
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Split out product owner from project management skill 0 #1482 14 Feb 2024
Current skill describes product ownership at lower levels and then blends product management and product ownership at higher levels
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Split out the Testing (TEST) skill 0 #1481 14 Feb 2024
Current description has grown considerably and now encompases multiple aspects of testing in one skill
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Consider replacing Personal Data Protection (PEDP) with a more generic information compliance and records managmeent skill 0 #1480 14 Feb 2024
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Seperation of records management from Information Management (IRMG) 0 #1479 14 Feb 2024
We see a number of examples where the responsibilities for information management/governance are separate from (or performed at different levels from) records management.
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Lower levels of Personal Data Protection (PEDP) 0 #1478 14 Feb 2024
Add level 4 (possibly 3) for operational tasks
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Lower levels of Data Management (DATM) 0 #1477 14 Feb 2024
SFIA7 included useful descripters for DATM at levels 2/3. The replacement in SFIA8 is DENG which has the wrong context and doesn't align with the basic data handling activities we see junior records analysts performing.
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Lower levels of Information Management (IRMG) 0 #1476 14 Feb 2024
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RSCH Research - Modification of skill name for enhanced clarity 3 #1475 14 Dec 2023
The proposals is to change the skill name to assist users in accurately identifying the appropriate skill. The current designation "Research" frequently leads to misunderstandings among new users. It is often perceived as a general activity of 'looking up information' or conducting basic investigati…
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ITCM Contract management Level 3 0 #1474 20 Nov 2023
Amend to clarify that contract management applies to both buyers and providers of digital products and service.
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Establishment of the Skill Identity and Access Management 2 #1473 25 Sep 2023
In our SFIA Assessments in serveral organizations, we lacked a way to adequately represent the topic of Identity and Access Management. We find IAM partially in the SCAD, but this leads to a mixing of security operations and IAM, which can result in incorrect / incomplete reports and conclusions. We…
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Improvements to Sourcing 1 #1472 20 Sep 2023
Addition of 'negotiation' to the Guidance notes and Level 6 description
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Contract management Level 7 0 #1471 20 Sep 2023
Add a level 7 description for Contract management
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Review the new controls in ISO27001:2022 0 #1470 31 Aug 2023
There are 11 new controls introduced in ISO27001:2022 some of which are new to SFIA.
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Review Business Administration to remove something too specific 0 #1469 9 Aug 2023
Review whole - but replace "Makes simple travel and meeting arrangements." from Level 1 with a generic statement.
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Remove skill Methods & Tools METL 4 #1468 31 Jul 2023
The current Methods & Tools skill lacks context and is adequately covered in other skills.
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Removal of SFIA Level 1 3 #1466 1 Jun 2023
An open question - not a definitive change request. It's becoming increasingly rare to find organsiations that need SFIA level 1 skills, or people who genuinely work at SFIA level 1 **in a professional context**. Whilst SFIA is focussed on the skills of **digital professionals** - do we need to keep…
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Addition of bid writing in skills 1 #1465 30 May 2023
Could bid writing or tender responses be of value as a skill?
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Review whether we say enough about ethics 2 #1464 4 May 2023
Review and consider whether we should say more about ethics in the Generic Attributes.
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Provide a simple description of each SFIA Level 1 #1463 4 May 2023
Some additional description of each level is necessary to make the Levels of Responsibility easier to understand.
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Generic Attribute Structure same as for the Professional Skills 2 #1462 4 May 2023
Apply the same 'rewrite' principles to the Generic Attributes as were applied to the Professional Skills in SFIA 8.
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Behavioural Factors View 1 #1461 4 May 2023
Create a Behavioural Factors View of the Levels of Responsibility.
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2 typos on VUAS skill at a level descriptions 0 #1460 27 Apr 2023
Very small changes that don't impact the meaning of the sentences.
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IT service experience skills 1 #1458 26 Dec 2022
Given the increasing impact of IT services on people and their business, people involved in providing and consuming IT services should have skills for influencing how IT services are experienced. About half of the current SFIA 8 skills address areas related to IT service experience and could be enha…
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New Skill - PCB Layout Design 0 #1457 21 Nov 2022
A request of a new skill of PCB Layout Design . This is seen as more specific for hardware designers - requested.
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Hardware Design Level 2 2 #1456 21 Nov 2022
From a hardware/engineering company - it is felt that there should be a SFIA Level 2 for this skill - Behrouz Abdolali
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Foreign language skills 1 #1455 19 Sep 2022
Foreign language
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Add FinOps to FMIT 3 #1454 16 Sep 2022
FMIT lacks reference to Cloud Financial Operations, cost optimization, and resource attribution.
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Add Fraud Prevention/Mitigation and Handling Skills (requested on behalf of UK Home Office Contact) 1 #1453 2 Aug 2022
Details to follow ...
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Short codes for the generic responsibility attributes 0 #1452 20 Aug 2021
We have 4-letter codes for the professional skills. This proposal is to introduce short codes for the generic responsibility attributes.
What we decided:
Keep under active review
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Splitting PROD for Product Management and Product Ownership 0 #1450 29 Jul 2021
Hi, could you please strongly consider splitting PROD to 2 competencies. One focused on Product Management and the other Product Ownership. these are very distinct roles with distinct competencies and having the two competencies joined under one will ultimately result in a need to split them later o…
What we decided:
Keep under active review.The industry does use the terms Product Manager, Product Owner inconsistently.- SFIA position is to reflect the industry and
- SFIA define skills and skill levels not roles
So currently...- there is a Product management skill in SFIA
- Organisations who have role/job called Product Manager - need to review what the role requires. It will need more than a single SFIA skill.
- Same for Product Owner
- Same for any other roles involved in product development, agile development - SFIA provides the building blocks to be configured into what jobs/roles require
- You find the other SFIA skills by looking at job responsibilities
- SFIA doesn't tell organisations how to split up Product Manager / Product Owner roles - that's in
This is a great video (quite old) but you can tick off the relevant SFIA skills as he describes the key concepts - REQM is the main SFIA skill for the Product OwnerThere is a discussion for those who have concerns about Project management versus Product managementI think the Product Owner is likely to apply PRMG skills- they are just (very) small, timeboxed projects (aligned with the sprint cycle)
- small projects are a good thing for Product owners as it reduces the risk of deliverable the wrong stuff
One issue for SFIA is naming - calling the skill Project Management may put Product people off ("we don't do Project management we do Product management") - calling Project management something else or splitting it causes other (probably bigger) issuesCurrently with PROD - we have a mix of stuff - not all of it would be done by either a pure Product Manager or a pure Product Owner role.- It needs careful application and mixing and matching between PROD, PRMG, REQM, DEMM etc.
- I'm not sure there is a simple solution e.g. splitting PROD into 2 skills causes other issues. Not least that the titles Product Manager and Product Owner are not uniformly defined in the industry
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Enhancements to SCTY-3 from Cyber Security Technologist Apprenticeship Standard 0 #1427 16 May 2021
Enhancements to SCTY-3 from Cyber Security Technologist Apprenticeship Standard Reference ST0124
What we decided:
Skills have been updated and added for security including - INAS, SCTY, VUAS, THIN, PENT, SCAD.
These statements should be checked against the proposed SFIA-8 skill descriptions.
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Enhancements to ITOP-3 from Network Eningeer Apprenticeship Standard 0 #1426 16 May 2021
Enhancements to ITOP-3 from Network Eningeer Apprenticeship Standard (Reference ST0127)
What we decided:
Network support and Network design have been refreshed for SFIA 8
Propose that they are reviewed for coverage against these statements.
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Enhancements to SLMO Generic from Software Development Apprenticeship Standard 0 #1423 15 May 2021
Enhancements to SLMO from Software Development Apprenticeship Standard (Reference ST0116)
What we decided:
Check whether this could be part of PROG or is it a generic attribute. Not sure we would expect a s/w developer to be using SLMO as a skill.
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Enhancements to TEST-2 from Software Development Apprenticeship Standard 0 #1421 15 May 2021
Enhancements to TEST-2 from Software Development Apprenticeship Standard (Reference ST0116)
What we decided:
For SFIA 8 - Testing TEST has been rewritten for readability. This Change Request lists a large number of detailed statements which provides too much content for SFIA skill description. These these statements should be reviewed to see whether SFIA 8 level descriptions and/or guidance notes can incorporate these.
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Enhance TEST-3 0 #1411 3 May 2021
The Software Tester (Level 4, Standard Reference ST0129) defines a wider set of competencies for a level 3 software testing which should be considered to enhance the TEST-3 definition.
What we decided:
For SFIA 8 - Testing TEST has been rewritten for readability. This Change Request lists a large number of detailed statements which provides too much content for SFIA skill description. These these statements should be reviewed to see whether SFIA 8 level descriptions and/or guidance notes can incorporate these.
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Enhancements to SCTY-3 from Cyber Security Technician Apprenticeship Standard 0 #1398 3 May 2021
The Cyber Security Technician Apprenticeship standard (Level 3, Standard Reference ST085) enhances the definition of security at Level 3.
What we decided:
Skills have been updated and added for security including - INAS, SCTY, VUAS, THIN, PENT, SCAD.
These statements should be checked against the proposed SFIA-8 skill descriptions.
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Smart Systems 2 #1389 12 Mar 2021
Include 'Smart Systems' in the SFIA theme, 'Artificial intelligence and machine learning skills'.
What we decided:
RESD for SFIA 8 references intelligent systems.
We will retain this change request (as deferred) so that we can keep smart systems under review and decide if additional skills, guidance notes etc are required.
- Can fit with the review of Systems engineering also.
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Types and levels of testing 1 #1386 8 Mar 2021
Include distinctions between types of testing, the point in the lifecycle and scope of test
What we decided:
review as part of SFIA 8 beta release
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Overlap of TEST with CORE - re Services 0 #1382 8 Mar 2021
Suggested that services are removed from scope of TEST to focus this skill more directly on product (hardware, software, etc) rather than activity.
What we decided:
review as part of SFIA 8 beta
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DGFS level 7 - for development? 4 #1380 8 Mar 2021
more senior Digital Forensics skills that provide an external commentary, policy making or expert witness role.
What we decided:
"An expert witness, particularly in common law countries such as the United Kingdom, Australia, and the United States, is a person whose opinion by virtue of education, training, certification, skills or experience, is accepted by the judge as an expert. The judge may consider the witness's specialized (scientific, technical or other) opinion about evidence or about facts before the court within the expert's area of expertise, to be referred to as an "expert opinion". Expert witnesses may also deliver "expert evidence" within the area of their expertise. Their testimony may be rebutted by testimony from other experts or by other evidence or facts. "
Source https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expert_witness
This does imply something beyond a SFIA level 5 - it implies the expertise is recognised outside the organisation and in fact enough to influence/determine legal proceedings.
Defer to see if there is industry demand for this level of expertise to be reflected in SFIA descriptions.
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Add a new skill “DevSecOps Engineering” at levels 4, 5 and 6 0 #1356 2 Feb 2021
With the adoption of cloud computing services the traditional functions and roles of Software Engineers, Cyber Security Experts and Operations/Information Technology (Ops/IT) Specialists are blurring, and a new discipline known as Development Security Operations (DevSecOps) Engineering has emerged. …
What we decided:
- SFIA has good coverage of the skills that practitioners working in DevOps roles/teams need
- This change request and the IEEE/ISO DevOps standard highlight a gap around developing and improving the collaborative & technical environment associated with DevOps
- “In practice, DevOps is a full life cycle endeavor which gives equal consideration to each stage. DevOps is a set of principles and practices which enable better communication and collaboration between relevant stakeholders for the purpose of specifying, developing, continuously improving, and operating software and systems products and services. It is not just a matter of technical practices affecting other life cycle processes. ”
- Agile needs DevOps to fulfil full potential, DevOps does not need agile
- There was a skill in SFIA called Software process improvement
- The provision of advice, assistance and leadership in improving the quality of software development, by focusing on process definition, management, repeatability and measurement.
- So .. We have an opportunity to update the concept of SPIM for modern software engineering and operations - and in the same spirit focussing on business value and practitioners establishing and improving their own practices - not just providing advice and assistance
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Add a new skill “Cloud Engineering” at levels 4,5 and 6 1 #1355 2 Feb 2021
Over the last years Cloud engineering emerged as a new field of engineering that focuses on cloud services, such as "software as a service", "platform as a service", and "infrastructure as a service". The term of cloud engineering is at least ten years old. Extensive research has been conducted on s…
What we decided:
Currently cloud is referred explicitly or implicitly in a number of SFIA skills - such as Solution architecture, Systems design, IT infrastructure. There maybe opportunities to increase references in relevant skills.
For SFIA 8 - the design choice was between...
- adding new cloud-named skills versus
- cloud being a specific application of a number of SFIA 8 skill
Option 2 was chosen for SFIA 8 - but this CR is being kept in the deferred list to be re-visited for future SFIA updates.
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Role of embedded systems and edge processing design 0 #1344 30 Nov 2020
Embedded systems design and peculiarities of edge processing must reflect at level 5 at least.
What we decided:
Retain this CR so we can monitor developments to see whether this justifies a separate SFIA skill or additional guidance notes.
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Role for edge processing system design and development 0 #1342 30 Nov 2020
Skills related to design of edge processing systems should be part of embedded systems design.
What we decided:
Keep a watching brief to see whether edge systems are a specific type of system and so - for example - can be addressed by knowledge of edge systems used in combination with skills such as Solution architecture, Systems design, Systems installation, Hardware design, IT infrastructure,. Network design
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Software Engineering Economics 0 #1320 8 Oct 2020
Introduction of an additional skill covering economics and estimation at levels 2 to 6, separate from Systems Development Management (DLMG) and considering SWEBOK 3.0 Chapter 12
What we decided:
Retain this CR so we can monitor developments to see whether this justifies a separate SFIA skill.
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Sustainability – Software Engineering 0 #1319 8 Oct 2020
Expand the scope of this skill to embody the software engineering related aspects of energy consumption, expanding the descriptions for application at Levels 2 and 3
What we decided:
Retain this CR so we can monitor developments to see whether this justifies a separate SFIA skill or additional guidance notes.
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Consider splitting skills descriptions (and level descriptions) into atomic sentences 0 #1317 30 Sep 2020
Some approaches to assessment of competence against SFIA look for evidence of repeated, successful application of a proportion of the facets of a skill. However, some skill / level descriptions are single paragraphs. It would support such assessment approaches if the skill descriptions published i…
What we decided:
include in review of SFIA document/web page design for SFIA 8.
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Alignment with ISCO-08 1 #1313 14 Jul 2020
Consideration should be given to the relationship between SFIA and ISCO-08. the International Standard Classification of Occupations.
What we decided:
A mapping to ISCO-08 for SFIA 7 skills has been posted as a community resource.
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software/systems engineering professionals - alignment to ISO/IEC 24773 0 #1312 25 Jun 2020
ISO/IEC 24773 references some standards that can be used to define tasks. As SFIA skills descriptions are activity based, perhaps we should check these standards to ensure that we have covered all the tasks.
What we decided:
Revisit as part of mapping of SFIA to ISO/IEC/IEEE 15288:2015 Systems and software engineering — System life cycle processes
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Need to cater for Service Integration and Management (SIAM) 1 #1307 2 Jun 2020
Service Integration and Management (SIAM) is being increasingly used to improve end-to-end service quality and value in complex multi-vendor environments.
What we decided:
Proposal is that SIAM can be catered for by application of existing skills. This CR is retained in the deferred list to monitor developments and whether a separate SFIA skill is required.
SINT is a technical skill rather than the management skills implied by SIAM.
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A-Z skills lists - add the relevant skill levels 0 #1295 14 Jan 2020
The A-Z is a popular way of viewing the framework and the addition of the applicable skill levels will enhance its usability and value to people browsing the framework online.
What we decided:
Review as part of SFIA document and web page design for SFIA 8.
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Compatibility with COBIT 2019 and KING IV 0 #1294 27 Nov 2019
KING IV and COBIT 2019 have changed the definition of the term "IT" in line with the requirements of the fourth industrial revolution. SFIA should also align with them.
What we decided:
Note that COBIT refers to I&T (Information and technology).
This naming is not widespread in the industry yet - so is one to monitor.
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Digital Signal Processing (DSP) 1 #1287 26 Sep 2019
We should review whether DSP is sufficiently covered in SFIA
What we decided:
This analysis suggest that DSP is a specific technology which can have application in a number of SFIA skill areas.
If there is sufficient demand this could be added to guidance notes for relevant skills to make the coverage explicit.
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New Skill - Coaching/Mentoring 2 #85 30 Dec 2017
Transfer of skills and knowledge through hands-on mentoring/coaching is an important part of the professional environment. At present this kind of skills/knowledge transfer is not well articulated by a skill in SFIA.
What we decided:
Changes have been made to the generic attributes and levels of responsibilities.
Employee experience and professional development provide some coverage.
We can keep under review to see if they address the need.
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Create a glossary of SFIA terminology 0 #79 15 Dec 2017
It may be helpful to new or inexperienced SFIA users if we create and publish a glossary of SFIA related terms.
What we decided:
Consider as potential for development post SFIA7.
The guidance notes can provide some of the solutions for a glossary of terms.
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Review Skills from an IT Supplier's Perspective 0 #78 10 Dec 2017
When viewed from an IT supplier or vendor perspective, and the skills required for that organisation, SFIA throws up some interesting white areas. Among others these include marketing, HR, finance, pre-sales & sales & education. Consulting or professional services while being pretty well covered ma…
What we decided:
This is a very broad set of suggestions.
Some of the topics are covered in SFIA, some are not.
Further work needs to be done to decompose this into specific change requests and/or requests for changes of scope for the SFIA framework as a whole.
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Digital Entrepreneurship 2 #69 29 Nov 2017
This is a request to stretch the boundaries of SFIA to encompass the skill needed to identify a business opportunity using novel digital technologies, and then acquire and deploy the necessary resources required for its commercial exploitation.
What we decided:
Add to roadmap for potential development.
See also change request #27.
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Include responsibilities for Diversity and Inclusion 4 #63 21 Nov 2017
Promoting and supporting diversity in the workplace is an important aspect of good people management - it’s about valuing everyone in the organisation as an individual. To realise the benefits of a diverse workforce it’s vital to have an inclusive environment where everyone feels able to participa…
What we decided:
Deferred. Additions made to generic business skills level 6 & 7. There maybe more to be done.
Will be kept in the backlog of change requests and considered during continuous consultation.
See also change request #49.
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Blockchain, Distributed Ledger Technology, Smart Contracts, Crypto 1 #44 1 Oct 2017
Blockchain, DLT, SmartContracts, Crypto are topics I believe SFIA need to incorporate into the scheme without delays.
What we decided:
This was reviewed as part of SFIA 8 see SFIA and Blockchain — English (sfia-online.org).
- Our working assumption is that "Blockchain" is a not an additional set of SFIA skills
- It is best treated as the application of a new technology
- Using the SFIA capability model - see graphic - we can identify many SFIA skills which can be applied
- People with these skills will need some new knowledge in Blockchain technologies
- Some knowledge will be technical - e.g related to security, programming, APIs, data management
- Other knowledge required will be commercial, business and industry focussed
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What about automation / engineering skill sets? 2 #43 1 Oct 2017
Skills focused Operational Technology? With industry 4.0 and IT/OT convergence bringing IT and OT skill sets closer than ever, it would be great to see how these skills sets might work closer together with in the SFIA framework.
What we decided:
Will be kept in the backlog of change requests and considered during continuous consultation.
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Digital Use Skills - introduce this area 8 #28 6 Sep 2017
Introduce a number of 'digital Use skills'
What we decided:
Some additions made to SFIA 8 levels of responsibility and the work on behavioural factors.
Add to SFIA development roadmap.
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New Entrants and repositioning - guidance needed 0 #23 6 Sep 2017
Consider introducing guidance around new entrants to IT and repositioning
What we decided:
Not a change to core framework - SFIA assessment guidelines provide one solution to this.
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Verification, Validation & Testing - Improvements to address needs of Software Engineering 2 #19 10 Aug 2017
Should the description of skills related to verification / validation activities be standalone or embedded in each individual software engineering related skill.
What we decided:
Will be kept in the backlog of change requests and considered during continuous consultation.
Consider wrt to mapping of SFIA to Systems engineering life cycle models as well.
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Skill description in structured fashion 1 #10 8 Aug 2017
It will be easy for reader of the SFIA framework document , if skill description is written in terms of bullet points and keywords are highlighted ..
What we decided:
These will be input to the SFIA 8 readability theme.
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Audio Visual skills 2 #3 27 Jul 2017
A couple of user organisations and individuals have suggested that the AV aspects could be developed further.
What we decided:
Deferred. Will be kept in the backlog of change requests and considered during continuous consultation.