Improvement mindset IMPM
Continuously identifying opportunities to refine work practices, processes, products, or services for greater efficiency and impact.
Guidance notes
Having an improvement mindset in SFIA represents a progression from recognising opportunities for enhancement to driving a culture of ongoing optimisation. It involves:
- identifying areas for improvement in processes, products, or services
- implementing changes to enhance efficiency and effectiveness
- assessing the impact of improvements and refining approaches
- encouraging and supporting a mindset of continuous improvement in others
- aligning improvement initiatives with organisational objectives
- cultivating a culture of ongoing enhancement and optimisation
An improvement mindset involves proactively seeking opportunities to refine and optimise work practices, processes, products, and services. This reflects the growing responsibility to identify, implement, and lead improvements across increasing scopes of influence.
As professionals advance, their focus shifts from identifying opportunities for improvement in their own tasks to leading improvement initiatives across teams and the organisation. This progression includes enhancing practices at a personal level, supporting others in promoting a culture of continuous optimisation, and ensuring improvement efforts align with broader organisational goals. At higher levels, professionals take responsibility for embedding ongoing improvement strategies throughout the organisation, driving long-term impact.
Level 1 - Follow
- Identifies opportunities for improvement in own tasks. Suggests basic enhancements when prompted.
Level 2 - Assist
- Proposes ideas to improve own work area.
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Implements agreed changes to assigned work tasks.
Level 3 - Apply
- Identifies and implements improvements in own work area.
- Contributes to team-level process enhancements.
Level 4 - Enable
- Encourages and supports team discussions on improvement initiatives.
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Implements procedural changes within a defined scope of work.
Level 5 - Ensure, advise
- Identifies and evaluates potential improvements to products, practices, or services.
- Leads implementation of enhancements within own area of responsibility.
- Assesses effectiveness of implemented changes.
Level 6 - Initiate, influence
- Drives improvement initiatives that have a significant impact on the organisation.
- Aligns improvement strategies with organisational objectives.
- Engages stakeholders in improvement processes.
Level 7 - Set strategy, inspire, mobilise
- Defines and communicates the organisational approach to continuous improvement.
- Cultivates a culture of ongoing enhancement.
- Evaluates the impact of improvement initiatives on organisational success.