The global skills and competency framework for the digital world

Business intelligence BINT

Developing, producing and delivering regular and one-off management information to provide insights and aid decision-making.

Revision notes

Updates for SFIA 9

  • Theme(s) influencing the updates for this skill: Continued refinement for data and analytics skills.
  • 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 are not impacted by this change.

Guidance notes

Typically applied in supporting operational needs through management and governance processes. May be one-off or regular activities aligned with the organisation's planning and reporting cycles.

Activities may include, but are not limited to:

  • understanding business needs and objectives
  • identifying and validating internal and external data sets generated from a diverse range of business and operational processes
  • transforming the results of analysis into information that can be communicated to stakeholders using dashboards and reports
  • interpreting and analysing data, comparative analysis, benchmarking, trend analysis
  • bringing data together to communicate clear themes and trends
  • focusing on data quality to provide confidence for making decisions on a single version of the truth.

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

Business intelligence: 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 with the creation of regular business intelligence reports using standard tools.

Supports data preparation from existing sources.

Business intelligence: 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.

Sources and prepares data for analysis and performs standard business intelligence analysis activities.

Checks the integrity and validity of data sources. Creates and delivers standard reports in accordance with stakeholder needs and conforming to agreed standards.

Investigates the need for new or revised business intelligence analysis.

Contributes to the recommendation of improvements. Engages with stakeholders under direction.

Business intelligence: 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.

Supports business intelligence needs of specific management or governance processes or operational areas.

Investigates the need for business intelligence reporting and analysis where there is some complexity and ambiguity.

Selects and applies non-standard business intelligence tools and techniques to provide insights and aid decision-making. Selects, acquires and integrates data for analysis and verifies the data's quality and integrity.

Identifies opportunities to digitise and streamline operational data handling and optimise business intelligence capabilities.

Business intelligence: 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.

Plans and manages business intelligence activities.

Ensures business intelligence processes, procedures and practices are robust, efficient and fit for purpose, focusing on automation, key controls and data quality. Advises on the available standards, procedures, methods, tools and techniques.

Manages reviews of the benefits and value of business intelligence techniques and tools and recommends improvements.

Contributes to the development of analytics policies, standards and guidelines.