Innovation management INOV

Identifying, prioritising, incubating and exploiting opportunities provided by information, communication and digital technologies.

Revision notes

Updates for SFIA 9

This skill has been renamed from Innovation to Innovation management to aid understanding of the scope of this skill
Theme(s) influencing the updates for this skill: Making SFIA easier to consume (enhance readability/guidance/descriptions), Making SFIA easier to consume (updates to skill name/skill description).
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

This skill focuses on a systematic, organisational approach to innovation. It is not describing personal behaviours, such as creativity.

Activities may include, but are not limited to:

developing and implementing processes, tools and infrastructures to support innovation
implementing innovation practices to support iterative/agile working
facilitating internal and external communities, employees, commercial partners, customers, users and other stakeholders in the innovation process
providing a framework for governance, monitoring and reporting on the innovation process
building a culture of experimentation and calculated risk-taking
adopting strategies to incorporate external ideas and technologies to enhance and accelerate the organisation's innovation efforts
using data analytics to drive evidence-based innovation.
developing metrics to measure innovation impact and return on investment.

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.

Click to learn why SFIA skills are not defined at all 7 levels.

Show/hide extra descriptions and levels.

Levels of responsibility for this skill

Level 1

Level 1 - Follow: Essence of the level: Performs routine tasks under close supervision, follows instructions, and requires guidance to complete their work. Learns and applies basic skills and knowledge.

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.

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.

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.

Innovation 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.

Manages the innovation pipeline and executes innovation processes.

Develops and adapts innovation tools, processes and infrastructures to drive the process of innovation. Identifies resources and capabilities needed to support innovation.

Encourages and motivates innovation communities, teams and individuals to share creative ideas and learn from failures.

Manages and facilitates the communication and open flow of creative ideas between interested parties and the set-up of innovation networks and communities.

Innovation 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.

Obtains organisational commitment to innovation.

Develops organisational capabilities to drive innovation.

Leads and plans the development of innovation capabilities and implementation of innovation processes, tools and frameworks.

Leads the communication and an open flow of creative ideas between interested parties and the set-up of innovation networks and communities.

Innovation management: Level 7

Level 7 - Set strategy, inspire, mobilise: Essence of the level: Operates at the highest organisational level, determines overall organisational vision and strategy, and assumes accountability for overall success.

Leads development of a culture that encourages innovation, risk-taking and collaboration.

Embeds innovation processes throughout business units and links strategy execution with innovation.

Aligns organisational and individual objectives, measures and rewards with innovation.

Re-named Guidance notes