The global skills and competency framework for the digital world

Levels of responsibility: Level 4 - Enable

Essence of the level: Performs diverse complex activities, supports and supervises others, works autonomously under general direction, and contributes expertise to deliver team objectives.

SFIA 9 is in development

  • SFIA 9 beta due in early July 2024
  • SFIA 9 planned for publication October 2024

This is a prototype for SFIA 9. It is subject to change before publication.

Guidance notes

(new)

The SFIA Levels are levels of responsibility. As they progress, the levels describe increasing impact, responsibility and accountability in the workplace.

  • the generic attributes of autonomy, influence and complexity indicate the level of responsibility
  • the business skills/behavioural factors describe the behaviours required to be effective at the level of responsibility
  • the knowledge attributes describe what you need to know to meet your level of responsibility.

Understanding these attributes will guide you in getting the most out of SFIA and are also critical to understanding and applying the levels described in the SFIA skill descriptions.

Autonomy

Works under general direction within a clear framework of accountability. Exercises considerable personal responsibility and autonomy. May schedule and delegate tasks to others, typically within own team.

Influence

Influences projects and team objectives. Has a tactical level of contact with people outside their team, including internal colleagues and external contacts.

Complexity

Work includes a broad range of complex technical or professional activities in varied contexts.

Knowledge

Has knowledge across different areas in their field, integrating this knowledge to perform complex and diverse tasks. Has a working knowledge of the organisation’s domain.

Business skills / Behavioural factors

Decision making

  • Uses substantial discretion in identifying and responding to complex issues and assignments related to projects and team objectives.
  • Escalates when scope is impacted. 
Planning

  • Plans, schedules and monitors work to meet given personal and/or team objectives and processes, demonstrating an analytical approach to meet time and quality targets. 
Collaboration

  • Facilitates collaboration between stakeholders who share common objectives.  
  • Engages with and contributes to the work of cross-functional teams to ensure that user/customer needs are being met throughout the deliverable/scope of work. 
Problem solving

  • Investigates the cause and impact, evaluates options and resolves a broad range of complex issues. 
Creativity

  • Applies, facilitates and develops creative thinking concepts and finds alternative ways to approach team outcomes.
Communication

  • Communicates with both technical and non-technical audiences including team and stakeholders inside and outside the organisation. May take the lead in explaining complex concepts to support decision making. Listens and asks insightful questions to identify different perspectives to clarify and confirm understanding.
Leadership

  • Leads, supports or guides team members.
  • Contributes specialist expertise to the implementation of improvements to working practices. 
  • Develops solutions for complex work activities related to assignments. 
  • Demonstrates an awareness of risk.
  • Contributes specialist expertise to requirements definition in support of proposals.
Adaptability and resilience

  • Enables others to adapt and change in response to challenges and changes in the work environment.
Learning and professional development

  • Rapidly absorbs and critically assesses new information and applies it effectively.
  • Maintains an awareness of emerging practices and their application and takes responsibility for driving own and team members’ development opportunities. 
Digital mindset

  • Maximises the capabilities of applications for their role and evaluates and supports the use of new technologies and digital tools.
  • Selects appropriately from, and assesses the impact of change to applicable standards, methods, tools, applications and processes relevant to own specialism. 
Security, privacy and ethics

  • Applies and adapts applicable standards and recognises their importance in achieving team outcomes.