Planning PLAN
Taking a systematic approach to organising tasks, resources and timelines to meet defined goals.
Guidance notes
Planning in SFIA represents a progression from organising individual work to leading strategic planning across an organisation. It involves:
- setting objectives and determining timelines
- organising tasks and allocating resources
- aligning activities with larger goals
- adapting plans to changing circumstances
- monitoring progress and evaluating outcomes
- initiating and influencing strategic objectives.
Effective planning encompasses analytical skills, foresight and the ability to balance multiple priorities. It also involves adaptability to respond to changing circumstances, and the capacity to align operational plans with strategic goals. As professionals advance, their planning skills increasingly shape organisational direction and performance.
As professionals advance, their planning responsibilities grow from managing personal or team tasks to driving organisational planning efforts. Over time, they progress from organising their own work to setting strategic objectives that shape the direction of the organisation. At higher levels, professionals take the lead in planning complex initiatives, ensuring alignment with strategic goals, and guiding organisational performance.
Level 1 - Follow
- Confirms required steps for individual tasks.
Level 2 - Assist
- Plans own work within short time horizons in an organised way.
Level 3 - Apply
- Organises and keeps track of own work (and others where needed) to meet agreed timescales.
Level 4 - Enable
- 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.
Level 5 - Ensure, advise
- Analyses, designs, plans, establishes milestones, and executes and evaluates work to time, cost and quality targets.
Level 6 - Initiate, influence
- Initiates and influences strategic objectives and assigns responsibilities.
Level 7 - Set strategy, inspire, mobilise
- Plans and leads at the highest level of authority over all aspects of a significant area of work.