What is it?
SFIA is a practical resource for people who manage or work in information systems-related roles of any type. It provides a common reference model in a two-dimensional framework consisting of skills on one axis and seven levels of responsibility on the other. It describes professional skills at various levels of competence. It also describes generic levels of responsibility, in terms of Autonomy, Influence, Complexity and Business Skills.
SFIA is updated frequently to remain in step with user needs and current thinking about information age capabilities.
A common language for skills in the digital world
SFIA gives individuals and organisations a common language to define skill, abilities and expertise in a consistent way. Clear language, avoiding technical jargon and acronyms, makes SFIA accessible to all, including Human Resources and Learning and Development professionals. It can solve some of the common translation issues that hamper communication and effective partnerships within organisations and mixed teams.
It helps describe business needs and to assess your workforce’s ability to meet those needs.
By defining core competencies as professional standards, SFIA helps organisations create roadmaps and development plans where both they and their employees can recognise a pathway to success and improvement.
With the widespread use of SFIA today, this consistent approach aligns the way recruitment seeks talent with the way an individual can demonstrate the right fit for the right role.
And consistency means that SFIA works well for both large and small organisations: they share an approach, a vocabulary, and a focus on skills and capability.