The global skills and competency framework for the digital world

Levels of responsibility: 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.

Guidance notes

SFIA Levels represent levels of responsibility in the workplace. Each successive level describes increasing impact, responsibility and accountability.

  • Autonomy, influence and complexity are generic attributes that indicate the level of responsibility.
  • Business skills and behavioural factors describe the behaviours required to be effective at each level.
  • The knowledge attribute defines the depth and breadth of understanding required to perform and influence work effectively.

Understanding these attributes will help you get the most out of SFIA. They are critical to understanding and applying the levels described in the SFIA skill descriptions.

Autonomy

Works under routine direction. Receives instructions and guidance, has work regularly reviewed.

Influence

Is expected to contribute to team discussions with immediate team members. Works alongside team members, contributing to team decisions. When the role requires, interacts with people outside their team, including internal colleagues and external contacts.

Complexity

Performs a range of work activities in varied environments.

Knowledge

Applies knowledge of common workplace tasks and practices to support team activities under guidance.

Business skills / Behavioural factors

Decision-making
  • Uses limited discretion in resolving issues or enquiries.
  • Decides when to seek guidance in unexpected situations. 
Planning
  • Plans own work within short time horizons in an organised way. 
Collaboration
  • Understands the need to collaborate with their team and considers user/customer needs.
Problem-solving
  • Investigates and resolves routine issues.
Improvement mindset
  • Proposes ideas to improve own work area.

  • Implements agreed changes to assigned work tasks.

Creativity

  • Applies creative thinking to suggest new ways to approach a task and solve problems.

Communication
  • Communicates familiar information with immediate team and stakeholders directly related to their role.
  • Listens to gain understanding and asks relevant questions to clarify or seek further information. 
Leadership
  • Takes ownership to develop their work experience. 
Adaptability
  • Adjusts to different team dynamics and work requirements.
  • Participates in team adaptation processes.
Learning and development
  • Absorbs and applies new information to tasks.
  • Recognises personal skills and knowledge gaps and seeks learning opportunities to address them. 
Digital mindset
  • Has sufficient digital skills for their role; understands and uses appropriate methods, tools, applications and processes. 
Security, privacy and ethics
  • Has a good understanding of their role and the organisation’s rules and expectations.