Complexity COMP Beta
The range and intricacy of tasks and responsibilities that come with your role.
SFIA 9 is in development
- SFIA 9 planned for publication October 2024
- This is subject to change before publication.
Guidance notes
Complexity in SFIA represents a progression from routine tasks to strategic leadership delivering business value. It involves:
- handling increasingly varied and unpredictable work environments
- addressing a growing range of technical or professional activities
- solving progressively complex problems
- managing diverse stakeholders
- contributing to policy and strategy
- leveraging emerging technologies for business value.
Effective management of complexity encompasses skills in problem solving, decision making and planning alongside technical or professional expertise. This attribute reflects the range and intricacy of tasks and responsibilities in a role, progressing from routine activities to extensive strategic leadership. It can be measured by the level of problem-solving required, the nature and number of stakeholders involved, and the impact of decisions made.
As professionals advance, their ability to navigate and leverage complexity increasingly contributes to organisational innovation, efficiency and competitive advantage.
Level 1 - Follow
Performs routine activities in a structured environment.
Level 2 - Assist
Performs a range of work activities in varied environments.
Level 3 - Apply
Performs a range of work, sometimes complex and non-routine, in varied environments.
Level 4 - Enable
Work includes a broad range of complex technical or professional activities in varied contexts.
Level 5 - Ensure, advise
Performs an extensive range of complex technical and/or professional work activities, requiring the application of fundamental principles in a range of unpredictable contexts.
Level 6 - Initiate, influence
Performs highly complex work activities covering technical, financial and quality aspects.
Level 7 - Set strategy, inspire, mobilise
Performs extensive strategic leadership in delivering business value through vision, governance and executive management.