The global skills and competency framework for the digital world

Complexity COMP

The range and intricacy of tasks and responsibilities that come with your role.

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.