The global skills and competency framework for the digital world

Levels of responsibility: Level 7 - Set strategy, inspire, mobilise

Essence of the level: Operates at the highest organisational level, determines overall organisational vision and strategy, and assumes accountability for overall success.

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

Defines and leads the organisation’s vision and strategy within over-arching business objectives. Is fully accountable for actions taken and decisions made, both by self and others to whom responsibilities have been assigned. Delegates authority and responsibility for strategic business objectives.

Influence

Directs, influences and inspires the strategic direction and development of the organisation. Has an extensive leadership level of contact with internal colleagues and external contacts. Authorises the appointment of required resources.

Complexity

Performs extensive strategic leadership in delivering business value through vision, governance and executive management.

Knowledge

Applies strategic and broad-based knowledge to shape organisational strategy, anticipate future industry trends, and prepare the organisation to adapt and lead.

Business skills / Behavioural factors

Decision-making
  • Uses judgement in making decisions critical to the organisational strategic direction and success.
  • Escalates when business executive management input is required through established governance structures. 
Planning
  • Plans and leads at the highest level of authority over all aspects of a significant area of work. 
Collaboration
  • Drives collaboration, engaging with leadership stakeholders ensuring alignment to corporate vision and strategy. 
  • Builds strong, influential relationships with customers, partners and industry leaders.
Problem-solving
  • Manages inter-relationships between impacted parties and strategic imperatives, recognising the broader business context and drawing accurate conclusions when resolving problems.
Improvement mindset
  • Defines and communicates the organisational approach to continuous improvement.
  • Cultivates a culture of ongoing enhancement.
  • Evaluates the impact of improvement initiatives on organisational success.
Creativity
  • Champions creativity and innovation in driving strategy development to enable business opportunities.
Communication
  • Communicates to audiences at all levels within own organisation and engages with industry.
  • Presents compelling arguments and ideas authoritatively and convincingly to achieve business objectives. 
Leadership
  • Leads strategic management.
  • Applies the highest level of leadership to the formulation and implementation of strategy.
  • Communicates the potential impact of emerging practices and technologies on organisations and individuals and assesses the risks of using or not using such practices and technologies. 
  • Establishes governance to address business risk.
  • Ensures proposals align with the strategic direction of the organisation.
Adaptability
  • Champions organisational agility and resilience.
  • Embeds adaptability into organisational culture and strategic planning.
Learning and development
  • Inspires a learning culture to align with business objectives.   
  • Maintains strategic insight into contemporary and emerging industry landscapes. 
  • Ensures the organisation develops and mobilises the full range of required skills and capabilities.
Digital mindset
  • Leads the development of the organisation’s digital culture and the transformational vision.  
  • Advances capability and/or exploitation of technology within one or more organisations through a deep understanding of the industry and the implications of emerging technologies.
  • Accountable for assessing how laws and regulations impact organisational objectives and its use of digital, data and technology capabilities.
Security, privacy and ethics
  • Provides clear direction and strategic leadership for embedding compliance, organisational culture, and working practices, and actively promotes diversity and inclusivity.