Planning
Taking an organised and systematic approach to arranging tasks and resources to meet objectives.
This is a prototype for SFIA 9. It is subject to change before publication.
Guidance notes
Planning in a professional context involves setting objectives, organising tasks, allocating resources, and determining timelines. It ranges from planning individual tasks to strategising for large projects or organisational goals.
Effective planning requires a mix of analytical skills, foresight, adaptability, and the ability to align tasks with larger goals. As professionals progress through SFIA levels, their role in planning evolves from managing personal tasks to strategising and leading organisational planning.
Planning in the SFIA framework represents a progression from organising individual tasks at lower levels to leading strategic planning and decision-making at senior levels. This evolution highlights the growing scope and impact of planning skills in professional roles and organisational success.
Level 1 - Follow
- Confirms required steps for individual tasks.
Level 2 - Assist
- Plans own work within short time horizons in an organised way.
Level 3 - Apply
- Organises and keeps track of own work (and others where needed) to meet agreed timescales.
Level 4 - Enable
- Plans, schedules and monitors work to meet given personal and/or team objectives and processes, demonstrating an analytical approach to meet time and quality targets.
Level 5 - Ensure, advise
- Analyses, designs, plans, establishes milestones, and executes and evaluates work to time, cost and quality targets.
Level 6 - Initiate, influence
- Initiates and influences strategic objectives and assigns responsibilities.
Level 7 - Set strategy, inspire, mobilise
- Plans and leads at the highest level of authority over all aspects of a significant area of work.