Organisational facilitation OFCL

Supporting workgroups to implement principles and practices for effective teamwork across organisational boundaries and professional specialisms.

Revision notes

Updates for SFIA 9

Minor readability improvements only.
You can move to SFIA 9 when you are ready - SFIA 8 skill descriptions will still be available to use.
Previous SFIA assessments or skills mapping are not impacted by this change.

Guidance notes

Activities may include, but are not limited to:

developing and implementing team principles and practices for decision-making, prioritisation and problem-solving
helping teams adopt new/contemporary working practices and behaviours including, but not limited to, specific agile methodologies, processes, tools and ceremonies
helping teams plan and prioritise their workload based on their capacity and track record of working
removing barriers or impediments to teams achieving their mission and objectives
providing guidance and suggestions to support team members in adopting self-management and cross-functional working
reviewing team effectiveness, identifying what went well, what could be improved, and what might be added or removed from their working practices.

Workgroups may be focused on project, product or process management or may be focused on specific problems or deliverables.

Workshop facilitation tools and techniques form part of applying this skill but are not sufficient. This skill describes a broader set of responsibilities.

Understanding the responsibility levels of this skill

Where lower levels are not defined...

Specific tasks and responsibilities are not defined because the skill requires a higher level of autonomy, influence, and complexity in decision-making than is typically expected at these levels. You can use the essence statements to understand the generic responsibilities associated with these levels.

Where higher levels are not defined...

Responsibilities and accountabilities are not defined because these higher levels involve strategic leadership and broader organisational influence that goes beyond the scope of this specific skill. See the essence statements.

Developing skills and demonstrating responsibilities related to this skill

The defined levels show the incremental progression in skills and responsibilities.

Where lower levels are not defined...

You can develop your knowledge and support others who do have responsibility in this area by:

Learning key concepts and principles related to this skill and its impact on your role
Performing related skills (see the related SFIA skills)
Supporting others who are performing higher level tasks and activities

Where higher levels are not defined...

You can progress by developing related skills which are better suited to higher levels of organisational leadership.

Click to learn why SFIA skills are not defined at all 7 levels.

Show/hide extra descriptions and levels.

Levels of responsibility for this skill

Level 1

Level 1 - Follow: Essence of the level: Performs routine tasks under close supervision, follows instructions, and requires guidance to complete their work. Learns and applies basic skills and knowledge.

Level 2

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.

Level 3

Level 3 - Apply: Essence of the level: Performs varied tasks, sometimes complex and non-routine, using standard methods and procedures. Works under general direction, exercises discretion, and manages own work within deadlines. Proactively enhances skills and impact in the workplace.

Organisational facilitation: Level 4

Level 4 - Enable: Essence of the level: Performs diverse complex activities, supports and guides others, delegates tasks when appropriate, works autonomously under general direction, and contributes expertise to deliver team objectives.

Facilitates a series of group activities or workshops in situations of complexity and ambiguity and competing stakeholder needs.

Designs a structured sequence of meetings, events or workshops to solve complex problems.

Understands required outcomes and outputs from teams and facilitates the team to deliver these.

Helps to improve team processes and performance in meetings, events or workshops.

Organisational facilitation: Level 5

Level 5 - Ensure, advise: Essence of the level: Provides authoritative guidance in their field and works under broad direction. Accountable for delivering significant work outcomes, from analysis through execution to evaluation.

Facilitates workgroups to deliver defined goals and outcomes.

Provides support, guidance and suggestions to workgroups and teams to learn collaborative problem solving and improve their team performance. Creates shared responsibilities and sustainable agreements with the team.

Implements and improves agreed team principles, practices, processes & ceremonies.

Recognises and works with the strengths and constraints of team dynamics.

Organisational facilitation: Level 6

Level 6 - Initiate, influence: Essence of the level: Has significant organisational influence, makes high-level decisions, shapes policies, demonstrates leadership, promotes organisational collaboration, and accepts accountability in key areas.

Facilitates cross-functional leadership teams to deliver organisational goals and outcomes.

Designs repeatable, systematic or ad hoc team processes for decision-making, prioritisation and problem-solving at the highest level. Guides leadership teams in developing shared responsibilities and making decisions that enable sustainable agreements.

Asks questions and raises awareness of leadership team performance. Provides suggestions to encourage teams to learn and improve how they work together.

Champions the development of self-organising workgroups across the organisation.

Level 7

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.