Release management RELM
(modified)
Managing the release of new and updated services into production, ensuring alignment with business objectives and compliance standards.
SFIA 9 is in development
- SFIA 9 planned for publication October 2024.
- The content of this skill may change before publication.
Moving to SFIA 9
- Deployment tasks and responsibilities have been moved to a new skill - Deployment
- New level 2 added to support entry-level roles
- SFIA 8 skill descriptions will remain available for you to use
- Previous SFIA assessments are not impacted by this change
Guidance notes
(modified)
Activities may include, but are not limited to:
- planning and scheduling releases in line with business requirements, considering the size, scope and content of each release
- coordinating release activities across multiple teams and stakeholders, including third-party suppliers
- managing the release lifecycle, including build, testing, deployment and post-implementation review
- ensuring releases meet quality, security and compliance standards
- communicating release plans, progress and outcomes to stakeholders
- conducting post-release reviews and identifying areas for improvement
- maintaining release processes, procedures and documentation
- managing staged releases, pilot releases, blue/green releases or feature flags as appropriate.
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.
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6
Levels of responsibility for this skill
2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
Level 1
Release management: Level 2
(new)
Assists with release management tasks under routine supervision.
Supports the collection of data and information for release planning and scheduling.
Assists in the preparation of release materials and resources. Helps document and maintain records of release activities.
Participates in basic testing and quality assurance tasks and issue resolution.
Release management: Level 3
(modified)
Supports the planning and scheduling of releases.
Coordinates release activities with relevant teams. Follows defined release processes and procedures.
Participates in testing and quality assurance activities to ensure releases meet standards. Identifies and resolves issues related to the release process.
Documents and reports on release outcomes and communicates findings to stakeholders.
Release management: Level 4
(modified)
Plans and schedules releases in line with business requirements and objectives.
Coordinates release activities across multiple teams and stakeholders. Manages the release lifecycle, ensuring timely and quality deliverables.
Ensures releases meet defined quality, security and compliance standards.
Communicates release plans, progress and outcomes to stakeholders. Conducts post-release reviews and identifies areas for improvement.
Release management: Level 5
(modified)
Develops and maintains release approaches, processes and automation tools.
Oversees the planning and scheduling of complex, large-scale releases. Coordinates release activities across multiple projects and programmes.
Ensures release processes and procedures are applied and that releases can be rolled back as needed.
Communicates release approaches and outcomes. Conducts post-release analysis and drives continuous improvement.
Release management: Level 6
(modified)
Defines organisational release management strategies, policies and standards.
Aligns release management with overall business strategies and objectives. Ensures the availability of resources and tools for effective release management.
Communicates release strategies and outcomes to stakeholders.
Drives the adoption of new release management techniques and technologies.