The global skills and competency framework for the digital world

Innovation INOV

Identifying, prioritising, incubating and exploiting opportunities provided by information, communication and digital technologies.

Updates for SFIA 9

  • There is an updated version of this skill for SFIA 9.
  • This skill has been renamed from Innovation to Innovation management to aid understanding of the scope of this skill
  • Theme(s) influencing the updates for this skill: Making SFIA easier to consume (enhance readability/guidance/descriptions), Making SFIA easier to consume (updates to skill name/skill description).
  • 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 may be impacted by this change.

Guidance notes

This skill focuses on a systematic, organisational approach to innovation. It is not describing personal behaviours, such as creativity.

Activities may include — but are not limited to:

  • developing and implementing processes, tools and infrastructures to support innovation
  • implementing innovation practices to support iterative/agile working
  • facilitating internal and external communities, employees, commercial partners, customers, users and other stakeholders in the innovation process
  • providing a framework for governance, monitoring and reporting on the innovation process.

Levels of responsibility for this skill

5 6 7

Innovation: Levels 1-4

This skill is not typically observed or practiced at these levels of responsibility and accountability.

Innovation: Level 5

Manages the innovation pipeline and executes innovation processes.

Develops and adapts innovation tools, processes and infrastructures to drive the process of innovation. Identifies resources and capabilities needed to support innovation.

Encourages and motivates innovation communities, teams and individuals to share creative ideas and learn from failures.

Manages and facilitates the communication and open flow of creative ideas between interested parties and the set-up of innovation networks and communities.

Innovation: Level 6

Obtains organisational commitment to innovation.

Develops organisational capabilities to drive innovation.

Leads and plans the development of innovation capabilities and implementation of innovation processes, tools and frameworks.

Leads the communication and an open flow of creative ideas between interested parties and the set-up of innovation networks and communities.

Innovation: Level 7

Leads development of a culture that encourages innovation, risk-taking and collaboration.

Embeds innovation processes throughout business units and links strategy execution with innovation.

Aligns organisational and individual objectives, measures and rewards with innovation.