The global skills and competency framework for the digital world

Specialist advice TECH

Providing authoritative advice and direction in a specialist area.

Updates for SFIA 9

  • There is an updated version of this skill for SFIA 9.
  • Theme(s) influencing the updates for this skill: Making SFIA easier to consume (enhance readability/guidance/descriptions).
  • Guidance updated to aid understanding and application of this skill
  • Content and/or readability changes have been made to levels 4, 5, and 6.
  • 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

The skill includes developing and exploiting specialist knowledge.

The expertise and specialist knowledge may relate to a specific area of information or communications technology, digital working, techniques, methodologies, products or application areas.

It may also include the application of professional knowledge in other disciplines to information and technology topics. These include disciplines such as — but not limited to — legal, finance, public relations, communications, ethics, human resources management.

Levels of responsibility for this skill

4 5 6

Specialist advice: Levels 1-3

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

Specialist advice: Level 4

Provides detailed and specific advice regarding the application of their specialism to the organisation's planning and operations.

Actively maintains knowledge in one or more identifiable specialisms.

Recognises and identifies the boundaries of their own specialist knowledge.

Where appropriate, collaborates with other specialists to ensure advice given is appropriate to the organisation's needs.

Specialist advice: Level 5

Provides definitive and expert advice in their specialist area.

Actively maintains recognised expert level knowledge in one or more identifiable specialisms.

Oversees the provision of specialist advice by others. Consolidates expertise from multiple sources, including third-party experts, to provide coherent advice to further organisational objectives.

Supports and promotes the development and sharing of specialist knowledge within the organisation.

Specialist advice: Level 6

Provides organisational leadership and guidelines to promote the development and exploitation of specialist knowledge in the organisation.

Maintains a network of recognised experts (inside and/or outside the organisation) who can deliver expert advice in relevant areas.

Provides input into professional development planning across a significant part of the organisation to further the development of appropriate expertise.

Specialist advice: Level 7

This skill is not typically observed or practiced at this level of responsibility and accountability.