Information management IRMG

Enabling the effective management and use of information assets.

Revision notes

Updates for SFIA 9

Theme(s) influencing the updates for this skill: Application of SFIA skills for records management, Making SFIA easier to consume (enhance readability/guidance/descriptions), Making SFIA easier to consume (updates to skill name/skill description), Making SFIA easier to consume (new levels).
New levels have been added at level 3.
Content 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 may be impacted by this change.
See also Records management

Guidance notes

Information assets represent information deemed valuable by an organisation and may be held in many forms including, but not limited to: digital documents, printed material, microform, e-mail, chats and websites. Information may be structured or unstructured and may be created by internal or external sources.

Specific laws and regulations may require organisations to maintain records of certain business activities and transactions for a minimum period.

Activities may include, but are not limited to:

identifying, classifying, processing information that is used to support decision-making, business processes and digital services
developing innovative ways of managing the information assets of the organisation
governance of how information is used to support decision-making, business processes and digital services
ensuring information can be discovered and delivered in line with organisational policies and practices
developing and promoting strategies and policies for the design of information architectures, structures and taxonomies
implementing systems of cataloguing, metadata, indexing and classification standards and methods used to organise information

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.

Information management: 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.

Supports teams and individuals to identify and organise information assets and repositories in line with policy and practices.

Conducts routine searches for non-sensitive information needed to support organisational decision making.

Supports users to find and access information resources based on their requirements and approved access.

Information management: 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.

Enables the organisation to organise, control and discover information assets.

Supports the organisation to identify, catalogue and categorise information types and information repositories in line with information management strategies and practices.

Enables users to find information through appropriate use of metadata and search tools.

Provides advice and guidance to enable good information management practices to be adopted across the organisation.

Information management: 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.

Ensures implementation of information and records management policies and standard practice. Communicates the benefits and value of information management.

Plans effective information storage, sharing and publishing within the organisation. Develops organisational taxonomy for information assets.

Provides expert advice and guidance to enable the organisation to get maximum value from its information assets.

Assesses issues that might prevent the organisation from making maximum use of its information assets. Contributes to the development of policy, standards and procedures for compliance with relevant legislation.

Information management: 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.

Leads and plans activities to communicate and implement information management strategies and policies.

Develops organisational policies, standards and guidelines for information management.

Ensures the information required to support the organisation is defined. Creates information management processes.

Coordinates internal and externally sourced information resources to meet specific business objectives.

Information management: 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.

Establishes and communicates the organisation's information management strategy.

Specifies at a strategic level the information needed to support the business strategy and business functions.

Directs information resources to create value for stakeholders.

Accountable for compliance with regulations, standards and codes of good practice relating to all aspects of information management.

Large change