The global skills and competency framework for the digital world

Mapping learning to the SFIA Framework

The guidelines on this page are intended for learning providers and internal L&D specialists to associate learning products with specific SFIA skills.

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 Mapping learning to SFIA

In these guidelines 'mapping' means identifying the SFIA skills that specific learning will help to develop, to help plan individual development.

Mapping credentials to SFIA is different, where a mapping represents evidence of knowledge, skill or competency in relation to a specific SFIA skill, for the purpose of skills assessment.   

Please make sure you understand the Professional standards for mapping learning to SFIA before proceeding.

If you have reviewed the Professional Standards and the rules on this page, and you have questions concerning mapping learning to SFIA, you are welcome to contact the SFIA Foundation.

To be mapped to SFIA, learning must be structured, having defined:

  • target audience: roles and goals, prerequisite knowledge and/or experience
  • learning outcomes: typically a statement such as "By the end of this class/module/course, you will be able to: [list of target capabilities]
  • topics covered: the scope and depth of the learning, with practice if included

Structured learning includes training classes/courses and self-paced learning programmes. The terms 'training' or 'course' are used below for the sake of brevity.

You’ll need to reference the SFIA framework skills and generic attributes.  Either use the web-site here or log-in as a SFIA user to download a spreadsheet version, for easier look-up!

10 'Rules' for mapping learning to SFIA

  1. To be mapped to SFIA, learning must be structured, with defined/published details of the target audience, the learning outcomes, and the topics covered (see above).
  2. A training course ‘maps to’ a SFIA skill if the course helps the learner to develop, or enables them to perform, a particular aspect (or all) of the mapped skill-level description. [details]
  3. Mapping a course to a SFIA skill should reflect a significant focus of the training on that skill, not where the mapped topic is just one of many. [example]
  4. The SFIA level for a skill mapping is indicated by understanding the target audience role(s) and the prerequisite experience. The mapped SFIA level for the training is the skill-level where the topics and skills covered are best described. [details]
  5. Learning may only be mapped to SFIA skills at levels of responsibility that SFIA defines for the relevant skill. (See Why SFIA skills are not defined at all 7 levels)
  6. 'Awareness' is not a SFIA level. Short overview courses or briefings may be mapped to the SFIA Knowledge attribute.
  7. Courses described as 'introduction', 'intermediate' and 'advanced' refer to a learning progression, not levels of responsibility.
  8. Technical skills training – on products, technologies and languages – generally maps to SFIA skill-levels 2, 3 or 4.
  9. Training in 'transferable skills' (interpersonal, communication, management and business skills) will generally map to SFIA generic attributes and behavioural factors, at the relevant Levels of responsibility.
  10. SFIA partners and training vendors performing mapping must follow the Professional standards for mapping learning to SFIA. Organisations using their mapping services may find it useful to familiarise themselves with the professional standards.

General principles

  • SFIA skills reflect experience and competency in particular fields of activity. Planned, structured learning/training helps individuals to gain skills quickly, to move their careers forward, but formal learning is never identified as a requirement for a SFIA skill.
  • The '70-20-10' empirical model says that capability is mostly gained through on-the-job experience (70%), supported by learning from experienced colleagues (20%), and accelerated by structured learning (10%). 
    • Mapping learning to SFIA ensures that this '10%' is focused on business needs.
  • Learning products/courses map to a SFIA skill if they:
    • help to develop [an aspect of] the skill as described at the mapped level
    • enable [an aspect of] the skill to be carried out by teaching a technology or method

See 'Examples of how learning products map to SFIA' here.

Learning mapped to SFIA

Training will map to a specific SFIA skill responsibility level ('SFIA skill-level'). That is, the course helps someone develop or apply an aspect (or all) of the mapped SFIA skill-level description.

The level mapped will depend on

  • the target audience: prerequisite experience and current role/SFIA level
  • the topics covered: in relation to the skill-level descriptions for the mapped SFIA skill

Mapping learning to a SFIA skill-level means the skills learned would typically be carried out at that level and does not imply mapping to higher skill-levels.

Training courses may cover or extend the range of skills appropriate to attendees' current role or the training may be designed to raise attendees level of responsibility. For example, if a course is for "experienced software engineers" then the audience is likely to be in SFIA level 3 roles.  The skills covered by the training may be described at skill-level 3 or 4. (See guidelines for 'Technical skills' below)

Scenario 1: I am fulfilling a digital marketing role aligned to SFIA level 3.  I'd like to develop the skills required to seek a more senior marketing position, aligned to SFIA level 4.  I am looking at training that builds on my experience and will help me develop the marketing skills described at SFIA skill-level 4. "What training is mapped to Marketing skills at level 4?"

Scenario 2:  I have been a Project Manager for 6 years, working mainly on traditional 'waterfall' style projects. The skills profile for my role is aligned to SFIA Level 5. For new assignments (in my current role), I need to get up to speed with agile terminology, methodologies and practices.  I am looking at Agile training for experienced Project Managers, mapped to SFIA skill Project management PRMG at level 5.

Focused Learning

Mapping a course to a SFIA skill should reflect significant coverage of the skill as described, not simply mentioning a term used in the skill name.

Example: Foundation training in cyber security might have a module on the impact of security incidents.  That does not mean the course maps to the SFIA skill Incident management USUP).  If I were looking to develop the SFIA skill Incident management USUP, would this be a course to consider?" No.

Short 'Awareness' courses or briefings on a product/technology/methodology do not map to a SFIA skill at any level, but are nevertheless valuable for people / roles that require supporting – and possibly important – knowledge. Awareness courses or briefings may be mapped to the SFIA Knowledge generic attribute.

Finding the relevant SFIA skills to map to

  • With 147 skills in SFIA 9, locating the relevant SFIA skill(s) for mapping can be a challenge. Use the subject area of the training in relation to the SFIA skills categories to help find the SFIA skill(s) that a course maps to.

The following examples may be useful:

Example training subject areas

SFIA skills category

Architecture, planning

Strategy and architecture

Financial and value management

Strategy and architecture

Governance, risk and compliance

Strategy and architecture

Requirements definition/analysis, Business Analysis

Change and transformation

Project/programme management

Change and transformation

Software development (of any kind)

Development and implementation

Data analytics, Data science, Machine Learning

Development and implementation

User centred design

Development and implementation

Technology infrastructure (cloud or physical) provision, configuration, support

Delivery and operation

Comms and networks

Delivery and operation

Service management, service desk, incident management, security operations

Delivery and operation

People management, skills management

People and skills

L&D, 'Train the trainer'

People and skills

Supplier management, contracts, sourcing

Relationships and engagement

Stakeholder management, customer support

Relationships and engagement

Marketing, selling, sales support

Relationships and engagement

Examples:

For mapping cyber security skills training, see the SFIA web-site's focused Information and cyber security skills view, which uses tailored skills categories to guide you to the relevant skills.  

Other SFIA views provide focused lists of the SFIA skills most relevant to:

  • Digital transformation
  • DevOps
  • Big data / Data Science
  • Software Engineering
  • Information and cyber security
  • Agile skills

Training on products, technologies or languages ('Technical skills')

The general principles and guidelines for mapping learning to SFIA, described above, apply to a wide range of business functions and roles, and to most skills in the SFIA framework.  However, around 25% of SFIA skills are meaningful only in the context of a software product, a hardware product, technology or coding language, for example:

  • Programming/software development PROG
  • Infrastructure operations ITOP
  • System software administration SYSP
  • Network support NTAS
  • Systems installation and removal HSIN
  • Software configuration PORT

Training on specific products and technologies/languages will map to SFIA skill-levels 2, 3 or 4 only.  (Remembering that SFIA levels reflect organisational responsibility, which is often not linked to technical expertise but other capabilities and attributes).

This table offers useful guidelines for SFIA skill-level mapping for technical skills training:

Training aimed at a target audience with …
Typically covering …
Typically described as …
… will help an individual to gain or apply the skills described typically at …

no prior experience

A foundation level of knowledge and basic activities or features

Introductory

Fundamentals

Essentials

SFIA skill-level 2

prior foundation-level of knowledge,

A range of well-defined, commonly-required tasks

Intermediate

SFIA skill-level 3

prior experience working with the product or technology or methodology

New features of latest product versions

Specialist tasks

Specific techniques/ methods in relation to existing skills

 

Intermediate

SFIA skill-level 3

prior experience working with the product or technology or methodology

Complex non-routine tasks, product 'tuning' and configuration, investigating and resolving problems, building solutions comprising multiple elements

Advanced

Expert

SFIA skill level 4

 

 User scenario 1: I've been promoted into a SFIA level 3 technical support role that "provisions, deploys and configures infrastructure services and components".  The product/platform training needed to fulfil that role would be mapped to SFIA skills such as Infrastructure operations ITOP level 3.

User scenario 2: I'm already in a SFIA level 3 technical support role, the training I need on new versions of the products I support would be mapped to SFIA skill-level 3.

User scenario 3: I'm experienced in a SFIA level 3 software engineer role that "designs, codes, verifies, tests, documents, amends and refactors moderately complex software".  I want to develop my technical skills in readiness to apply for a senior team position. I am looking at training mapped to SFIA skill-level 4.

Mapping examples:

  • A course titled "Introduction to Python Programming" which states no Python experience is required, would help an individual to gain the skills described for SFIA Level 2 in the skill Programming/Software development PROG.
  • A course titled "Advanced Data Analytics using Python", which states attendees must have experience of routine data analytics using Python, would help an individual to gain the skills described for SFIA Level 4 in the skill Data Analytics DAAN.

Training in personal, communication, leadership and general business skills ('Transferable skills')

  • Transferable skills training mostly does not map to specific SFIA professional skills. Training in transferable skills will map to SFIA Levels of responsibility and specifically to the SFIA generic attributes, business skills/behavioural factors that underpin the SFIA Levels of responsibility. 

Thus transferable skills may apply to every SFIA professional skill at the mapped SFIA skill-level.

In SFIA 9, the behavioural factors and business skills are distinctly coded and described at each level, so easier to map to than in previous SFIA versions.

  • Certain transferable skills become most relevant at distinct SFIA levels of responsibility. Examples of course titles mapped to SFIA Levels are:

SFIA Level 6-7

Organisational leadership

Business strategy and change

SFIA Level 5

Managing teams

Facilitation skills

Collaboration

SFIA Level 4

Influencing Skills

Coaching skills            

Presentation skills

SFIA Level 1-3

Customer service skills

Report writing skills

Time and priority management

User scenario: I'm experienced in a SFIA level 3 software engineer role that "designs, codes, verifies, tests, documents, amends and refactors moderately complex software".  I want to develop my communication and coaching skills in readiness to apply for a senior team position. I am looking at training mapped to SFIA skill-level 4.

 

Examples of how learning products map to SFIA

Mapping
Meaning
Example Course → SFIA mapping

Course contributes to development of the mapped SFIA skill

A significant part of the training covers aspects of the SFIA skill, as described at the mapped SFIA level.

"Consulting Skills"

→ Consultancy CNSL 4

"ITIL 4 Practitioner: Service Level Management" 

→ Service Level Management SLMO 4

"Developing on AWS"

→ Programming/software development PROG 3
→ System integration and build SINT 3
→ Deployment DEPL 3

Course covers knowledge that underpins the mapped SFIA skill

The skill is meaningful only in the context of specific products, technologies, languages or methods.

Training maps to a SFIA skill in the context of one vendor's software; or one methodology.

"VMware vSphere: Install Configure Manage" 
→ System software administration SYSP 3
→ Software configuration PORT 3

Supporting skill

Training enhances performance of the professional skill as described.

"Influencing Skills" 
→ Project Management PRMG 4
→ Organisational Facilitation OFCL 4

Prerequisite training not directly mapped to a SFIA skill

Training that is mandatory before undertaking the skills training which is directly relevant.

"ITIL 4 Foundation Certificate" → *"ITIL 4 Practitioner: Service Level Management" 
 → Service Level Management SLMO 4

Contributes to development of a SFIA generic attribute/behavioural factor

Training in personal skills and business skills, map to the attributes which underpin all SFIA framework skills at each level of responsibility

"Cybersecurity awareness" "GDPR Training" 
→ Security, privacy and ethics SCPE 3

"Problem-solving and decision-making" 
→ Problem solving PROB 3
→ Decision-making DECM 3