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SFIA Version 6 — A Quick Update and Tour of the New Version Bill Appelbe CTO, Advanced Computing Consulting Services
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TA BL E
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LEARNING TREE INTERNATIONAL
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C O NT E N T S
Introduction............................................ 1
Why Another Version? ........................... 1
The Revision Process ............................ 1
Changes in SFIA 6.................................. 2
SFIA 6 Category Names ........................ 2
SFIA 6 Skills ........................................... 2
Retirements & Consolidations ............. 3
SFIA 6 Skill Name Changes .................. 3
SFIA 6 Skill Levels ................................. 4
About Learning Tree .............................. 5
About the Author ................................... 5
SFIA 6 Framework Chart ....................... 6
Introduction SFIA (the Skills Framework for the Information Age) is a standardised and internationally recognised framework for defining IT roles and skills, and levels of those skills.
The key business advantages of SFIA: • Simplifying the assessment of your workforce’s IT skills to meet your business needs • Reducing IT project risk by providing a framework to measure the skills you have against the skills you need, and to track skills in short supply • Managing professional IT competencies using a common lexicon to define skills, abilities, and expertise in a consistent way — making it readily understood by technical and non-technical functions in organisations
Why Another Version? All international IT standards are regularly revised to meet the changing IT landscape: technology, tools, processes, and IT roles. The SFIA framework is no different. Since the last release of SFIA 5 in 2011, the IT landscape has changed significantly, and thus SFIA has been updated to reflect current technology and skills. The SFIA framework was first released in 2003, and the sixth edition of this standard was formally released in July 2015.
The Revision Process The revision process was thorough, open, and consultative with input from practitioners who have real-world experience of skills management in a business environment. The revised framework includes an in-depth listing of changes by specific skills targeted at the SFIA user community and consultants. The current SFIA 6 Skills Framework Chart is included at the end of this white paper for your reference. Full details on the changes from SFIA 5 to SFIA 6 are available on the SFIA Foundation website.
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Changes in SFIA 6 The SFIA framework changes are important for many IT roles and skills. IT workforce changes include the increased uptake of cloud, agile, big data, and the critical need and focus on cyber security. The structure of the framework has remained unchanged, and has proven resilient and adaptable (e.g., SFIA’s Skill Categories, Subcategories, and seven Skill Levels). The thoroughness of the revision process is illustrated by the fact that — of the current 97 SFIA 6 skills, six were retired, seven added, and about three-quarters had minor revisions and improvements, such as updated wording and nomenclature, and new levels for specific skills to ensure SFIA is fit for purpose in 2015 and beyond. The use of the term ‘IT’ has been reduced. The intention is not to take SFIA outside of the technology space, but to recognise that IT-management roles now often involve developing strategy and policy that extends beyond the IT domain.
SFIA 6 Category Names There are still six categories, however, five have been renamed. Not all skills performed by a role fall into one category — the reality of today’s IT industry is that roles can span multiple categories, Service Management being a good example of this.
Previous SFIA 5 Category
SFIA 6 Category
Strategy and Architecture
Strategy and Architecture (no change)
Business Change
Change and Transformation
Solution Development and Implementation
Development and Implementation
Service Management
Delivery and Operation
Procurement and Management Support
Skills and Quality
Client Interface
Relationships and Engagement
SFIA 6 Skills The seven new skills added in SFIA 6 are an interesting reflection on IT evolution and its increasing integration into society:
DGFS
Digital Forensics
HWDE
Hardware Design
ITSP
IT Strategy and Planning
PENT
Penetration Testing
PEMT
Performance Management (of IT staff)
PROD
Product Management
SORC Sourcing
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Retirements & Consolidations Six skills have been retired, and their content moved to more current or specific skills. The rationale for the retirement is again an interesting reflection on IT evolution: • Software Development Process Improvement (SPIM), which was its own unique skill, is now properly integrated under Systems Development Management (DLMG) • Human Factors Integration (HFIN), which was a rather vague skill, is now factored into User Experience Evaluation (USEV) • Technology Audit (TAUD) has been merged with Conformance Review (CORE) • Procurement (PROC) and Supplier Relationship Management (SURE) have been merged under the more appropriate new umbrella skill: Sourcing (SORC) • Account Management (ACMG) has been merged into Relationship Management (RLMT)
SFIA 6 Skill Name Changes Previous SFIA 5 Skill Name
SFIA 6 Skill Name
Financial Management for IT
Financial Management (FMIT)
Sustainability Management for IT
Sustainability Management (SUMI)
Enterprise and Business Architecture Development
Enterprise and Business Architecture (STPL)
Database/Repository Design
Database Design (DBDS)
IT Operations
IT Infrastructure (ITOP)
Service Desk and Incident Management
Incident Management (USUP)
IT Estate Management
Facilities Management (DCMA)
Client Services Management
Customer Service Support (CSMG)
Porting/Software Integration
Porting/Software Configuration (PORT)
Learning and Development Assessment
Learning Assessment and Evaluation (LEDA)
Marketing
Digital Marketing (MKTG)
Ergonomic Design
User Experience Design (HCEV)
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SFIA 6 Skill Levels Twelve existing skills have new level descriptions to reflect the breadth of levels and experience performing these skills. One skill level has been removed — USUP Incident Management (previously Service Desk and Incident Management) level 1 — as this aspect is covered within the new Customer Service Support skill.
Existing Skill
New SFIA 6 Levels
Information Security (SCTY)
Level 7
Research (RSCH)
Level 2
Sustainability Strategy (SUST)
Level 4
Data Management (DATM)
Levels 2 and 3
Portfolio, Programme, and Project Support (PROF)
Level 6
User Experience Design (HCEV)
Level 2
User Experience Evaluation (USEV)
Level 6
Security Administration (SCAD)
Levels 1 and 2
Learning Design and Development (TMCR)
Level 6
Resourcing (RESC)
Level 4
Quality Management (QUMG)
Level 4
Digital Marketing (MKTG)
Level 2
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About Learning Tree
White Paper
About the Author
Established in 1974, Learning Tree is a leading provider of IT training to business and government organisations worldwide. Learning Tree provides Workforce Optimisation Solutions — a modern approach to delivering learning and development services that improves the adoption of skills, and accelerates the implementation of technical and business processes required to improve IT service delivery. Learning Tree is also a SFIA-accredited training and consultancy partner with a team of SFIA-accredited consultants. We offer a comprehensive suite of skills enhancement services, including: • SFIA-accredited training • Organisational skill-needs analysis • Skills assessments and gap analysis • Acceleration workshops • Ongoing measurement and assessment for continuous improvement We have mapped our 350+ IT and management courses to the SFIA Framework — enabling organisations and individuals using SFIA to easily identify courses that meet their needs. Training can be taken through our public course schedules, on-site at client facilities, and online via AnyWare® — Learning Tree’s web-based training service. To learn more about Learning Tree and SFIA, call 0800 282 353 or email Info@LearningTree.co.uk
Bill Appelbe CTO, Advanced Computing Consulting Services
Bill Appelbe has over three decades of experience in Advanced Computing in the R&D sector: academia, industry, and corporate management and governance. Bill Appelbe was the founding CEO of Compute Canada and the founding CEO of VPAC (the Victorian Partnership for Advanced Computing). He has also had a founding or leadership role in many ongoing national and international Advanced Computing organisations in the last decade including: Cybera, AutoCRC, and the NSF Center for Computational Infrastructure in Geodynamics. Bill graduated from UBC in 1978 with an Interdisciplinary Ph.D. in Computer Science and Electrical Engineering. Bill was on the faculty of University of California, San Diego, then the faculty of Georgia Tech from 1985 to 1998. Bill has published over 50-refereed publications and supervised a dozen PhDs. Bill has been a consultant or contractor to industry and research agencies for many decades including: Los Alamos National Labs, IBM, HP, Oracle/Sun, IntelSat, and more recently the University of Alberta.
SFIA Version 6 — A Quick Update and Tour of the New Version
UK1611 SFIA6WP
5
Skills Framework for the Information Age version 6 1
Follow Strategy and architecture
2
Assist
3
Apply
4
5
Enable
Ensure, advise
Information strategy
6
Initiate, influence
7
Set strategy, inspire, mobilise
IT governance GOVN IT strategy and planning ITSP Information management IRMG Information systems coordination ISCO Information security SCTY Information assurance INAS Analytics INAN Information content publishing ICPM
Advice and guidance
Consultancy CNSL Technical specialism TECH
Business strategy and planning
Research RSCH IT management ITMG Financial management FMIT Innovation INOV Business process improvement BPRE Enterprise and business architecture STPL Business risk management BURM Sustainability strategy SUST
Technical strategy and planning
Emerging technology monitoring EMRG Continuity management COPL Sustainability management SUMI Network planning NTPL Solution architecture ARCH Data management DATM Methods and tools METL
Change and transformation
Business change implementation
Portfolio management POMG Programme management PGMG Project management PRMG Portfolio, programme and project support PROF
Business change management
Business analysis BUAN Requirements definition and management REQM Business process testing BPTS Change implementation planning and management CIPM Organisation design and implementation ORDI Benefits management BENM Business modelling BSMO Sustainability assessment SUAS
Development and implementation
Systems development
Systems development management DLMG Data analysis DTAN Systems design DESN Network design NTDS Database design DBDS Programming/software development PROG Animation development ADEV Safety engineering SFEN Sustainability engineering SUEN Information content authoring INCA Testing TEST User experience analysis UNAN
User experience
User experience design HCEV User experience evaluation USEV Installation and integration
Systems integration SINT Porting/software configuration PORT Hardware design HWDE Systems installation/decommissioning HSIN
Delivery and operation
Availability management AVMT
Service design Service level management SLMO Service transition
Service acceptance SEAC Configuration management CFMG Asset management ASMG Change management CHMG Release and deployment RELM
Service operation
System software SYSP Capacity management CPMG Security administration SCAD Penetration testing PENT Radio frequency engineering RFEN Application support ASUP IT infrastructure ITOP Database administration DBAD Storage management STMG Network support NTAS Problem management PBMG Incident management USUP Facilities management DCMA
Skills and quality
Learning and development management ETMG
Skill management
Learning assessment and evaluation LEDA Learning design and development TMCR Learning delivery ETDL Teaching and subject formation TEAC People management
Performance management PEMT Resourcing RESC Professional development PDSV
Quality and conformance
Quality management QUMG Quality assurance QUAS Quality standards QUST Conformance review CORE Safety assessment SFAS Digital forensics DGFS
Relationships and engagement
Stakeholder management
Sourcing SORC Contract management ITCM Relationship management RLMT Customer service support CSMG
Sales and marketing
Digital marketing MKTG Selling SALE Sales support SSUP Product management PROD
The SFIA Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation whose members are: BCS, The IET, IMIS, The Tech Partnership and itSMF UK. SFIAÂŽ is a registered trademark of the SFIA Foundation.
Š copyright SFIA Foundation 2015
www.sfia-online.org