SFIA Version 5: Pre-publication update and what it will mean to you
Update: SFIA Version 5 has been released 1st December, 2011. Check this link for details.
As the IT landscape changes and evolves, the SFIA IT Skills framework is committed to follow and align to the ever-changing IT industry best practices.
The upgrade of SFIA version 5 has now concluded a 2nd phase consultative review and the final comments are now being processed by the SFIA Foundation. Publication of the updated SFIA version 5 is imminent. The upgrade to version 5 has been a very transparent and consultative process co-ordinated by the SFIA Foundation. Based on a review of the currently proposed changes, Ensys expects the following changes to be reflected in the new version:
- a fairly extensive update to the wording in each of the Skills General Descriptions
- 7 new skills added
- 17 existing skills modified, with various changes to competency levels
- 1 skill to be deleted entirely (being incorporated into another existing skill)
A high level breakdown of the version 5 changes can be summarised as follows:
| Category | Sub-Category | Skill | New skill | Modifiedskill levels | Deleted skill |
| Strategy & architecture | Business/IT strategy & planning | Data Management |
x |
||
| Business Architecture |
x |
||||
| Innovation |
x |
||||
| Business risk management |
x |
||||
| Information strategy | Information policy formation |
x |
|||
| Information governance |
x |
||||
| Information analysis |
x |
||||
| Information content publishing |
x |
||||
| Technical strategy & planning | Emerging technology monitoring |
x |
|||
| Advice & guidance | Technical specialism |
x |
|||
| Business Change | Skills management | Learning & development assessment |
x |
||
| Learning & development management |
x |
||||
| Professional Development |
a |
||||
| Relationship management | Stakeholder relationship management |
x |
|||
| Solution development & implementation | Systems development | Animation development |
x |
||
| Information content authoring |
x |
||||
| Testing |
x |
||||
| Service Management | Service transition | Service acceptance |
x |
||
| Change management |
x |
||||
| Service operation | Data center estate management |
x |
|||
| Problem management |
x |
||||
| Client interface | Client support | Community management |
x |
||
| Client services management |
x |
||||
| Procurement & management support | Supply management | Supplier relationship management |
x |
||
| Procurement |
x |
||||
|
TOTAL |
7 |
17 |
1 |
||
The changes summarised above, are a result of significant analysis from Ensys consulting. Any errors or omissions to this summary will be clarified upon the release of the final publication of SFIA Version 5 by the SFIA foundation.
To keep in touch with SFIA in your industry, sign up to the informative monthly Ensys Newsletter, or for more specific details of the SFIA Version 5 updates you can find more information on the SFIA Foundation web portal.
This information is provided by Ensys Consulting – Australia’s leading consulting provider for IT Skills Management with SFIA. for more information please contact us on info@ensys.com.au or www.ensys.com.au
Read MoreFinancial Services Industry investigates SFIA
Recent media coverage about Westpac’s adoption of the SFIA Framework has resulted in increased interest from other financial services providers.
Ensys is currently working with a client from the financial services industry to implement SFIA within its business. With a significant reliance on IT, our client sees the value in managing its IT staff more effectively. SFIA will assist with knowing their current workforce, tailoring their recruitment and improve staff development activities. SFIA will also assist with strategic management of their IT resources and allow them to plan for future skills requirements.
IT recruitment is becoming more difficult, with demand growing and supply not keeping up. Many it skills are in short supply and difficult to find. In the current economic climate, the importance of effective management of existing resources is also highlighted.
Many of our clients struggle to ensure that they have the resources to meet changes in their technology environment and are keen to use SFIA to assist in this process.
If you would like to know more about SFIA contact us on 1800 882 951 or info@ensys.com.au
Read MoreThe Elements of a SFIA Position Description
An issue often faced by companies when implementing SFIA is how to include skills other than pure technical skills into assessments. The SFIA Framework Is based on the premise that any role is made up of a number of individual components as illustrated below.
SFIA skills and levels cover the professional skills and, to some extent, the behavioural skill elements of a role. Often an organisation will also have its own behavioural criteria which it also wishes to incorporate into Position Descriptions. There are a range of leadership and behavioural frameworks in existence, which can work hand in hand with SFIA. Many of these frameworks complement SFIA by adding a further dimension to the purely technical skills – with a focus on personal qualities such as leadership, influencing, integrity and drive.
Another question often asked by our clients is how to incorporate requirements around knowledge of specific software and platforms. SFIA is structured to be independent of specific technologies, methodologies and products, but rather to focus on the skills and understanding required to perform a particular kind of work. We recommend that clients identify relevant SFIA skills first then separately identify specific technology requirements within Position Descriptions. This is also true for identifying particular educational or job experience required for a position.
Read More
Westpac Adopts SFIA
A recent article in the ACS magazine, Information Age, outlines Westpac’s views on the SFIA Framework and why it has implemented it to assist in managing its IT workforce.
http://www.acs.org.au/iage/201105/#/38/
Read MoreEnsys launches SFIAassess
Ensys Consulting is proud to announce the launch of SFIAassess, a web-based tool for undertaking SFIA assessment of skills.
SFIAassess is supported by proven technology, in use in 80 countries around the world. SIFAassess provides an easy to use interface for staff to work through their own SFIA skills assessment, against the SFIA framework. Assessments can be tailored to meet clients needs, incorporating additional HR frameworks as required. Assessments can be reviewed periodically and are added to an individual’s Personal Profile. Staff can forward their assessments to their Manager for review and endorsement, allowing the assessments to form part of overall performance management systems.
Our clients find SFIAassess simplifies the process of implementing SFIA into their organisations. In addition, it provides businesses with a database of their internal IT resources. allowing deeper insights into areas of skill shortage, staff training needs and allocation of staff to projects.
If you are interested in improving the management of your IT staff, if you want to do more with less and provide improved IT services to your business, SFIA is a great way forwad.
If you would like to know more about SFIA assessments or to arrange a demonstration of the functionality of SFIAassess, contact Ensys Consulting for an obligation free discussion.
Read More