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How do organisations determine if the competencies provided by training are must-haves where they already exist? Lumify and SkillsTX help light the way with the SFIA framework for IT skills.
In late 2022, we rebranded from DDLS to Lumify to unify our business units and provide expanded services to customers. These expanded services include SFIA skills mapping with SkillsTX.
With this partnership, we aim to provide those in charge of ICT skills development with a model for describing and managing competencies for professionals working in information and communications technology (ICT).
The SFIA Framework and Foundation
The Skills Framework for the Information Age (SFIA) Foundation is a global not-for-profit organisation that oversees the production and use of the Skills Framework for the Information Age. It was first published in 2000 (a 20+ year history) by a consortium of diverse groups led by the British Computer Society (BCS).
Notable for being straightforward, generic and universally applicable, the SFIA framework defines the skills and competencies required by professionals who design, develop, implement, manage and protect the data and technology that power the digital world.
Larger organisations in the private and public sectors often use SFIA. It is used in over 180 countries. And is now available in 10 languages: English, Spanish, German, French, Italian, Arabic, Japanese, Chinese, French Canadian and Polish, with several additional languages requested.
A closer look at SFIA8
SFIA was initially a framework for the ICT community. Since then, it has expanded to map out the skills and competencies required by business and technology professionals who design, develop, implement, manage and protect the data and technology that power the digital world.
The framework has been refreshed and updated every three years. Today, we have SFIA8 as the latest iteration.
In the SFIA8, you can find the following:
Levels of responsibility
Behavioural factors
All skills A-Z
Full framework view - skills arranged by categories and sub-categories
Digital Transformation skills view
Agile skills view
DevOps skills view
Big data/Data science skills view
Information and cyber security skills view
Enterprise IT view
A preview of SFIA Skills and Behaviours
Customers sometimes ask us, "The SFIA framework deals with what type of IT skills?" We will share a few examples.
Cybersecurity falls under the Strategy and architecture category of the SFIA under the Security and privacy sub-category. From there, you can find the following focus areas:
Information security
Information assurance
Personal data protection
Vulnerability research
Threat intelligence
Other cyber security specialisations can be found in the Delivery and Operations category under Security services:
Security operations
Vulnerability assessment
Digital forensics
Penetration testing
In the Strategy and architecture category, there is the Strategy and planning sub-category with Skills in:
Strategic planning
Information systems coordination
Information management
Enterprise and business architecture
Solution architecture
Innovation
Emerging technology monitoring
Research
Demand management
Investment appraisal
Financial management
Measurement
Sustainability
Continuity management
Roles within SFIA have Descriptions and Levels. Each SFIA level has Generic Attributes about what is expected of a professional at that stage.
The SFIA includes an index of behavioural factors that forecast the success of an IT professional in any given role. These include the following that can be developed with training, coaching and practice:
Collaboration
Communication (including listening)
Creativity
Decision Making
Delegation
Execution Performance and Project Management
Influence
Leadership
Planning
Problem-Solving
SFIA Consultancy Support from SkillsTX
With the partnership, our team can help you lay down a road map for IT skills development, and you can adopt the SkillsTX tools to see it through.
SkillsTX is a global SFIA Partner with resources across most continents. They offer SFIA a complete range of SFIA services, including accredited SFIA training, consultancy and skill assessments.
In addition, SkillsTX offers the #1 fully featured Talent eXperience SaaS platform with SFIA at the heart.
Beyond that, they have partnered with training providers like Lumify to help organisations and individuals improve their skills in the areas outlined in the SFIA.
SFIA Skills Mapping for You and Your Team
What do the SFIA Foundation and SkillsTX partnership mean for Lumify customers?
The Lumify team works directly with you to map our 700+ courses into your organisation's SFIA competency management portal.
If you wish to adopt a management portal, SkillsTX can provide it, and Lumify can support with importing and managing data.
If you need SFIA mapping and consultancy, you can engage Lumify for mapping and SkillsTX for consulting.
And as easy as 1,2,3:
Create your own SFIA skills profile using SkillsTX.
Compare your skills with the skills needed for a job or role.
Use the Lumify mapping to see which training suits your target skills and levels best.
Lumify as an SFIA Mapping Partner
All roads lead to SFIA. The Australian and New Zealand Governments are working to narrow the digital skills gap. And with our rebranding to Lumify, we have partnered directly with SFIA Foundation.
You can leverage our 30+ years of experience in ICT training, our flexible learning solutions with Lumify Anywhere, and our expanded coverage in the Asia Pacific.
Paul Collins, CEO and Co-founder of SkillsTX, says:
“We’ve had a great working relationship with Lumify for years and it’s great that we’ve now moved to a more formal partnership with such a great company. Myself and the team here are super keen to bring the value of SFIA to both Lumify and SkillsTX clients alike.”
Ian Seward, SFIA General Manager, says:
“It’s great to continue our relationship with Lumify as a SFIA Partner (after their rebrand) and to see them expanding their operations for flexible learning solutions in Asia Pacific. With their partnership with SkillsTx (another SFIA Partner and SaaS platform), technology and business leaders in ANZ can get a fuller picture and enable concrete actions to close the skills gap.”
If you'd like to learn more about SFIA for ICT skills mapping, don't hesitate to contact our team.
