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ICT Skills White Paper30 December 2013

Common ICT Job Profiles & Indicators of Skills Mobility

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ACS | Common ICT Job Profiles & Indicators of Skills Mobility - ICT Skills White Paper | 30 December 2013

About ACSACS exists to advance professional excellence in information and communications technology (ICT). Over 22,000 ACS members work in business, education, government and the community. The ACS is passionate about the ICT profession being recognised as a driver of productivity and innovation, and business – able to deliver real, tangible outcomes.

This publication contains information from the Skills Framework for the Information Age with the permission of SFIA Foundation.

ACS has been a leader in the adoption of SFIA in Australia, first becoming a licenced SFIA partner in October 2009, and subsequently an accredited training provider. All ACS Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is aligned to SFIA to support members in developing and managing their own skills profiles.

ACS has a number of accredited SFIA consultants on staff who can help organisations analyse workforce capabilities and identify gaps in their skill base.

Limitations of LiabilityThis white paper has been compiled using data which to the best of the Australian Computer Society’s knowledge was accurate at the time of publication. The Australian Computer Society gives no warranty as to the accuracy of the information contained within the document. Information is intended as a guide only. The Australian Computer Society will not be liable to any person or organisation as a result of any actual or perceived inaccuracy contained in the document, nor in the subsequent use or application of information contained with the report.

Australian Computer Society Inc.ARBN 160 325 931National SecretariatLevel 11, 50 Carrington Street, Sydney NSW 2000PO Box Q534, Queen Victoria Building, Sydney NSW 1230T +61 2 9299 3666 | F +61 2 9299 [email protected]

© 2013 Australian Computer SocietyData in this publication, and this publication itself, are copyright. Other than for the purposes of and subject to the conditions prescribed under the Copyright Act, no part of it may be in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, micro-copying, photocopying, recording or otherwise) be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted without prior written permission.

ACS | Common ICT Job Profiles & Indicators of Skills Mobility - ICT Skills White Paper | 30 December 2013

ContentsIntroduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Key Findings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Methodology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

SFIA 7: Common ICT Job Profiles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Chief Information Officer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

General Manager. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Academic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

SFIA 6/7: Common ICT Job Profile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Business Development Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

SFIA 6: Common ICT Job Profiles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

ICT Manager. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Account Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12


Project Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13


Business Analyst . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Computer Network Systems Engineer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

ICT Architect. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

ICT Consultant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

ICT Security Specialist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Software & Apps Programmer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Software Engineer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Systems Administrator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Systems Analyst . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22


Analyst Programmer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Database Administrator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

ICT Support Engineer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

ICT Systems Test Engineer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Network Administrator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27


Web Developer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28


Developer Programmer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

ICT Support Technician . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

ICT Customer Support Officer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

Workforce Planning Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

1ACS | Common ICT Job Profiles & Indicators of Skills Mobility - ICT Skills White Paper | 30 December 2013

IntroductionThe Australian Computer Society has been conducting annual employment surveys since 1993. For the first time, the 2013 survey contained a dedicated skills section.

Respondents were asked to nominate the top four skills they use in their current role using skills defined in the Skills Framework for the Information Age (SFIA). There were over 5,000 respondents to the 2013 survey.

The results of the survey provide a clear understanding of skills mobility both horizontally across ICT job roles of similar skill levels, and vertically.

This white paper identifies the skills profiles for twenty five common ICT job roles. These job roles represent the collective returns of 3,629 survey participants.

For an individual, the skills profiles provide an invaluable resource in support of career planning. The data provides an insight into market demand for specific skills, and identifies skill sets that afford greatest mobility in the ICT employment market.

For an organisation, the skills profiles provide invaluable benchmarking data to compare the skills profile of your workforce with that of the broader ICT sector. Such analysis supports human capital strategic planning by informing areas to target in both recruitment plans and workforce development plans.

About SFIAThe Skills Framework for the Information Age (SFIA) is an open source, two dimensional skills matrix developed in 1998 by the SFIA Foundation. The framework is now in its fifth iteration (version 5), and is in use in over 100 countries, thereby providing the most commonly used ICT skills definition framework in the world.

In an environment of rapid technological change, the critical challenge for business is one of attracting, retaining and mobilising talent. Through the provision of a consistent definition of ICT skills, SFIA provides diagnostic capabilities that:

a) empower human capital strategic planning

b) facilitate rapid deployment of skills within organisations to where they are needed most

c) inform future workforce development plans

d) enable a focused professional development spend, maximising your return on investment.

Functional outputs from the use of a consistent definition of ICT skills include:

• Consistent job descriptions providing clarity of expectation

• Consistent remuneration and benefits

• Enhanced alignment of skills (via people) to job roles

• Greater fit matching people to specific job roles, and

• Optimal project capability via people and job roles being assigned to new work teams.

Using SFIA to define workforce skills in your business leads to major gains in agility and overall business efficiency.


Key FindingsThe key finding from survey respondents is SFIA job size alignment for twenty five common ICT jobs. 3,629 survey respondents provide a data set that is unique and robust.

Table One: SFIA Job Size Alignment identifies the dominant SFIA classification by job role as shaded in grey.

Table One: SFIA Job Size Alignment

SFIA Job Classification

Sample Size Job Role SFIA 3 SFIA 4 SFIA 5 SFIA 6 SFIA 7

430 ICT Consultant 8.35% 14.80% 27.92% 24.34% 24.59%

428 ICT Manager 1.42% 6.37% 27.83% 42.92% 21.46%

339 Software Engineer 18.30% 29.40% 40.50% 10.30% 1.60%

296 Database Administrator 18.60% 37.30% 30.50% 13.60% 0.00%

251 Project Manager 2.85% 9.35% 37.80% 37.80% 12.19%

214 Business Analyst 20.00% 25.37% 33.66% 16.59% 4.39%

199 ICT Architect 4.59% 13.78% 37.76% 32.65% 11.22%

149 Systems Administrator 15.20% 31.70% 39.30% 11.70% 2.10%

149 Analyst Programmer 21.40% 33.10% 30.30% 9.70% 5.50%

127 Developer Programmer 39.52% 32.26% 17.74% 5.65% 4.84%

126 Systems Analyst 20.30% 25.40% 33.10% 15.30% 5.90%

120 General Manager 2.6% 1.7% 1.7% 18.8% 75.2%

110 Computer Network Systems Engineer 13.89% 23.15% 33.33% 22.22% 7.41%

105 Academic 15.5% 16.7% 22.6% 19.0% 26.2%

100 Chief Information Officer 3.1% 0.0% 1.0% 16.5% 79.4%

79 ICT Support Technician 44.20% 32.50% 19.50% 2.60% 1.20%

75 Software & Apps Programmer 25.00% 29.20% 33.30% 5.60% 7.00%

61 ICT Security Specialist 18.60% 13.60% 28.80% 18.60% 20.40%

53 ICT Support Engineer 28.30% 35.80% 22.60% 5.70% 7.50%

44 Web Developer 33.33% 33.33% 21.40% 7.10% 4.80%

42 ICT Systems Test Engineer 13.20% 34.20% 31.60% 15.80% 5.30%

41 ICT Customer Support Officer 43.60% 33.30% 7.70% 12.80% 2.60%

34 Network Administrator 20.00% 33.30% 26.70% 16.70% 3.30%

32 Business Development Manager 3.33% 3.33% 26.67% 33.33% 33.33%

25 Account Manager 4.00% 24.00% 28.00% 36.00% 8.00%

Rounding of totals vary in range up to +or– 0.1 of 100%

Dominant SFIA classification by job role


There are five additional key findings:

i.) There is substantial diversity and breadth of skills identified within specific job roles; survey respondents were limited to identifying just four SFIA skills, yet collectively survey respondents identified a minimum skill range of 14 for Business Development Managers, and a maximum skill range of 64 skills by ICT Consultant respondents. Table 2 outlines the range of skills identified by survey respondents in the dominant SFIA job size category.

Table Two: Range Of SFIA Skills Identified By Job Role

Job Role

SFIA Job Size Alignment

Range of SFIA Skills Reported Job Role

SFIA Job Size Alignment

Range of SFIA Skills Reported

Chief Information Officer SFIA 7 21 Software Engineer SFIA 5 38

General Manager SFIA 7 21 Systems Administrator SFIA 5 55

Academic SFIA 7 20 Systems Analyst SFIA 5 38

Business Development Manager

SFIA 6/7 14 Analyst Programmer SFIA 4 33

ICT Manager SFIA 6 63 Database Administrator SFIA 4 26

Account Manager SFIA 6 21 ICT Support Engineer SFIA 4 26

Project Manager SFIA 5/6 48 ICT Systems Test Engineer SFIA 4 20

Business Analyst SFIA 5 52 Network Administrator SFIA 4 21

Computer Network Systems Engineer

SFIA 5 37 Web Developer SFIA 3/4 22

ICT Architect SFIA 5 43 Developer Programmer SFIA 3 29

ICT Consultant SFIA 5 64 ICT Support Technician SFIA 3 27

ICT Security Specialist SFIA 5 61 ICT Customer Support Officer SFIA 3 25

Software & Apps Programmer SFIA 5 33

ii.) Each ICT job role has a standout primary skill.

iii.) Skills with strong vertical mobility are:

• Systems design being identified across four SFIA levels being 3, 4, 5 and 6.

• IT governance and Consultancy being identified across three SFIA levels; 5, 6 and 7.

• Programming/software development and Testing being identified across three SFIA levels; 3, 4 and 5.

iv.) Skills with strong horizontal mobility are:

• Systems design being identified across six job roles at SFIA 5; Computer Network Systems Engineer, ICTArchitect, Software & Apps Programmer, Software Engineer, Systems Administrator, Systems Analyst.

• Programming/software development being identified across five job roles at SFIA 4; AnalystProgrammer, Database Administrator, ICT Support Engineer, ICT Systems Test Engineer and WebDeveloper.

• Consultancy being identified across four job roles at SFIA 5; ICT Architect, ICT Consultant, ICT SecuritySpecialist and Systems Analyst.

• IT governance being identified across four job roles at SFIA 7; Chief Information Officer, GeneralManager, Academic and Business Development Manager.

Table 3 summarises skills mobility across the 25 common ICT job roles from Table one.


v.) Skills profiles have been developed for the 25 common ICT job roles. Each common ICT job profile is listed individually in this white paper for ease of benchmarking. Each profile identifies:

• the SFIA job size alignment, and SFIA descriptor for the applicable SFIA level

• the role’s primary skill and secondary skills

• the sample size, and

• the skill range nominated by total survey respondents in that job role.

Legend - Individual Job Profiles

Number of survey respondents

Job title

The % of survey respondents against SFIA levels 3, 4, 5, 6 & 7.

SFIA skills commonly identified by survey respondents

Generic skills definition for the identified SFIA job size

Job size determination based on the dominant SFIA level identified by survey respondents

The range of SFIA skills identified by survey respondents


SFIA 7: Common ICT Job Profiles (continued)

General Manager

Job Size Alignment: SFIA 7Most commonly identified skills for the role at this job size

Primary Skill Consultancy (CNSL)

2nd Skill IT governance (GOVN)

3rd Skill Stakeholder relationship management (RLMT)

4th Skill Business process improvement (BPRE)

5th Skill Programme management (PGMG)

6th Skill Business risk management (BURM) Systems development (DLMG)

Job Size Definition: SFIA 7 Set strategy, inspire, mobilise

Autonomy Has authority and responsibility for all aspects of a significant area of work, including policy formation and application. Is fully accountable for actions taken and decisions made, both by self and subordinates.

Influence Makes decisions critical to organisational success. Influences developments within the IT industry at the highest levels. Advances the knowledge and/or exploitation of IT within one or more organisations. Develops long-term strategic relationships with customers, partners, industry leaders and government.

Complexity Leads on the formulation and implementation of strategy. Applies the highest level of management and leadership skills. Has a deep understanding of the IT industry and the implications of emerging technologies for the wider business environment.

Business skills Has a full range of strategic management and leadership skills. Understands, explains and presents complex technical ideas to both technical and non-technical audiences at all levels up to the highest in a persuasive and convincing manner. Has a broad and deep IT knowledge coupled with equivalent knowledge of the activities of those businesses and other organisations that employ IT. Communicates the potential impact of emerging technologies on organisations and individuals and assesses the risks of using or not using such technologies. Assesses the impact of legislation, and actively promotes compliance. Takes the initiative to keep both own and subordinates’ skills up to date and to maintain an awareness of developments in IT.

120Sample Size

SFIA 3

SFIA 4

SFIA 5

SFIA 6

SFIA 7

Survey respondents

21Range of SFIA skills


Table Three: SFIA Skills Mobility Across Survey ResponsesSF

IA 7

SFIA

6SF

IA 5

SFIA

4SF

IA 3

Chief Information Officer General Manager Academic Business Development Manager

Primary Skill IT governance Primary Skill Consultancy Primary Skill Consultancy Primary Skill Stakeholder relationship management

2nd Skill IT Management 2nd Skill IT governance 2nd Skill Learning and development management 2nd Skill Consultancy

3rd Skill Stakeholder relationship management 3rd Skill Stakeholder relationship

management 3rd Skill Programme management 3rd Skill Business process improvement

4th Skill

Enterprise and business architecture development 4th Skill Business Process Improvement

4th SkillIT governance 4th Skill Information management

Portfolio management 5th Skill Programme management Project management

5th Skill

IT governance

6th Skill Supplier relationship management

6th Skill

Business risk management

6th Skill

Systems development management Enterprise and business architecture development

Systems development IT management Software development process improvement

Information management Portfolio management

Service level management

Supplier relationship management

Business Analyst Computer Network Systems Engineer ICT Architect ICT Consultant ICT Security Specialist Software & Apps Programmer Software Engineer Systems Administrator Systems Analyst

Primary Skill Business Analysis Primary Skill Network support Primary Skill Solution architecture Primary Skill Consultancy Primary Skill Information security Primary Skill Programming/software development Primary Skill Programming/software

development Primary Skill Network support Primary Skill Systems design

2nd Skill Business process improvement 2nd Skill Network design 2nd Skill Systems design 2nd Skill Business process improvement 2nd Skill Security administration 2nd Skill Systems design 2nd Skill Systems design 2nd Skill Systems installation/decommissioning 2nd Skill Information analysis

3rd Skill Requirements definition and management 3rd Skill Network planning 3rd Skill Enterprise and business

architecture development 3rd Skill Business analysis

3rd Skill

Consultancy

3rd Skill

Data analysis 3rd Skill Database/repository design

3rd Skill

Systems design 3rd Skill Business analysis

4th Skill Information analysis 4th Skill IT management 4th Skill Consultancy 4th Skill IT governance Technical specialism Database/repository design 4th Skill Software development process improvement Technical specialism 4th Skill Technical specialism

5th Skill Data analysis

5th Skill

Project management 5th Skill Technical specialism 5th Skill Solution architecture 5th Skill Information assurance

5th Skill

Systems development management 5th Skill Testing 5th Skill Data analysis

Systems design 6th Skill Systems integration 6th Skill IT governance Testing

6th Skill

IT governance

System integration Release and deployment Business process improvement

Applications support Release and deployment

Consultancy

Analyst Programmer Database Administrator ICT Support Engineer ICT Systems Test Engineer Network Administrator Web Developer

Primary Skill Programming/software development Primary Skill Database administration Primary Skill Service desk and incident

management Primary Skill Testing Primary Skill IT Operations Primary Skill Programming/software development

2nd Skill Systems design 2nd Skill Database/repository design

2nd Skill

Systems installation/ decommissioning

2nd Skill

Programming/software development 2nd Skill Technical Specialism 2nd Skill Database/repository design

3rd Skill Data analysis 3rd Skill Programming/software development Service level management Quality Assurance

3rd Skill

Information Security 3rd Skill Testing

4th SkillTesting

4th SkillSystems design Applications support Business process testing Systems installation/

decommissioning 4th Skill Project management

Technical specialism Data management

5th Skill

Information management Network support

Programming/software development 6th Skill Systems software

Problem management

Developer Programmer ICT Support Technician ICT Customer Support Officer

Primary Skill Programming/software development Primary Skill Service desk and incident

management Primary Skill IT Operations

2nd Skill Testing 2nd Skill IT Operations

2nd Skill

Testing

3rd Skill Systems design 3rd Skill Network Support Network Support

4th Skill Database/repository design 4th Skill Applications support Service desk and incident management

5th Skill Systems installation/ decommissioning Client services management

ICT Manager Account Manager Project Manager

Primary Skill IT Management Primary Skill Account Management Primary Skill Project management

2nd Skill IT governance 2nd Skill Supplier relationship management 2nd Skill Programme management

3rd Skill Information Management IT governance 3rd Skill Systems development management

4th Skill Project Management Consultancy 4th Skill IT Management

5th Skill

Programme management 5th Skill Consultancy

Systems design

Client services management

IT Governance

Consultancy

Systems Design

Programming/software development

Testing

Skills


MethodologyThe following methodology was adopted to produce this white paper:

• Survey respondents were tabulated by job role across SFIA levels 3 to 7.

• Sample sizes of less than 25 survey respondents were excluded.

• Job size was determined by identifying the largest number of survey respondents by job role and then by SFIA level. These have been shaded grey in Table One: SFIA Job Size Alignment.

• The skills profiles documented are those from survey respondents in the dominant job size category.

• In three instances, survey respondents were equally divided across two SFIA levels. These roles were that of Web Developer, Project Manager, and Business Development Manager. The skills nominated from survey respondents at the higher SFIA level have been used rather than the average across the two levels.

• The number of skills varies considerably across SFIA levels. As such, higher percentage returns have been used for SFIA levels containing a lower number of skills, and lower percentage returns have been used for SFIA levels containing a larger number of skills. For skills to be listed in a job profile, the following minimum percentage survey returns needed to be attained:

17%+ for SFIA level 5 (where SFIA describes 93 individual skills)

17%+ for SFIA level 6 (where SFIAS describes 79 individual skills)



22%+ for SFIA level 7 (where SFIA describes 23 individual skills).

Interpretative caveats:

• Skills capabilities are a self-assessment by survey respondents; it is recognised that individuals may under-estimate or over-estimate their own individual skill levels.

• The awareness and understanding of SFIA skills will vary across survey respondents.

• Some ICT job roles are by nature applied more diversely than others. For example an ICT Consultant.

• There are large differentials in survey respondents by job role with a sample size high of 430 for ICT Consultant to 25 survey respondents for an Account Manager.


SFIA 7: Common ICT Job Profiles

Chief Information Officer


Primary Skill IT governance (GOVN)

2nd Skill IT management (ITMG)


4th Skill Enterprise and business architecture development (STPL)

Portfolio management (POMG)

6th Skill Supplier relationship management (SURE)






100Sample Size


SFIA 3

SFIA 5

SFIA 6

SFIA 7

Survey respondents



General Manager





4th Skill Business process improvement (BPRE)

5th Skill Programme management (PGMG)

6th Skill Business risk management (BURM)

Systems development (DLMG)






120Sample Size

SFIA 3

SFIA 4

SFIA 5

SFIA 6

SFIA 7

Survey respondents




Academic



2nd Skill Learning and development management (ETMG)

3rd Skill Programme management (PGMG)

4th Skill IT governance (GOVN)

Project management (PRMG)

6th Skill Information management (IRMG)

IT management (ITMG)

Systems development management (DLMG)






105Sample Size

SFIA 3

SFIA 4

SFIA 5

SFIA 6

SFIA 7

Survey respondents



SFIA 6/7: Common ICT Job Profile

Business Development Manager

Job Size Alignment: SFIA 6/7Most commonly identified skills for the role at job size SFIA 7

Primary Skill Stakeholder relationship management (RLMT)

2nd Skill Consultancy (CNSL)

3rd Skill Business process improvement (BPRE)



Enterprise and business architecture development (STPL)

Portfolio management (POMG)

Service level management (SLMO)

Software development process improvement (SPIM)

Supplier relationship management (SURE)






32Sample Size

SFIA 3

SFIA 4

SFIA 5

SFIA 6

SFIA 7

Survey respondents




ICT Manager


Primary Skill IT management (ITMG)


3rd Skill Information management (IRMG)

4th Skill Project management (PRMG)

Job Size Definition: SFIA 6 Initiate, influence

Autonomy Has defined authority and responsibility for a significant area of work, including technical, financial and quality aspects. Establishes organisational objectives and delegates responsibilities. Is accountable for actions and decisions taken by self and subordinates.

Influence Influences policy formation on the contribution of own specialism to business objectives. Influences a significant part of own organisation. Develops influential relationships with internal and external customers/suppliers/partners at senior management level, including industry leaders. Makes decisions which impact the work of employing organisations, achievement of organisational objectives and financial performance.

Complexity Performs highly complex work activities covering technical, financial and quality aspects. Contributes to the formulation and implementation of IT strategy. Creatively applies a wide range of technical and/or management principles.

Business skills Absorbs complex technical information and communicates effectively at all levels to both technical and non-technical audiences. Assesses and evaluates risk. Understands the implications of new technologies. Demonstrates clear leadership and the ability to influence and persuade. Has a broad understanding of all aspects of IT and deep understanding of own specialism(s). Understands and communicates the role and impact of IT in the employing organisation and promotes compliance with relevant legislation. Takes the initiative to keep both own and subordinates’ skills up to date and to maintain an awareness of developments in the IT industry.

428Sample Size

SFIA 3

SFIA 4

SFIA 5

SFIA 6

SFIA 7

Survey respondents




Account Manager


Primary Skill Account management (ACMG)

2nd Skill Consultancy (CNSL)

IT governance (GOVN)

Supplier relationship management (SURE)

5th Skill Client services management (CSMG)

Programme management (PGMG)

Systems design (DESN)






25Sample Size

SFIA 3

SFIA 4

SFIA 5

SFIA 6

SFIA 7

Survey respondents




Project Manager


Primary Skill Project management (PRMG)

2nd Skill Programme management (PGMG)

3rd Skill Systems development management (DLMG)

4th Skill IT management (ITMG)

5th Skill Consultancy (CNSL)






251Sample Size

SFIA 3

SFIA 4

SFIA 5

SFIA 6

SFIA 7

Survey respondents




Business Analyst


Primary Skill Business analysis (BUAN)

2nd Skill Business process improvement (BPRE)

3rd Skill Requirements definition and management (REQM)

4th Skill Information analysis (INAN)

5th Skill Data analysis (DTAN)

Job Size Definition: SFIA 5 Ensure, advise

Autonomy Works under broad direction. Work is often self-initiated. Is fully accountable for meeting allocated technical and/or project/supervisory objectives. Establishes milestones and has a significant role in the delegation of responsibilities.

Influence Influences organisation, customers, suppliers, partners and peers on the contribution of own specialism. Builds appropriate and effective business relationships. Makes decisions which impact the success of assigned projects i.e. results, deadlines and budget. Has significant influence over the allocation and management of resources appropriate to given assignments.

Complexity Performs an extensive range and variety of complex technical and/or professional work activities. Undertakes work which requires the application of fundamental principles in a wide and often unpredictable range of contexts. Understands the relationship between own specialism and wider customer/organisational requirements.

Business skills Advises on the available standards, methods, tools and applications relevant to own specialism and can make appropriate choices from alternatives. Analyses, designs, plans, executes and evaluates work to time, cost and quality targets. Assesses and evaluates risk. Communicates effectively, both formally and informally. Demonstrates leadership. Facilitates collaboration between stakeholders who have diverse objectives. Understands the relevance of own area of responsibility/specialism to the employing organisation. Takes customer requirements into account when making proposals. Takes initiative to keep skills up to date. Mentors colleagues. Maintains an awareness of developments in the industry. Analyses requirements and advises on scope and options for continuous operational improvement. Demonstrates creativity and innovation in applying solutions for the benefit of the customer/stakeholder. Takes account of relevant legislation.

214Sample Size

SFIA 3

SFIA 4

SFIA 5

SFIA 6

SFIA 7

Survey respondents




Computer Network Systems Engineer


Primary Skill Network support (NTAS)

2nd Skill Network design (NTDS)

3rd Skill Network planning (NTPL)

4th Skill IT management (ITMG)



Systems Integration (SINT)






110Sample Size

SFIA 3

SFIA 4

SFIA 5

SFIA 6

SFIA 7

Survey respondents




ICT Architect


Primary Skill Solution architecture (ARCH)

2nd Skill Systems design (DESN)

3rd Skill Enterprise and business architecture development (STPL)

4th Skill Consultancy (CNSL)

5th Skill Technical specialism (TECH)

6th Skill Systems integration (SINT)






214Sample Size

SFIA 3

SFIA 4

SFIA 5

SFIA 6

SFIA 7

Survey respondents




ICT Consultant



2nd Skill Business process improvement (BPRE)

3rd Skill Business analysis (BUAN)


5th Skill Solution architecture (ARCH)






430Sample Size

SFIA 3

SFIA 4

SFIA 5

SFIA 6

SFIA 7

Survey respondents




ICT SECURITY SPECIALIST


Primary Skill Information security (SCTY)

2nd Skill Security administration (SCAD)

3rd Skill Consultancy (CNSL)

Technical specialism (TECH)

5th Skill Information assurance (INAS)







61Sample Size

SFIA 3

SFIA 4

SFIA 5

SFIA 6

SFIA 7

Survey respondents




Software & Apps Programmer


Primary Skill Programming/software development (PROG)


3rd Skill Data analysis (DTAN)

Database/repository design (DBDS)

5th Skill Applications support (ASUP)

Release and deployment (RELM)

Systems development management (DLMG)

Testing (TEST)






75Sample Size

SFIA 3

SFIA 4

SFIA 5

SFIA 6

SFIA 7

Survey respondents




Software Engineer


Primary Skill Programming/ software development (PROG)


3rd Skill Database/repository design (DBDS)

4th Skill Software development process improvement (SPIM)

5th Skill Testing (TEST)






339Sample Size

SFIA 3

SFIA 4

SFIA 5

SFIA 6

SFIA 7

Survey respondents




Systems Administrator


Primary Skill Network support (NTAS)

2nd Skill Systems installation/decommissioning (HSIN)

3rd Skill Systems design (DESN)

Technical specialism (TECH)






149Sample Size

SFIA 3

SFIA 4

SFIA 5

SFIA 6

SFIA 7

Survey respondents




Systems Analyst


Primary Skill Systems design (DESN)

2nd Skill Information analysis (INAN)

3rd Skill Business analysis (BUAN)


5th Skill Data analysis (DTAN)

6th Skill Business process improvement (BPRE

Consultancy (CNSL)

IT governance (GOVN)

Release and deployment (RELM)






126Sample Size

SFIA 3

SFIA 4

SFIA 5

SFIA 6

SFIA 7

Survey respondents




Analyst Programmer

Job Size Alignment: SFIA 4Most commonly identified skills for the role at job size SFIA 4



3rd Skill Data analysis (DTAN)


Testing (TEST)

Job Size Definition: SFIA 4 Enable

Autonomy Works under general direction within a clear framework of accountability. Exercises substantial personal responsibility and autonomy. Plans own work to meet given objectives and processes.

Influence Influences team and specialist peers internally. Influences customers at account level and suppliers. Has some responsibility for the work of others and for the allocation of resources. Participates in external activities related to own specialism. Makes decisions which influence the success of projects and team objectives.

Complexity Performs a broad range of complex technical or professional work activities, in a variety of contexts. Investigates, defines and resolves complex problems.

Business skills Selects appropriately from applicable standards, methods, tools and applications. Demonstrates an analytical and systematic approach to problem solving. Communicates fluently orally and in writing, and can present complex technical information to both technical and non-technical audiences. Facilitates collaboration between stakeholders who share common objectives. Plans, schedules and monitors work to meet time and quality targets and in accordance with relevant legislation and procedures. Rapidly absorbs new technical information and applies it effectively. Has a good appreciation of the wider field of information systems, their use in relevant employment areas and how they relate to the business activities of the employer or client. Maintains an awareness of developing technologies and their application and takes some responsibility for personal development.

149Sample Size

SFIA 3

SFIA 4

SFIA 5

SFIA 6

SFIA 7

Survey respondents




Database Administrator


Primary Skill Database administration (DBAD)

2nd Skill Database/repository design (DBDS)

3rd Skill Programming/software development (PROG)

4th Skill Data management (DATM)







296Sample Size

SFIA 3

SFIA 4

SFIA 5

SFIA 6

SFIA 7

Survey respondents




ICT Support Engineer


Primary Skill Service desk and incident management (USUP)

2nd Skill Applications support (ASUP)

Service level management (SLMO)

Systems installation/decommissioning (HSIN)


Problem management (PBMG)

Programming/software development (PROG)






53Sample Size

SFIA 3

SFIA 4

SFIA 5

SFIA 6

SFIA 7

Survey respondents




ICT Systems Test Engineer


Primary Skill Testing (TEST)

2nd Skill Business process testing (BPTS)

Programming/software development (PROG)

Quality assurance (QUAS)






42Sample Size

SFIA 3

SFIA 4

SFIA 5

SFIA 6

SFIA 7

Survey respondents




Network Administrator


Primary Skill IT operations (ITOP)

2nd Skill Technical specialism (TECH)

3rd Skill Information security (SCTY)

Network support (NTAS)

Systems installation/decommissioning (HSIN)

6th Skill System software (SYSP)






34Sample Size

SFIA 3

SFIA 4

SFIA 5

SFIA 6

SFIA 7

Survey respondents




Web Developer



2nd Skill Database/repository design (DBDS)

3rd Skill Testing (TEST)







44Sample Size

SFIA 3

SFIA 4

SFIA 5

SFIA 6

SFIA 7

Survey respondents




Developer Programmer



2nd Skill Testing (TEST)

3rd Skill Systems design (DESN)

4th Skill Database/repository design (DBDS)

Job Size Definition: SFIA 3 Apply

Autonomy Works under general direction. Uses discretion in identifying and resolving complex problems and assignments. Usually receives specific instructions and has work reviewed at frequent milestones. Determines when issues should be escalated to a higher level.

Influence Interacts with and influences department/project team members. Has working level contact with customers and suppliers. In predictable and structured areas may supervise others. Makes decisions which may impact on the work assigned to individuals or phases of projects.

Complexity Performs a broad range of work, sometimes complex and non-routine, in a variety of environments. Applies methodical approach to problem definition and resolution.

Business skills Understands and uses appropriate methods, tools and applications. Demonstrates an analytical and systematic approach to problem solving. Takes the initiative in identifying and negotiating appropriate personal development opportunities. Demonstrates effective communication skills. Contributes fully to the work of teams. Plans, schedules and monitors own work (and that of others where applicable) competently within limited deadlines and according to relevant legislation and procedures. Absorbs and applies technical information. Works to required standards. Appreciates the wider field of information systems, and how own role relates to other roles and to the business of the employer or client.

127Sample Size

SFIA 3

SFIA 4

SFIA 5

SFIA 6

SFIA 7

Survey respondents




ICT Support Technician


Primary Skill Service desk and incident management (USUP)

2nd Skill IT operations (ITOP)

3rd Skill Network support (NTAS)

4th Skill Applications support (ASUP)

5th Skill Systems installation/decommissioning (HSIN)






79Sample Size

SFIA 3

SFIA 4

SFIA 5

SFIA 6

SFIA 7

Survey respondents




ICT Customer Support Officer


Primary Skill IT operations (ITOP)

2nd Skill Client services management (CSMG)

Network support (NTAS)

Service desk and incident management (USUP)

Testing (TEST)






41Sample Size


SFIA 3

SFIA 4

SFIA 5

SFIA 6

SFIA 7

Survey respondents


Workforce Planning SolutionsIt is difficult to imagine any new business, product or service that won’t be delivered either digitally, or achieve scalability and cost efficiency through the use of technology.

Within this context, understanding the ICT professional skills of your workforce is essential for future success. Otherwise how will your organisation acquire the skills needed for the future, and resource the human capital capability required to take your organisation from where you are today, to where you want to be in 3, 5 and 10 years?

This White Paper demonstrates that effective job design is critical to successfully executing your strategic and tactical business plans. While a job role is commonly identified by a primary skill, the diversity of skills identified by survey respondents demonstrates that organisations apply secondary skills differently to achieve competitive advantage.

For an individual, understanding job design trends allows you to identify skill development areas that afford you the best potential to deliver on your career ambitions.

For organisations, it is far more complex. It is not easy to accurately identify the skills of your workforce. SFIA is not prescriptive concerning performance parameters, and as a result there is inconsistent application. This includes both over and under estimating of skills by ICT Professionals themselves, their line managers, and education and training providers in the development solutions they offer.

Skill assessment services are core business for ACS, having completed formal skills assessment for nearly 100,000 ICT professionals over the last decade. The range of ACS assessment services include:

• Accreditation of undergraduate and some post graduate degrees to ensure students are prepared for initial professional practice

• ACS Professional Certifications including CP and CT

• Registered Training Organisation services issuing nationally recognised qualifications and statements of competency

• Skilled migration assessments for applicants interested in skilled migration to Australia

• SFIA capability assessments for both individuals and organisations profiling their workforce.

ACS is best placed to support the establishment of professional benchmarks within ICT work teams, and organisations. Through our SaaS solution, MySFIA Corporate edition assists organisations achieve agility and optimise project management efficiency.

The solution provides organisations with vital management reporting on ICT skill audits. These include skills by job role, skills by person, skills by work team, and skills by workforce allowing organisations to capture both technical and professional skill proficiency, and easily identify where skills gaps exist enabling these to be addressed in recruitment processes and through investments in workforce development.

The solution is unique in that if offers the ability to overlay multiple frameworks in addition to SFIA. Whether organisations have their own leadership frameworks, behavioural frameworks, or other competency frameworks, MySFIA Corporate editions allows for ease of integration with SFIA.

What is your ICT Skills Profile?

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