IT Professionals: The Skills Framework for the Information Age

The Skills Framework for the Information Age (SFIA) has been established in July 2003. It is a system for IT Professionals so that they could use the advancement of the workforce according to the requirements of the business. It can also be defined logical 2-dimensional framework in which on one axis is the areas of work and on the other axis is levels of responsibility. It is considered as an effective resource which provides advantage to business by providing all facilities of the management in corporate and educational departments. This system is used by:

• ICT Users

• Employers

• Educational institutions

• Governments.

Characteristics of SFIA:

• Development of SFIA is not a practical exercise – but it seems to be a project that would produce thing useful in the workplace

• SFIA is accepted and general-purpose framework that covers the whole of IT. It has above 2,500 corporate users across 195 countries (25 million people).

• SFIA is mainly for informed people i.e. has useful information for people who has knowledge of using it.

It is versatile in nature as it helps IT users to have right skilled people in the right place at the right time.

• It is simple in behavior – i.e. skills and levels are added so that anyone can understand; and thus provide great help in bringing HR and IT together

• SFIA provide the skills that are professional

• SFIA is supported: i.e. many institutions that provide training or consultancies provide help whenever any user need it

• SFIA does not cost any fee for institutions which use it as an internal assessment tool.

• Sometimes it is exploited by consultancies and company selling product, charging an annual fee.

• It provides a standard definition of all terms related to IT and its levels...

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...of the IT industry and its implications Consider range of management strategies and skills of leaders.

Understands, explains and presents complex technical ideas to all kinds of people at all levels. Takes the initiative to keep both own and subordinates’ skills up to date and to maintain an awareness of developments in IT in own area of expertise.

According to the advertisement:

Help desk Support is at level 3. Therefore, need qualities of level 3 mentioned above

Desk and technical support officers often provide the first line of support, usually be telephone and internet/email.

As well as providing basic technical support on software, installations, hardware or other relevant areas (depending on the organisation), helpdesk and technical support teams must document issues and resolutions.

Verbal and written communication skills are of paramount importance.