Lifelong Learning: Implementing Best Practice in Business
“You’ve just got to remember: it’s all about people and skills, no matter how clever we are with the technology.”
In this episode, Richard Pharro, CEO of APMG International, speaks to Matthew Burrows, the president of SkillsTX and SFIA Foundation Accredited Consultant and Assessor about The Skills Framework for The Information Age.
Richard begins the episode by asking Matthew why he built an online platform to support its rollout. Matthew explains that what skills we have and what skills we need are changing at a faster rate today than they did just a few years ago; the platform allows customers to help themselves by dynamically updating skill profiles and skill requirements as needed.
Richard and Matthew reflect on how pervasive and enduring SFIA has been for the past twenty years. Richard asks Matthew how easy it is for an organisation to adopt SFIA and what the single most cited benefit is for its implementation. Matthew says, “it’s much easier than most people fear.” He asserts that knowing your skills and competencies is a great starting place; “…having accurate data allows you to make much more accurate decisions.
Next, Richard cites a Gallup survey which reported that 51% of employees are disengaged. He asks Matthew if SFIA could change these statistics. Matthew emphasises the point that organisations must, “avoid the common mistakes […] of people treating an individual as their current job description;” SFIA can allow employees to compare and update their skill profile and pave the way for focused development.
Richard then asks Matthew about how SFIA is structured. Matthew elucidates the framework’s seven level structure, using Service Desk Management as an example of how SFIA’s flexibility applies to many nuances within any given organisation. Matthew is sure to emphasise that you don’t need every skill at every level, and further, there is no requirement for you to automatically go up to the next skill/ next level.
Finally, Richard and Matthew discuss SFIA’s potential to help solve the tech industry Skills Gap; Matthew speaks about the importance of having a common language for describing detail, one that, “actually holds water internationally.”
Listen to our leading expert of the week, Matthew Burrows, and discover how SFIA can help you excel both personally and professionally.
