Ddat Profession Capability Framework Skill register

Skills for use in the Digital, Data and Technology Profession Capability Framework

Ddat-Profession-Capability-Framework-Skill Name Description Start-Date End-Date
The unique code for the skills used in the Digital, Data and Technology Profession Capability Framework. The commonly-used name of a record. Descriptive information for an entry. The date a record first became relevant to a register. The date a record stopped being applicable.
1001 Agile and Lean practices Has a deep knowledge of and leads on a range of Agile and Lean tools and techniques, with an ability to coach within and outside of their team. Able to represent and be an advocate for these tools and techniques, be innovative and ensure they keep up to date with the latest trends. Able to establish the feedback loop for teams and has responsibility for the translation and measurement of value (what you put in and what you will get out) and how this relates to practical government objectives and the user needs. Able to ensure the team has a situational awareness of what each other is working on. Ensures that working practices are iterated to achieve effective delivery.
1002 Agile working Is aware of and understands agile methodology and how to apply an agile mindset to all aspects of their work. Has the ability to work in a fast-paced, evolving environment and utilises an iterative method and flexible approach to enable rapid delivery. Unafraid to take risks, willing to learn from mistakes, and appreciates the importance of agile project delivery for digital projects in government. Able to ensure the team has a situational awareness of what each other is working on and how this relates to practical government objectives and user needs.
1003 Analysis Able to visualise, articulate and solve complex problems and concepts, by interrogating and using data or intelligence to formulate and influence plans. Able to interpret complex business and technical issues. Can identify and recognise a viable solution or control. Understands and links complex and diverse sets of information to inform the response and approach, for example identifying vulnerabilities and their impact.
1004 Analysis and synthesis Able to turn research data into clear findings that inform decisions. Knows how to involve colleagues in analysis and synthesis to increase consensus and challenge assumptions.
1005 Applied maths, statistics and scientific practices Understands how algorithms are designed, optimised and applied at scale. Can select and use appropriate statistical methods for sampling, distribution assessment, bias and error. Understands problem structuring methods and can evaluate when each method is appropriate. Applies scientific methods through experimental design, exploratory data analysis and hypothesis testing to reach robust conclusions.
1006 Asset and configuration management Conducts the lifecycle management for assets including hardware, software, intellectual property, licences, warranties. This includes managing usage, disposal, compliance, inventory, sustainability, cost optimisation and protection of the asset portfolio. Helps to improve investment decisions and capitalise on opportunities. Complies with international standards for asset management. Documents information relating to the assets including identification, classification and specification of all items, and information related to storage, access, versions, etc. Is able to apply status accounting and auditing in line with relevant criteria.
1007 Availability and capacity management Able to define, analyse, plan, forecast, measure, maintain and improve all aspects of the availability of services, including power. Controls and manages service availability to meet the needs of the business in a cost-effective manner, including managing the capability, functionality and sustainability of service components (including hardware, software, network resources and software/infrastructure as a service).
1008 Bridging the gap between the technical and non-technical Translates technical concepts between software engineering, delivery management and service management so they are understood by all.
1009 Broad technical understanding This specific knowledge underpins an individual’s ability to deliver the responsibilities and tasks for their role. This relates to the application of the required breadth and depth of technical knowledge. This also includes staying abreast of industry developments to make cost-effective use of new and emerging tools and technologies.
1010 Broad technical understanding (network architect) This specific knowledge underpins an individual’s ability to deliver the responsibilities and tasks for their role. This relates to the application of the required breadth and depth of technical knowledge. This also includes staying abreast of industry developments to make cost-effective use of new and emerging tools and technologies.
1011 Broad technical understanding (performance analyst) Stays abreast of industry developments to make cost-effective use of new and emerging tools and technologies. Keeps up to date with advances in digital analytics tools and data manipulation products.
1012 Business analysis The ability to investigate, analyse, visualise, articulate and solve complex problems and concepts, and make disciplined decisions based on available information. Such skills include: applying thinking, gathering and analysing information using comprehensive tools and techniques, using data to formulate both short-term day-to-day and long-term strategic plans, and identifying and analysing options to assess feasibility and operational impact. Ensures that the business solution aligns with the vision, mission, objectives, strategy and the business and user needs and can identify and recognise a viable solution or control.
1014 Business analysis (IT operations) Able to visualise, articulate, solve complex problems and concepts, and make disciplined decisions based on available information. Such skills include: demonstration of the ability to apply logical thinking, gathering and analysing information using comprehensive tools and techniques, the use of data to formulate both short-term day-to-day and long-term strategic plans, and the ability to identify and analyse options, and assess feasibility and operational impact. Ensures that the business solution aligns with the vision, mission, objectives, strategy, business and user needs and can identify and recognise a viable solution or control.
1015 Business improvement process Identifies and explores opportunities for service and business improvement. Drives the analysis, identification, prioritisation and implementation of improvements and efficiencies, thereby ensuring that the organisation derives maximum value from services. This includes recognising the potential for automation of processes, determining costs and benefits of new approaches and managing change or assisting implementation where needed.
1016 Business modelling Able to represent real world situations to aid the communication and understanding of different scenarios (existing, conceptual or proposed). Mainly focuses on the representation of organisational processes, roles and data models and whether they can be used to represent subjects at various levels of detail or complexity.
1017 Business process testing Able to plan, design, manage and report business process tests and usability evaluations. Able to apply evaluation skills to see how appropriate or useful the defined process is going to be. This can be done through synthesising test tasks, selecting user samples, analysing performance and sharing results with the development teams.
1018 Change management Able to manage changes to service, configuration items, organisational change, supplier change and associated documentation. Able to request changes due to incidents or problems to provide effective control and reduction of risk to the security performance and availability. Ensures compliance of the business services impacted by the change. Understands policy, principles and approach. Applies understanding and knowledge in project or programme activities. Develops experience in the use of key change management tools and processes.
1019 Coding Understands the limitations of internet technology and why code is important. Able to prototype a code, but does not necessarily have to make production-ready code. Can talk to developers and knows when to switch code. Understands security, accessibility and version control. Can use ‘what you see is what you get’ tools.
1020 Coding and scripting Understands the limitations of software / product technology and why coding is important. Able to prototype a code, but does not necessarily have to make a production ready code. Can talk to developers and knows when to switch code. Understands security, accessibility and version control.
1021 Commercial management Able to support effective budget management within the constraints of the project. Retains a continued awareness of the budget against actual cost incurred.
1022 Communicating analysis and insight Uses the most appropriate medium to visualise data to tell compelling and actionable stories relevant for business goals. Presents, communicates and disseminates analysis and recommendations effectively, appropriately and with high impact.
1023 Communicating between the technical and non-technical Able to communicate effectively across organisational, technical and political boundaries, understanding the context. Able to advocate and communicate what a team does to create trust and authenticity. Can successfully react and respond to challenge.
1024 Communicating between the technical and non-technical (data) Is able to communicate effectively across organisational, technical and political boundaries, understanding the context. Makes complex and technical information and language simple and accessible for non-technical audiences. Is able to advocate and communicate what a team does to create trust and authenticity, and can respond to challenge.
1025 Communicating between the technical and non-technical (security architect) Understands security concepts deeply enough to engage with security technologists and communicate in a language that is appropriate to audience. Able to respond to challenge.
1026 Communicating information Able to communicate effectively across organisational, technical and political boundaries, understanding the context. Makes complex and technical information and language simple and accessible for non-technical audiences. Able to advocate and communicate what a team does to create trust and authenticity and can respond to challenge.
1027 Community collaboration Contributes to the work of the community, building successful teams through understanding team styles and influencing as well as motivating team members. Gives and receives constructive feedback, facilitating the feedback loop. Facilitates conflict resolution within teams, ensures the team is transparent and that the work is understood externally. Able to help teams maintain a focus on delivery while being aware of the importance of professional development.
1028 Continual service improvement Identifies and explores opportunities for service and business improvement. Drives the analysis, identification, prioritisation and implementation of improvements and efficiencies, thereby ensuring that the organisation derives maximum value from services. This includes recognising the potential for automation of processes, determining costs and benefits of new approaches and managing change or assisting implementation where needed.
1029 Continuity management Provides service continuity planning and support. This includes identification of information, systems which support critical business processes, the assessment of risks to those systems’ availability, integrity and confidentiality as well as the co-ordination of planning, designing, testing and maintenance procedures and contingency plans to address exposures and maintain agreed levels of continuity.
1030 Customer service management Manages customer service functions, including responding to issue reports, information requests, access. Uses results of customer satisfaction measurements to improve services and has successful relationships with customers.
1031 Data analysis and synthesis Translates data into valuable insights that inform decisions. Involves teams in analytics and synthesis to increase consensus and challenge assumptions. Identifies and utilises the most appropriate analytical techniques. Has an understanding of analytical tools and is numerate. Is aware of and keeps up to date with advances in digital analytics tools and data manipulation products. Collects, collates, cleanses, synthesises and interprets data to derive meaningful and actionable insights.
1032 Data communication Uses the most appropriate medium to visualise data to tell compelling and actionable stories relevant for business goals. Presents, communicates and disseminates data appropriately and with high impact.
1033 Data development process Integrates and separates data feeds in order to map, produce, transform, and test new data products.
1034 Data engineering and manipulation Works with other technologists and analysts to integrate and separate data feeds in order to map, produce, transform and test new scalable data products that meet user needs. Has a demonstrable understanding of how to expose data from systems (for example, through APIs), link data from multiple systems and deliver streaming services. Works with other technologists and analysts to understand and make use of different types of data models. Understands and can make use of different data engineering tools for repeatable data processing and is able to compare between different data models. Understands how to build scalable machine learning pipelines and combine feature engineering with optimisation methods to improve the data product performance.
1035 Data governance Understands data governance and how it works in relation to other organisational governance structures. Participates in or delivers the assurance of a service.
1036 Data innovation Recognises and exploits business opportunities to ensure more efficient and effective performance of organisations. Explores new ways of conducting business and organisational processes.
1037 Data integration design Develops fit for purpose, resilient, scalable and future-proof data services to meet user needs. Has a demonstrable understanding of how to expose data from systems (for example, through APIs), link data from multiple systems and deliver streaming services.
1038 Data modelling Produces data models and understands where to use different types of data models. Understands different tools and is able to compare between different data models. Able to reverse engineer a data model from a live system. Understands industry recognised data modelling patterns and standards.
1039 Data science innovation Recognises and exploits business opportunities to ensure more efficient and effective ways to use data science. Explores ways of utilising new data science tools and techniques to tackle business and organisational challenges. Demonstrates strong intellectual curiosity with an interdisciplinary approach, drawing on innovation in academia and industry.
1040 Data standards Develops and sets data standards for an organisation. Communicates the business benefit of data standards, championing and governing those standards across the organisation.
1041 DDaT perspective Demonstrates an understanding of user-centered design, technology and data perspectives. Understands the range of available technology choices and makes informed decisions based on user need and value for money. Understands the variety and complexities of digital contexts and designs services to meet them. Has knowledge of the wider digital economy and advances in technology.
1042 Design secure systems Able to design secure system architectures through the application of patterns and principles, to meet user needs whilst managing risks. Able to identify security issues in system architectures.
1043 Developing data science capability Continuously develops data science knowledge, utilising multiple sources. Shares data science practices across departments and in industry, promoting professional development and use of best practice across all capabilities identified for data scientists. Focuses on recruitment and induction of data scientists.
1044 Development process optimisation (management) Management of software engineering capability to produce services efficiently and effectively.
1045 Development process optimisation Identifies and explores opportunities for service and business improvement. Drives the analysis, identification, prioritisation and implementation of improvements and efficiencies, thereby ensuring that the organisation derives maximum value from services. This includes recognising the potential for automation of processes, determining costs and benefits of new approaches and managing change or assisting implementation where needed.
1046 Digital perspective Understands how the digital economy is changing user behaviour and the government landscape. Is able to make informed decisions based on user needs, available technology and value for money. Has knowledge of the wider digital economy and advances in technology.
1047 Domain expertise Understands the context of the business, its processes, data and priorities. Applies data science techniques to present, communicate and disseminate data science products effectively, appropriately and with high impact. Uses the most appropriate medium to visualise data to tell compelling and actionable stories relevant for business goals. Maintains a user focus to design solutions that meet user needs, taking account of agreed cross-government ethics standards.
1048 Enabling and informing risk based decisions Capable of making and guiding effective decisions on risk, explaining clearly how the decision has been reached. Able to make decisions proportionate to the level of technical complexity and risk.
1049 Enterprise and business architecture Maintains and constantly iterates the structures which make up a business enterprise or architecture. Embodies the methods which prescribe an organisation’s future state and must also allow for change. Assesses current capabilities, identifies and interprets business objectives, strategy and inter-relationships with people, data, processes to create an operating model. Develops this process helping to define any constraints or guiding principles needed to allow for governance and evolution in order to allow for an achievable transition to the new state.
1050 Evidence and context-based design Visualises, articulates, and solves complex problems and concepts, and makes disciplined decisions based on available information and research evidence. Able to move from analysis to synthesis and/or design intent. such skills include: demonstration of the ability to apply logical thinking, gathering and analysing information and evidencing key performance indicators.
1051 Facilitating decisions and risks Capable of making and guiding effective decisions, explaining clearly how the decision has been reached. Has the ability to understand technical complexity and risks, run collaborative design activities, influence others and build consensus.
1052 Financial management Able to support effective budget management within the constraints of the project. Retains a continued awareness of the budget against actual cost incurred.
1053 Financial ownership Able to secure funding for agile delivery through a business case and through delivering a good pitch in government. Capable of prioritising spending based on return on investment (ROI) and strategic intent; this may include contract ownership and accountability for realisation of benefits.
1054 Functional testing Able to analyse changes to, or the development of, products and services and plan design. Able to run and manage appropriate tests to ensure that requirements have been fully met. Understands and is able to identify the most effective techniques, data sets and tools to use. Able to communicate defects or trends clearly to software developers, outlining how defects are identified and the possible causes. Able to design, or provide assurance for, appropriate risk-based end-to-end system integration test models.
1055 Governance Understands technical governance and is able to participate in or deliver the assurance of a service. This capability becomes increasingly critical at senior role levels.
1056 Governance and assurance Understands technical governance and is able to participate in or deliver the assurance of a service. This capability becomes increasingly critical at senior role levels.
1057 Incident management Co-ordinates the response to incident reports, ensuring relevant prioritisation and detail to allow effective investigation. Identifies the correct procedures or channels for resolution and monitors resolution activity and progress updates to customers. Understands key change management tools and processes.
1058 Inclusive research Understands the diversity of users of government services. Knows how to include all kinds of users in appropriate research activities to help teams deliver accessible services.
1059 Information security Maintains the security, confidentiality and integrity of information systems through compliance with relevant legislation and regulations. Designs, implements and operates controls and management strategies to allow this.
1060 Information security (including mitigation) Maintains the security, confidentiality and integrity of information systems through the compliance with relevant legislation and regulations. Articulates risks and explores options and solutions for mitigation. Will design, implement and operate controls and management strategies to allow this.
1061 Innovation Ability to identify and pinpoint business opportunities to allow organisations to perform more effectively. This allows businesses to look at new ways of tackling business processes or to establish new services from scratch.
1062 IT infrastructure Supports, designs and implements infrastructure technologies and solutions such as: compute, storage, networking, physical infrastructure, software, commercial off the shelf (COTS) and open source packages and solutions, virtual and cloud including IaaS, PaaS and SaaS.
1063 IT infrastructure (network architect) Supports, designs and implements infrastructure technologies and solutions such as: compute, storage, networking, physical infrastructure, software, commercial off the shelf (COTS) and open source packages and solutions, virtual and cloud including IaaS, PaaS and SaaS.
1064 Leadership and guidance Interprets vision to lead on decisions. Creates a continually collaborative environment and sustains a good service. Understands and resolves technical disputes across varying levels of complexity and risk. Solves issues and unblocks problems. Drives teams and sets the pace, ensuring teams are delivering. Manages risk including effectively managing and tracking the mitigation of risks. Manages various dependencies across teams, departments and government as a whole.
1065 Lifecycle perspective Understands the different phases of product delivery and is able to contribute to, plan or run these. Able to maintain a product or process through the delivery phases, through to live and into retirement. Able to lead a team through the different phases of the delivery lifecycle. Can maintain and iterate a product over time to continuously meet user needs. Understands and is aware of incident management and service support so that products are built effectively.
1066 Maintaining delivery momentum Able to solve issues and unblock problems. Drives teams and sets the pace, ensuring teams are working towards delivery commitments. Able to engage in elements of risk management such as effectively managing and tracking the mitigation of risks. Able to manage various dependencies across teams, departments and government as a whole.
1067 Making and guiding decisions Capable of making and guiding effective decisions, explaining clearly how the decision has been reached. The ability to understand and resolve technical disputes across varying levels of complexity and risk.
1068 Making the process work Focuses on the outcome. Able to challenge and improve disproportionate organisational processes where it impacts the pace of the team. Able to identify what works best for the team and when to utilise certain processes. Understands that all steps in a process must add value. Able to influence and make positive changes to the organisation.
1069 Metadata management Understands a variety of metadata management tools. Designs and maintains the appropriate metadata repositories to enable the organisation to understand their data assets.
1070 Methods and tools Uses the most appropriate methods and tools, ensuring these are adopted and used to plan, develop, test, manage and maintain a system effectively throughout an organisation.
1071 Modern standards approach Uses a modern standards approach throughout automation and testing.
1072 Non-functional testing Able to analyse changes to, or the development of, products and services and plan design in a non-functional environment. Able to run and manage appropriate non-functional tests to ensure that requirements have been fully met. Understands and is able to identify the most effective techniques, data sets and non-functional testing tools. Able to communicate defects or trends clearly to software developers, outlining how defects are identified and possible causes. Able to design or provide assurance for appropriate risk-based end-to-end system integration test models.
1074 Operational management Able to manage the operational process of designing and running a product or service throughout its entire life-cycle. Able to implement best practice in new product or service development and knows how to plan and operationalise the stages of new product or service development. Able to overcome operational constraints to deliver a successful product or service. Works closely with other operational delivery teams.
1075 Ownership and initiative Takes ownership of problems and proactively resolves technical problems, ensuring that technical solutions continue to meet business requirements. Takes full accountability for actions taken and decisions made.
1076 Performance measurement Enables the team to develop a performance framework including key performance indicators (KPIs) for a service or product. Provides the intelligence to support the formulation of both short-term and long-term strategic plans. Is able to identify and analyse options, and assess their feasibility and operational impact. Ensures that business solutions are aligned with strategy, business goals and end user needs.
1077 Planning Able to take a continuous approach to planning, forecasting, estimating, managing uncertainty, metrics and measurements, contingency planning and roadmapping. Able to communicate the plan, planning assumptions and progress to a range of stakeholders. Maintains the cadence of delivery and manages the relationships between different people within and across teams.
1078 Problem management Understands and identifies problems, analysing and helping to identify the appropriate solution. Is able to classify and prioritise problems, document their causes and implement remedies.
1079 Problem ownership Understands and identifies problems, analysing and helping to identify the appropriate solution. Is able to classify and prioritise problems, document their causes and implement remedies.
1080 Problem resolution (data) Logs, analyses and manages problems in order to identify and implement the appropriate solution. Ensures that the problem is fixed.
1081 Problem solving Understands and identifies problems, analysing and helping to identify the appropriate solution. Is able to classify and prioritise problems, document their causes and implement remedies.
1082 Product ownership Uses a range of product management principles and approaches. Captures and translates user needs into deliverables. Able to define the minimum viable product and make decisions about priorities. Writes stories and acceptance criteria. Capable of working with a range of specialists in multidisciplinary teams.
1083 Programming and build (data engineering) Designs, writes and iterates code from prototype to production-ready. Understands security, accessibility and version control. Can use a range of coding tools and languages.
1084 Programming and build (data science) Uses a range of coding practices to build scalable data products that can be used by strategic or operational users and can be further integrated into business systems. Works with technologists to design, create, test and document these data products. Works in accordance with agreed software development standards, including security, accessibility and version control.
1085 Programming and build (software engineering – management) Designs, creates, tests and documents new and amended software components from supplied specifications in accordance with agreed development and security standards and processes.
1086 Programming and build (software engineering) Uses agreed security standards and specifications to design, create, test and document new or amended software.
1087 Prototyping Able to apply technical knowledge and experience to create or design workable prototypes, both programs and physical outputs. Understands parameters, restrictions and synergies.
1088 Prototyping in code Understands the limitations of internet technology and why code is important. Able to prototype a code, but does not necessarily have to make production-ready code. Can talk to developers and knows when to switch code. Understands security, accessibility and version control. Can use ‘what you see is what you get’ tools.
1089 Relationship management Identifies, analyses, manages and monitors relationships with and between stakeholders. Clarifies mutual needs and commitments through consultation and consideration of impacts. For example, the co-ordination of all promotional activities to one or more customers to achieve satisfaction for the customer and an acceptable return for the supplier; assistance to the customer to ensure that maximum benefit is gained from products and services supplied.
1090 Requirements definition and management Identifies, defines and manages the objectives of a business. Must be able to specify requirements from both a business and user perspective to enable agreed changes to be implemented effectively.
1091 Research and innovation Understands and can apply a range of user research methods correctly. Able to choose appropriate methods for different life cycle phases and situations.
1092 Research skills Understands and has experience of a range of user research methods. Able to choose appropriate methods for different life cycle phases and situations. Knows how to apply methods correctly.
1093 Service focus Maintains focus on the whole life of service delivery - designs, develops, delivers and operates. Ensures that a set of IT products, suppliers and vendors come together to deliver an IT service.
1094 Service reporting Takes management information and consolidates agreed key performance indicators into product or service measures that underpin service management of a specific product or service.
1095 Service support Maintains and supports services.
1096 Society and technology Understands the social and technological context for government services. Can help colleagues understand how digital technology is changing user behaviour, and the challenges and opportunities for government services.
1097 Specific security technology and understanding Knowledge of system architectures. Able to understand the risk impact of vulnerabilities on existing and future designs and systems, and identify how easy or difficult it will be to exploit these vulnerabilities.
1098 Stakeholder relationship management Identifies, analyses, manages and monitors relationships with and between stakeholders. Able to communicate with stakeholders clearly and regularly, clarifying mutual needs and commitments through consultation and consideration of impacts whilst focusing on user needs. For example, managing customer and supplier relationships, ensuring that recommendations deliver maximum benefit and facilitating workshops with stakeholders.
1099 Strategic insight Understands organisational strategy and objectives. Able to align user research activities with objectives to create strategic insights that inform policy and proposition.
1100 Strategic ownership Focuses on outcomes, not solutions. Is bold - develops ambitious visions and strategies. Gets the organisation and team to buy-in. Translates the vision into prioritised deliverable goals.
1101 Strategic thinking Able to have an overall perspective on business issues, events, activities and an understanding of their wider implications and long-term impact. This could include determining patterns, standards, policies, roadmaps and vision statements. Can focus on outcomes rather than solutions and activities.
1102 Strategic thinking (data architecture) Has an overall perspective on business issues, events and activities, and an understanding of their wider implications and long-term impact. This could include determining patterns, standards, policies, roadmaps and vision statements. Focuses on outcomes rather than solutions and activities.