CEN/TR 16234-3:2021

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-april-2021
Nadomešča:
SIST-TP CEN/TR 16234-3:2017
Krovni seznam e-usposobljenosti (e-CF) - Skupno evropsko okolje za strokovnjake
na področju informacijske in komunikacijske tehnologije v vseh sektorjih - 3. del:
Metodologija
e-Competence Framework (e-CF) - A common European Framework for ICT
Professionals in all sectors - Part 3: Methodology
e-Kompetenz Rahmenwerk (e-CF) - Ein gemeinsamer europäischer Rahmen für IKT-
Fach- und Führungskräfte in allen Branchen - Teil 3: Methodik
Référentiel des e-Compétences - Référentiel européen commun pour les professionnels
des technologies de l'information et de la communication dans tous les secteurs
d'activité - Partie 3 : Méthodologie
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: CEN/TR 16234-3:2021
ICS:
03.100.30 Vodenje ljudi Management of human
resources
35.020 Informacijska tehnika in Information technology (IT) in
tehnologija na splošno general
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

CEN/TR 16234-3
TECHNICAL REPORT
RAPPORT TECHNIQUE
February 2021
TECHNISCHER BERICHT
ICS 35.020 Supersedes CEN/TR 16234-3:2017
English Version
e-Competence Framework (e-CF) - A common European
Framework for ICT Professionals in all sectors - Part 3:
Methodology
Référentiel des e-Compétences - Référentiel européen e-Kompetenz Rahmenwerk (e-CF) - Ein gemeinsamer
commun pour les professionnels des technologies de europäischer Rahmen für IKT-Fach- und
l'information et de la communication dans tous les Führungskräfte in allen Branchen - Teil 3: Methodik
secteurs d'activité - Partie 3 : Méthodologie

This Technical Report was approved by CEN on 15 February 2021. It has been drawn up by the Technical Committee CEN/TC
428.
CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway,
Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and
United Kingdom.
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION

EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG

CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2021 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. CEN/TR 16234-3:2021 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

Content  Page
European foreword . 3
Introduction . 4
1 Scope . 6
2 Normative references . 6
3 Terms and definitions . 6
4 Main Principles . 7
5 Essentials of the EN 16234-1 (e-Competence Framework - e-CF): Four dimensions and
the transversal aspects . 8
5.1 Introductive overview . 8
5.2 Dimension 1: Five e-Competence areas – structured from organisational perspective . 12
5.3 Dimension 2: e-Competences – individual abilities meet organisational needs . 14
5.4 Dimension 3: Five work proficiency levels – degrees of being capable in a dynamic and
changing world . 17
5.4.1 General . 17
5.4.2 The proficiency level definition . 17
5.4.3 Relationship to learning levels and the European Qualification Framework (EQF) . 20
5.4.4 Suitable proficiency level for each competence . 21
5.5 Dimension 4: Knowledge and Skills – the bridge to education and training . 22
5.6 Transversal aspects: The relationship between dimensions and transversal statements 25
5.7 The e-CF as a standard: normative versus informative elements . 27
6 The e-CF in the European ICT professionalism landscape: Professional concept and the
CWA 16458 (European ICT Professional Role Profiles). 28
7 Relationships and interfaces between the e-CF and other frameworks . 32
7.1 Introduction . 32
7.2 Establishing relationships and creating interfaces: the general approach . 33
7.3 Overview of e-CF interfaces created with other frameworks . 35
8 e-CF creation and maintenance: a combination of sound methodology and expert
contribution . 36
8.1 Development history . 36
8.2 Creation of the e-CF: The competence concept . 37
8.3 Creation of the e-CF: The level concept . 38
9 Transferring framework generic methods to competence framework construction in
other sectors . 40
Annex A (informative) Maintenance of the e-CF: Essentials from the update process . 42
Bibliography . 44

European foreword
This document (CEN/TR 16234-3:2021) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 428 “ICT
Professionalism and Digital Competences”, the secretariat of which is held by UNI.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of patent
rights. CEN shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
This document supersedes CEN/TR 16234-3:2017.
In comparison with the previous edition, the following technical modifications have been made:
— revision of the entire document in the light of the EN 16234-1:2019, latest ICT Professionalism
developments, in Europe and globally, relating to this document and further multi-stakeholder sector
feedback;
— the underpinning methodology of the standard has been maintained and complemented by a new
element, named Transversal Aspects (TA);
— the main driver for the presentation of this document is the requirement to explain modifications made
to the EN 16234-1 (e-CF), to meet a contemporary environment, whilst maintaining continuity with
earlier versions.
This European standard is made up of four parts:
— EN 16234-1 e-Competence Framework (e-CF) - A common European Framework for ICT Professionals
in all sectors - Part 1: Framework. It provides the e-Competence Framework (e-CF) published as a
European standard - EN.
— CEN/TR 16234-2 e-Competence Framework (e-CF) - A common European Framework for ICT
Professionals in all sectors - Part 2: User Guide. It provides the e-CF User guide published as a CEN
Technical Report (TR).
— CEN/TR 16234-3 e-Competence Framework (e-CF) - A common European Framework for ICT
Professionals in all sectors - Part 3: Methodology. It provides the e-CF Methodology published as a CEN
Technical Report (TR).
— CEN/TR 16234-4 e-Competence Framework (e-CF) - A common European Framework for ICT
Professionals in all sectors - Part 4: Case Studies. It provides a series of Case Studies illustrating e-CF
practical use from multiple ICT sector perspectives published as a CEN Technical Report (TR).
Part 1 is fully standalone, and part 2, 3 and 4 rely on part 1.
Introduction
EN 1623-1 4 e-Competence Framework (e-CF) - A common European Framework for ICT Professionals in
all sectors – Part1: Framework was established as a tool to support mutual understanding and provide
transparency of language through the articulation of competences required and deployed by Information
and Communication Technology (ICT) professionals.
To support users and guide developers of applications to EN 16234, the following narrative provides an
overview of the underpinning philosophy and principles adopted during the standard’s construction and
maintenance. Understanding these guiding principles is equally vital for applying the EN 16234-1 (e-CF) in
multiple environments concerned with ICT professionalism.
EN 16234-1 (e-CF) Guiding Principles:
EN 16234-1 (e-CF) is an enabler; it is designed to be a tool to empower users, not to restrict them. It
provides structure and content for application by many users from organisations in the private and public
sector, ICT user or ICT supply organisations, educational institutions including higher education and private
certification providers, social partners and individuals. Across this broad application context, EN 16234-1
(e-CF) is designed to support common understanding, not to mandate the use of each and every word used
within it.
EN 16234-1 (e-CF) expresses ICT competence using the following definition: ‘Competence is a
demonstrated ability to apply knowledge, skills and attitudes for achieving observable results’. This holistic
concept directly relates to workplace activities and incorporates complex human attitudes and resultant
behaviours. Behaviour and attitude are important influences that facilitate successful knowledge and skills
application. Within each competence, embedded attitudes are reflected in behaviour and enable the
successful integration of knowledge and skills.
Competence is a durable concept and although technology, jobs, marketing terminology and promotional
concepts within the ICT environment change rapidly, EN 16234-1 (e-CF) remains durable requiring
maintenance approximately every three years to maintain relevance.
A competence can be a component of a job role, but it cannot be used as a substitute for similarly
named job titles, for example; the competence, E.2. ‘Project and Portfolio Management’ does not represent
the complete content of a ‘Project Manager’s’ job role. Competences can be aggregated, as required, to
represent the essential content of a job role or profile. On the other hand, one single competence may be
assigned to a number of different job profiles.
Competence is not to be confused with process or technology concepts such as, ‘Cloud Computing’ or
‘Big Data’. These descriptions represent evolving technologies and in the context of EN 16234-1 (e-CF), they
may be integrated as knowledge and skills examples in Dimension 4.
EN 16234-1 (e-CF) does not attempt to cover every possible competence deployed by an ICT
professional nor are the included competences necessarily unique to ICT. EN 16234-1 (e-CF)
articulates competences associated with ICT professional roles including some that may be found in
other professions but are very important in an ICT context; examples include, C.4. ‘Problem
Management’ or E.3. ‘Risk Management’. However, to maintain an ICT focus, EN 16234-1 (e-CF)
avoids generic competences such as ‘Communications’ or ‘General Management’. Although very
applicable these generic competences are comprehensively articulated in other structures. Selecting
competences for inclusion within EN 16234-1 (e-CF) is therefore a pragmatic rather than an exhaustive
process. The selection was based on engagement with a broad cross-section of stakeholders who
prioritize competence inclusion based upon industry knowledge and experience.
EN 16234-1 (e-CF) is structured across four dimensions. e-Competences in Dimensions 1 and 2 are
presented from the organisational perspective as opposed to an individual’s perspective. Dimension 3
defines e-Competence levels and relates to the European Qualifications Framework (EQF), it provides a
bridge between organisational and individual competences. Dimension 4 provides examples of knowledge
and skills in the e-Competences of Dimension 2; they are not intended to be exhaustive but included for
inspiration and orientation.
This latest version of the standard incorporates a new element, transversal aspects; these recognize
the relevance of a number of important cross-cutting aspects and provide additional generic ICT related
descriptors for successful application of e-CF competences in the workplace. Accessibility, Ethics and
Security are examples of transversal aspects that may be applied flexibly to match the application context.
EN 16234-1 (e-CF) has a sector specific relationship to the EQF; competence levels withi
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