NSXNational Skills ExchangeSign in
Back to Framework

Computer and Information Systems Managers

SOC 11-3021.00Job Zone 4 · Considerable Preparationv.26.05

Context coveredThis framework covers IT and information systems management practice in mid-to-large organizations, spanning daily operations, staff supervision, project coordination, data security, and strategic technology leadership across Job Zone 4 environments.

Sources:O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.SkillsCrosswalkSkillsCrosswalk — O*NET enrichment + adjacency index. Opens in new tab.
Emerging
Entry / Apprentice
  1. Daily department workflows — observe and document under supervisor direction to identify bottlenecks in an IT operations environment.
  2. Project plans and task lists — review and summarize key milestones under guidance from a senior IT manager.
  3. Systems analysts and programmers — assist in tracking work assignments using a project management tool in a mid-size technology department.
  4. Technical support requests — respond to routine computer problems by following established troubleshooting protocols with end users.
  5. Vendor communications — participate in meetings with technology vendors to learn procurement and cooperation procedures.
  6. Data security policies — apply existing backup and access-control standards under supervision in a corporate IT setting.
  7. Technology industry publications — read and summarize advances in computing to support awareness briefings for the management team.
  8. Staff recruitment processes — assist HR and senior managers in scheduling interviews and compiling candidate materials.
  9. CRM and database management software — navigate and enter data accurately following departmental procedures.
  10. Written reports and status updates — draft routine correspondence and progress summaries under editorial review by a department manager.
Developing
Mid-level / Established
  1. Departmental workflow priorities — analyze and adjust daily task sequencing with limited oversight to meet established service-level deadlines.
  2. Cross-functional coordination meetings — facilitate discussions with department heads and supervisors to resolve recurring operational issues.
  3. Project activity plans — review and coordinate timelines across multiple IT projects, flagging conflicts for senior leadership.
  4. Programmer and analyst work products — assign tasks and conduct structured reviews of deliverables against technical specifications.
  5. User technical support escalations — diagnose and resolve moderately complex computer problems, coordinating with vendor support as needed.
  6. Data security and disaster recovery procedures — implement and test established recovery protocols in a corporate IT environment.
  7. Emerging technology assessments — evaluate new tools and platforms and prepare adoption recommendations for management review.
  8. Staff performance and training — deliver onboarding guidance and performance feedback to junior IT staff under departmental HR frameworks.
  9. Database and development environment software — configure and query systems to support reporting and operational decision-making.
  10. Operational standards documentation — author and maintain departmental procedures, standards, and policy updates for IT staff use.
Proficient
Senior / Expert IC
  1. Full-scope department operations — direct daily IT workflows autonomously, establishing priorities, setting deadlines, and enforcing performance standards across the team.
  2. Stakeholder problem resolution — lead meetings with department heads, vendors, and executive sponsors to negotiate solutions to complex cross-functional technology issues.
  3. Enterprise project portfolios — coordinate and review multi-phase project plans, reallocating resources and adjusting scope to maintain strategic alignment.
  4. Technical staff performance — assign, mentor, and evaluate systems analysts, programmers, and IT specialists, ensuring work quality meets organizational requirements.
  5. Complex user and system problems — diagnose and resolve non-routine technology failures, applying advanced troubleshooting and root-cause analysis methods.
  6. Information resource strategy — develop and enforce data security frameworks, strategic computing architectures, and disaster recovery plans for the organization.
  7. Technology landscape monitoring — synthesize emerging advances in hardware, software, and cybersecurity to proactively adapt departmental capabilities.
  8. Full-cycle staffing management — recruit, interview, hire, and train IT staff, making independent hiring recommendations aligned with departmental growth plans.
  9. Integrated technology platforms — evaluate and govern CRM systems, portal servers, and development environments to optimize enterprise-wide IT service delivery.
  10. Analytical and written communications — produce executive-level reports, systems evaluations, and strategic recommendations with clarity and precision.
Advanced
Lead / Principal / Executive
  1. Organizational IT strategy — set multi-year technology direction and investment priorities aligned with enterprise business objectives at the executive level.
  2. Cross-enterprise stakeholder leadership — convene and lead senior leadership, board-level, and vendor partnerships to drive transformational technology initiatives.
  3. Portfolio governance frameworks — establish program management standards and project governance structures that guide IT delivery across the entire organization.
  4. High-performing IT workforce — design talent pipelines, succession plans, and professional development programs that build organizational capability at scale.
  5. Enterprise data governance — architect and champion data security, privacy, and disaster recovery policies that meet regulatory and strategic resilience requirements.
  6. Technology innovation culture — sponsor emerging technology research and organizational learning initiatives that position the enterprise as an industry leader.
  7. Systems evaluation at organizational scale — lead enterprise-wide assessments of IT infrastructure effectiveness, driving optimization decisions with measurable business impact.
  8. Executive-level decision making — apply advanced judgment and inductive reasoning to resolve unprecedented technology and organizational challenges with enterprise-wide consequences.
  9. Strategic vendor and partner ecosystem — negotiate and govern major technology contracts and alliances that shape the organization's long-term competitive positioning.
  10. Organizational change leadership — guide culture, process, and technology transformation efforts, developing other managers and ensuring sustained adoption across all business units.

AI-at-Work Competency Framework

Sources:Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab.Jadhav & Danve, 2026Skill Automation Feasibility Index — Jadhav & Danve, 2026 (arXiv:2604.06906). Opens in new tab.WEF Skills TaxonomyWEF Skills Taxonomy 2021 — Building a Common Language for Skills at Work. Opens in new tab.

A 4-level framework describing how a worker at each mastery level uses, directs, and evaluates AI tools in this occupation. Each statement cites its evidence inline. Subscribe for $19.99/mo to read the full framework — or sign in if you have a subscription.

  1. Emerging
  2. Developing
  3. Proficient
  4. Advanced
Monthly subscription · Stripe-hosted · unlocks AI-at-Work and Pathsmith™ Durable Skills across the full library

Pathsmith™ Durable Skills Framework

Sources:Pathsmith™ Durable SkillsPathsmith™ Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
Subscriber feature

Ten durable-skill domains mapped to four proficiency levels for this occupation. Subscribe to unlock the full Pathsmith™ Durable Skills Framework across all 1,016 occupations.

Monthly subscription · Stripe-hosted · unlocks AI-at-Work and Pathsmith™ Durable Skills across the full library
Show O*NET source anchors64 anchors · skillscrosswalk.com

O*NET enrichment · skillscrosswalk.com

Suggest an O*NET correction

Source anchors that ground each statement

Related titles
Application Development Director · Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) · Computer and Information Systems Manager · Computer Operations Manager · Computer Programming Manager · Computer Security Manager · Computer Systems Information Director · Computing Services Director · Consulting Technical Director · Cyber Workforce Manager · Cybersecurity All-Source Collection Manager · Cybersecurity All-Source Collection Requirements Manager
RAPIDS apprenticeships
—
O*NET skills
Critical ThinkingReading ComprehensionActive ListeningJudgment and Decision MakingMonitoringSpeakingCoordinationWritingComplex Problem SolvingSystems AnalysisSystems EvaluationSocial PerceptivenessManagement of Personnel ResourcesTime ManagementActive LearningLearning StrategiesOperations AnalysisMathematicsPersuasionInstructingNegotiationManagement of Financial Resources
Knowledge domains
Computers and ElectronicsCustomer and Personal ServiceAdministration and ManagementEngineering and TechnologyEnglish LanguagePersonnel and Human ResourcesMathematicsEducation and Training
Abilities
Inductive ReasoningDeductive ReasoningProblem SensitivityOral ExpressionWritten ComprehensionOral ComprehensionInformation OrderingWritten ExpressionNear VisionSpeech Clarity
Work styles
DependabilityLeadership OrientationAttention to DetailIntegrityInnovationIntellectual Curiosity
Technology
Customer relationship management CRM softwareDesktop publishing softwareWeb platform development softwareObject or component oriented development softwareData base management system softwareData base user interface and query softwarePortal server softwareDevelopment environment softwareVideo creation and editing softwarePresentation software
Tasks · seed anchors for statements
  1. Direct daily operations of department, analyzing workflow, establishing priorities, developing standards and setting deadlines.
  2. Meet with department heads, managers, supervisors, vendors, and others, to solicit cooperation and resolve problems.
  3. Review project plans to plan and coordinate project activity.
  4. Assign and review the work of systems analysts, programmers, and other computer-related workers.
  5. Provide users with technical support for computer problems.
  6. Develop computer information resources, providing for data security and control, strategic computing, and disaster recovery.
  7. Recruit, hire, train and supervise staff, or participate in staffing decisions.
  8. Stay abreast of advances in technology.
CIP education codes
11.010111.010311.040111.070111.080211.090111.100111.100211.100311.100530.080130.160130.310130.390130.700152.020552.120152.120652.120752.129952.2101

Sources: O*NET v30.2 (CC BY 4.0), SkillsCrosswalk.com, LER.me®, Anthropic Economic Index, SAFI (Jadhav & Danve, 2026), WEF Skills Taxonomy 2021, Pathsmith™ Durable Skills Framework. © 2026 EBSCOed.