Use financial, commercial and resource insight to inform decisions

This standard is about using financial, commercial and resource awareness to inform priorities and decisions within your area of responsibility. You determine the information you need, gather and analyse evidence and evaluate the financial, commercial and resource implications of your decisions. You communicate clearly, collaborate with colleagues and support shared understanding of financial, 
commercial and resource considerations. You work in line with organisational values, apply relevant leadership and management theories and support colleagues to use financial, commercial and resource information effectively in their work. 

This standard applies to managers and leaders at all levels across all sectors.

1. Determine the financial, commercial and resource information you need to inform decisions within your area of responsibility to support sound judgment.
2. Gather information from relevant sources to support accurate and proportionate analysis.
3. Analyse financial, commercial and resource factors that influence priorities and decisions to support effective planning and delivery.
4. Communicate in ways that support inclusion, clarity and shared understanding when discussing financial, commercial and resource implications.
5. Interact and adapt your communication and behaviour in ways that uphold dignity, respect and colleagues’ participation during financial, commercial and resource discussions.
6. Evaluate risks and constraints that may influence financial, commercial and resource decisions to support informed judgment.
7. Evaluate opportunities to enhance the use of financial, commercial and resource information to strengthen decision-making.
8. Collaborate with colleagues to inform priorities and decisions that align with organisational values and intended outcomes.
9. Respond constructively to concerns raised by colleagues about financial, commercial and resource issues in line with organisational procedures to maintain trust and progress.
10. Monitor behaviours that may affect informed decision-making and respond in line with organisational procedures to maintain a positive working environment.
11. Monitor and escalate changes in the working environment that may affect financial, commercial and resource decisions, ensuring timely action to protect delivery.
12. Provide information and guidance that supports colleagues to understand and apply financial, commercial and resource considerations in their work.
13. Apply relevant leadership, management and financial/commercial/resource-based theories and models to strengthen financial, commercial and resource decision-making.
14. Reflect critically on your performance and behaviour to identify improvements in how you use financial, commercial and resource awareness.

1. The meaning and importance of financial, commercial and resource awareness in your area of responsibility.
2. The factors that influence financial, commercial and resource decisions and how they affect organisational outcomes.
3. How financial, commercial and resource awareness influences performance, engagement and organisational priorities.
4. How to determine and gather the information you need to inform decisions from relevant sources, including systems, colleagues and operational data.
5. How to analyse financial, commercial and resource information to inform decisions.
6. Methods used to assess financial, commercial and resource implications, including cost‑benefit analysis, forecasting and scenario planning.
7. How to communicate in ways that support inclusion, clarity and shared understanding during financial, commercial and resource discussions.
8. How to interact with colleagues in ways that uphold dignity, respect and participation, and how to adapt your communication to support engagement.
9. How to evaluate risks, constraints and opportunities that influence financial, commercial and resource decisions.
10. How to collaborate with colleagues to inform priorities and decisions aligned with organisational values and intended outcomes.
11. How to support colleagues to understand and apply financial, commercial and resource considerations in their work.
12. How to respond constructively to concerns about financial, commercial and resource issues in line with organisational procedures.
13. How to recognise behaviours that may affect informed decision-making and how to respond in line with organisational procedures.
14. How changes in the working environment influence financial, commercial and resource decisions and when escalation is required.
15. How leadership, management and financial/commercial/resource-based theories and models can strengthen financial, commercial and resource decision-making.
16. How to reflect critically on your performance and behaviour to identify opportunities for improvement.

The following values underpin this standard. They are integrated throughout the performance criteria and knowledge and understanding requirements and inform how individuals approach their work, make decisions and interact with others.

• Integrity - acting consistently with organisational values when making decisions.
• Openness - sharing information to support shared understanding.
• Inclusion - valuing diverse perspectives when considering financial, commercial and resource implications.
• Responsibility - taking ownership of your contribution to informed decision-making.
• Respect - considering colleagues’ needs and experiences when discussing trade-offs.
• Stewardship - using resources responsibly to support organisational outcomes.

The following behaviours underpin this standard. They are integrated throughout the performance criteria and knowledge and understanding requirements and inform how individuals approach their work, make decisions and interact with others.

• Act with integrity, aligning financial, commercial and resource decisions with organisational values.
• Be inclusive, valuing diverse perspectives when considering financial, commercial and resource implications.
• Act with respect, treating colleagues with dignity and supporting psychological safety.
• Communicate openly, explaining financial, commercial and resource information clearly.
• Act with stewardship, using resources responsibly to support organisational outcomes.
• Take accountability for owning your role in financial, commercial and resource decision-making.
• Consider wellbeing, recognising how financial, commercial and resource decisions affect colleagues’ workload, participation and engagement.