Digital competences of the workforce – a research topic?

Abstract

Purpose Considering working in the digital age, questions on the consequences for the individual workers are, so far, often neglected. The purpose of this paper is to deal with the question of whether the digital competences of the workforce is a research topic. The authors argue for the thesis that it is indeed a research topic. Design/methodology/approach In addition to a literature analysis of the top IS, HR, and learning publications, non-scientific sources, as well as the opinions of the authors, are included. The authors’ thesis is challenged through a debate of corresponding pros and cons. Findings The definition of digital competences lacks scientific depth. Focussing on the workforce is valid, as a “lifelong” perspective is not mandatory for research. Digital competence research is a multidisciplinary task to which the IS field can make a valuable contribution. Research limitations/implications Although relevant references are included, some aspects are mainly driven by the opinions of the authors. The theoretical implications encompass a call for a scientific definition of digital competences. Furthermore, scholars should focus on the competences of the workforce, including occupations, roles, or industries. The authors conclude by providing a first proposal of a research agenda. Practical implications The practical implications include the alignment of multiple stakeholders for the design of “digital” curricula and the integration by HR departments of the construct of digital competences, e.g. for compensation matters and job requirements. Originality/value This paper is one of very few contributions in the area of the digital competences of the workforce, and it presents a starting point for future research activities.

Competency profiles for lean professionals – an international perspective

“…The postulate of the smart use of IT for successful business process management nowadays becomes even more important, due to the pervasiveness of IT. Every employee, especially those working in knowledge intensive jobs, will need to be equipped with a certain degree of digital competencies to be able to work in the digital age (Murawski and Bick, 2017). Those competencies can be referred to as "[…] the ability to adopt and use new or existing information technology to analyse, select and critically evaluate digital information in order to investigate and solve work-related problems and develop a collaborative knowledge body while engaging in organizational practices within a specific organizational context" (Vieru, 2015, p. 6718).…”

Diversifying Effect of Digital Competence

“…Their aim is to adapt their throughway, culture, and competencies to the new, digital way of working (Accenture, 2016;Maedche, 2016). What kind of change does this revolution cause for the workforce (Murawski and Bick, 2017)? The publication of Frey and Osborne generated the biggest attention (Frey and Osborne, 2013).…”

“…Among other things, as a result of this alarming article, several new reports on this topic have been published recently (Autor, 2015;Miroudot et al, 2016). The numerical results and conclusions of these reports are not similar, but they agree that the concept of work is going to change significantly in the coming decades (Murawski and Bick, 2017). The macroeconomic scientists are still focusing on the numerical results and conclusions of their reports, while the consequences for the individual workers are often neglected (Wang and Haggerty, 2011).…”

Exploring Digital Competence Requirements for Junior Financial Analysts in the UK Banking Industry

“…While the level of digital competences increases in the workforce, the demand for digital competences seems to grow even faster [4,5]. According to Newhouse, society is currently facing a period in which technological capabilities accelerate so swiftly that talent and knowledge cannot keep up, which consequently leads to a digital competence gap [6].…”

“…For instance, recent studies have already addressed digital competences of communicators or data professionals [5,11]. Other studies emphasize the general need for further research on this topic [4].…”