Digital Transformation Skills

In this project, we investigate 1) which digital transformation skills are essential, 2) how professionals can gain insight into their digital transformation skills, and 3) how they can develop these digital transformation skills.

A systematic literature review has resulted in the Digital Transformation Skills Framework (DTSF). This framework of essential digital transformation skills has been published in PloS ONE. An accessible summary of the project is available in English. 

Based on the DTSF framework, we have developed and validated the Digital Transformation Skills Instrument (DTSI). This questionnaire helps (future) workers map their digital transformation skills. We are currently working on a shortened version of the DTSI. 

Training modules have been developed to help colleagues improve their digital transformation skills. These modules, along with the DTSI, are available in My Talent for employees of several pilot institutes of HU. 

In the visualization below, you can see the skills measured in the DTSI.

01 October 2021 - 30 November 2025

• Systematic literature review to identify essential digital transformation skills. 
• Developing, testing, and validating a questionnaire to give (future) workers insight into their digital transformation skills. 
• Developing a shortened version of the questionnaire. 
• Colleagues from several HU institutes complete the questionnaire and gain access to corresponding training modules. This is a pilot in collaboration with HR Development. 
• Research on how workers can be motivated to work on their digital transformation skills through interviews with pilot participants. 
• Research on the applicability of the framework and instruments in other organizations and sectors, including further development of the framework for specific sectors and new technologies. 

This project helps organizations and (future) workers gain insight into the competencies they need to develop to remain successful during digital transformation.