PEOPLE | UPSKILLING
“ Creating this culture of continuous digital learning for the broader organisation , a culture that engages expert practitioners , citizen learners , and leaders , is critical to ensuring the successful adoption and execution of digital transformation initiatives ”
Sarah Reynolds Chief Marketing Officer at global online talent transformation platform Udacity
However , when hiring graduates , recruiting based on soft skills rather than pre-existing digital skills opens up the hiring pool to a much larger range of “ excellent candidates ”, so while there are not enough STEM graduates to meet the number of technical jobs , there are plenty of “ smart and motivated graduates ” who can be trained for technical roles .
“ By digitally upskilling staff , organisations can circumvent the issue and reduce their need to compete for tech talent in the open job market .”
Having digital upskilling programs in place also allows the organisation to change with the times , Sarah says . “ Business is facing rapid and widespread change as it shifts increasingly in line with the digital . Investing in employees ’ continued skills development allows an organisation to develop talent as the sector evolves and creates a more resilient and sustainable workforce in times of flux .”
Upskilling – create a culture of lifelong learning While organisations increasingly recognise the need , many make the mistake of assuming that upskilling their workforce is a one-time investment , rather than a rolling project . “ As the tech sector evolves , digital transformations will continue ,” Sarah tells businesschief . com 47