A short presentation on how organizations can reduce the digital skills gap in the 4th industrial revolution.

1. HOW TO REDUCE THE
DIGITAL SKILLS GAP IN AN
ORGANISATION
Presentation by Zinzile Mhlanga (Lead Researcher)

2. OUTLINE
This presentation will cover the following:
● A brief background on what is meant by digital skills gap
● The major reasons behind it and finally…
● How this gap can be reduced by organisations

3. INTRODUCTION
● As digital transformation
closes in on businesses
around the globe,
companies are struggling to
implement the tools and
security required to remain
competitive without these
skillsets..

4. When we talk about the digital skills gap, what
do we really mean?
According to Simon Mulcahy
(CIO for Salesforce) it’s an
issue of supply and demand: a
mismatch between the need for
a digitally savvy workforce and
the availability of workers trained
in those skills.

5. CONT…..
● Every organization regardless of which sector they belong to
whether its banking, healthcare or education they are becoming a
digital. Therefore, unlike the past where core digital skills where the
purview of a single department now they are increasingly becoming
hard-wired into nearly every department/job.

6. What are some of the biggest reasons behind
the digital skills gap?
● Digital Transformation: Technology has evolved at lightning speed
and customers are increasingly demanding personalized services.
Thus, organisations are faced with enormous pressure to reinvent
themselves in order to stay competitive fuelling the demand for digital
skills.
● COVID-19: The pandemic ushered in a seismic mindset shift around
how we live, work and consume, which has only widened the already
large skills gap.

7. CONT….
● Traditional education system: Traditional modes of education
alone may not be keeping up with employers' needs for digital skills.
Hence, this dated mindset means that a large (%) of the world has
not acquired the skills they need to prepare for a quickly digitizing
world.

8. How can the digital skills gap be
reduced in an organisation?
● Respond to change
Organisations need to create an open and progressive environment
and welcome new technologies into the workforce.
● Inspire and Educate
Encourage and fund staff to take up courses and classes to learn new
skills.
● Coaching and Mentoring workshops
After learning how to perform a new task employees can be provided
with guidance and understanding of the skill set they have mastered.

9. Cont….
Maximise employee’s networks when recruiting
● If you want the best people to work for your company, you need to
invest in the best staff. According to PWC 55% of job seekers would
move to another job if they feel their current employer is not fulfilling
their desire to keep their digital skills current Therefore make sure
you are the company they move to.
Adopting skill-based hiring practices

10. Ultimately….
There is a huge role for businesses
to play in bridging the digital skills
gap. However, once you take the
first step in understanding that you
need to move with technology, not
against it, or trail after it, your staff
will take notice too.

11. “It is not the strongest species that
survives nor the most intelligent that
survives.It’s the one that is most
adaptable to change”
- From Charles Darwin

12. Thank you!