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Building skills in the context of digital transformation: How industry digital maturity drives proactive skill development

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  • Ostmeier, Esther
  • Strobel, Maria

Abstract

Digital transformation is changing the employee skills that organizations need to succeed. In this context, it is increasingly important for employees to proactively develop their skills. The emerging research on employee proactive skill development has largely ignored the possible role of employees’ perceptions of large-scale changes in organizations’ environments in their motivation to engage in such valuable behavior. We address this gap using cognitive-affective personality system theory to explain how macrolevel development affects employee behavior. Existing data on industry digital maturity were combined with survey data of 710 higher education graduates from various organizations and industries collected at two separate time points. The results support the hypothesized positive indirect effects of industry digital maturity on proactive skill development via employees’ interpretation of digitalization as controllable and as an opportunity for their organization. We discuss the implications for research and organizational practice.

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  • Ostmeier, Esther & Strobel, Maria, 2022. "Building skills in the context of digital transformation: How industry digital maturity drives proactive skill development," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 139(C), pages 718-730.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jbrese:v:139:y:2022:i:c:p:718-730
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jbusres.2021.09.020
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    6. Ludvík Eger, 2022. "The demands on competencies for digital transformation and the perception of business students," International Journal of Teaching and Education, European Research Center, vol. 10(1), pages 10-26, April.
    7. David, Sofia & Zinica, Daniel & Bărbuță-Mișu, Nicoleta & Savga, Larisa & Virlanuta, Florina-Oana, 2024. "Public administration managers' and employees' perceptions of adaptability to change under “the future of work” paradigm," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 199(C).
    8. Pinto, Marcelo Rezende & Salume, Paula Karina & Barbosa, Marcelo Werneck & de Sousa, Paulo Renato, 2023. "The path to digital maturity: A cluster analysis of the retail industry in an emerging economy," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 72(C).
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