Digital skills at work – Conceptual development and empirical validation of a measurement scale

Abstract

In today's increasingly digitalized work environments, the need for digital skills is on the rise. Surprisingly, current frameworks of digital skills fail to specifically address the identification and measurement of digital skills in the workplace. The objective of this research is thus to develop a framework and a validated scale for digital skills at work. To do so, we employ a multi-step process that includes a thorough literature review, cognitive interviews with five experts, two pilot surveys (respectively n = 22 and n = 106), and a full validation survey ( n = 923) among professionals. The findings consist of a comprehensive framework and a validated scale for digital skills at work. The framework entails 8 dimensions: Technology use, Cybersecurity, Content management, Communication and collaboration, Critical inquiry, Responsibility, Well-being, and Identity and development. The final scale consists of 52 items. This work enables to better understand individuals' skillsets and organizational requirements in terms of digital skills for the future of work. Both practical and research implications are discussed. • We aimed at developing a framework and a measure instrument to assess digital skills at work. • We took a three-fold approach: framework and item generation based on literature, scale development, scale evaluation. • The result is a validated instrument for measuring 8 dimensions of digital skills at work.