There’s lots of talk about skills gaps in the workforce. Today I want to talk about one specific skills gap – digital. I ran across this very good article on the Undercover Recruiter blog discussing some of the strategies we need to employ to bridge the digital skills gap. It’s worth a read.
Technology is a wonderful thing. Its capabilities are amazing. But I can’t help but wonder if technology is moving too quickly? I mean, shouldn’t we be concerned when there’s a term called technological unemployment?
I do understand that we need technology and our tech advancements will change jobs. In fact, it could completely eliminate certain types of work. Both businesses and individuals need to figure out how to deal with those changes. It’s not a quick fix with a single answer. One thing is certain – neither people nor companies can afford to be left behind.
If technology is always changing, how do we figure out what the right products are? This applies to both companies and individuals. For example, if a new phone is introduced on the market, what is the criteria for deciding to purchase that model versus sticking with the old version? Yes, some of it will be cost. But evaluating capabilities is absolutely necessary.
And if I make the decision to purchase a new piece of technology, how long should I expect to keep it? I can see the value proposition being a huge concern for companies. The last thing a company wants is to outgrow a solution before the technology provider offers an upgrade. They also don’t want to overbuy and not use all the capabilities the system offers.
I thought it was really interesting to read this article about Samsung and their decision to slow down smartwatch production. Of course, it’s in part because of the Apple watch. It also admits to putting a lot of technology on the table within a very short period of time.
[clickToTweet tweet=”How can we keep up with the speed of technology?” quote=”How can we keep up with the speed of technology?” theme=”style3″]
Customers want and need to consume technology at their own pace. Whether you’re an individual or a business, part of being technologically savvy is being able to evaluate new technology and decide its value. And we need to learn how to do that efficiently and effectively.
Oh, and P.S. One place you can go to stay on top on your technology game is the HR Technology Conference and Expo. It’s being held October 18-21 in Las Vegas. The event covers the technology we need to be effective today and stay relevant in the future. For details, visit the conference website.
Image courtesy of Sharlyn Lauby
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Steve B says
Yikes! I don’t tweet or instagram. I can text, e-mail, v-mail, and feedly. I do FB and use (some) cloud storage. I guess it’s a matter of priorities. I also hike, cook, and attempt to take amazing photographs. (Oh, yes, and sleep)
Rob says
You definitely raise some very valid points here. Ultimately, it all boils down to what each individual is comfortable with. (So young people, do be patient with your elders!)
Sharlyn Lauby says
Hi Rob. I think you raise a good point. Yes, it does involve our individual comfort levels. But we need to be prepared to push our comfort levels in this case. That’s easier said than done. Thanks for the comment.