The digital transformation of the economy entails new personnel challenges. It takes decision makers and employees who - are able to assess the impact of the digital changes on a / their company, - have a fundamental understanding of the potential of digital applications and at the same time - who can moderate change processes in a / their company. The project ”Digitalisation” contributes specifically by developing a “Self-learning Tool” which will be available online so it can be used directly in the workplace to prepare the strategic setting of the digitalisation course of European SMEs within the company and to initiate its implementation in the company’s operational processes (Work based learning approach). The target groups of the project are directors, managers and employees of European SMEs from the “Business Services” sector. In this area 99 % of all companies are small enterprises with less than 50 employees or even micro enterprises with less than 10 employees (ECORYS, 2012, Study on business-related services). To reach the project objectives, the project consortium is broadly aligned in terms of content. Furthermore, due to the strong weighing of the interests of the prospective users in the project consortium it ensures that the project results will be beneficial predominantly for SMEs operating locally or regionally in the sector of “Business Services”. That’s why in this project a training provider, a university, an association for small and medium-sized businesses, two chambers and a consulting company cooperate. Within the project, various university teachers, managing directors, consultants, trainers, project managers etc. of the participating project partners will contribute to the success of the project. The project will address directly at least 382 persons: 200 will participate in a Europe-wide online survey, 62 will test the project products and 120 will attend 5 multiplier events in the participating 5 project countries. The participants will be recruited from the following structures: - members of the participating chambers and of the professional association, - students and learners of the respective training providers in the consortium (especially university and vocational training), - further individuals and networking partners from partner organisations. The project will develop two concrete products: a “Process Model” and freely available online “Self-learning Tool”. The “Process Model” (O1) shows comprehensively how the digitalisation process in a SME can systematically be pushed step by step. The “Self-learning Tool” (O2) offers the required analysing, learning and planning materials and opts for an integrated approach: 1) Besides themes of organisational development (especially change and risk management), 2) there will be explanations about current digital technologies and its possible applications (e.g. Big Data and Data analysis, mobile services, solutions for information security, cloud computing). 3) In this context, there will be explanations especially for legal aspects from EU level which have direct impact on national contexts, such as the new European General Regulation for Data Protection which will become effective in 2018. For the individual learner the “Self-learning tool” is a chance to improve and expand own skills for a highly relevant field of activity in the labor market. For the development of the products a classical methodology will be used: (1) generation of a common knowledge base, (2) conception of the project products, (3) programming, (4) testing and revision, (5) publication of the project products and (6) dissemination of the results. Already within the project progression, the transfer into other sectors / professional groups will be prepared. PRINCE2 (Projects in Controlled Environments) will be used as project management method. Who will profit from the project? The project results will be disseminated across Europe to approx. 30.000 directors, managers and employees of European SMEs from the “Business Services” sector. In fact, it is expected that up to 5.000 representatives from the target group will actively use the “Self-learning Tool”. Which mid and long term impacts are expected? The project “Digitalisation” will train “digitally smart people who are not only able to use but also to innovate and lead [SME] in using these technologies” (A New Skills Agenda For Europe, EU Commission, 2016). They will be qualified to develop and successfully implement newer and better digitalisation strategies for their companies. That way, their companies will be more competitive overall and able to generate new jobs on a mid and long-term basis.
Digital Transformation – Step by Step The digital transformation of the economy brings new personal challenges with it. There is a need for decision makers and employees who have a fundamental understanding of the potential of digital applications and who are able to moderate a process of change in their companies. The project ‘Digitalisation’ makes a tangible contribution towards this with the development of a self-learning tool for these challenges that is freely available online and that can be used directly at the workplace (digital-transformation-tool.eu). 2 products were developed in the project ‘Digitalisation’: 1) Digital transformation process model 2) Digital transformation learning tool The digital transformation process model shows in an understandable way how the process of digitalisation in an SME can be systematically advanced, one step at a time. This forms the theoretical foundation of the digital transformation learning tool. The digital transformation learning tool offers practical analytical, learning and planning materials for the digital transformation of companies and the ongoing development of business models. These materials can be used directly on the job by learners (work-based learning approach). The digital transformation learning tool consists of the following components: 1. Quick check: the quick check tool gives learners a first impression of their company’s current position. 2. Driving forces that change the world: with the help of short learning modules, learners can unlock the most important technological developments for themselves, e.g. big data, artificial intelligence, or cybersecurity. 3. Digital transformation – step-by-step instructions: learners are led systematically through the process of developing a strategy for the digital transformation of their company. This is done with the help of short learning modules and worksheets. In addition to this, a prioritisation tool has been specially developed to support the users as they implement their own digital transformation. The two project products are available free of charge online and do not require a login. They have been structured in a user-friendly way, edited to be easily understandable, and tailored to the needs of the target group, in particular SME in the business services sector. The process model is available in English and the learning tool in Bulgarian, German, English, Italian and Greek. They can be accessed here: digital-transformation-tool.eu. Alongside the large number of people that have been reached via the project partners’ various channels for dissemination during the course of the project, 576 people have been directly integrated in the project activities. Those who have participated in or directly profited from the project have been primarily representatives of SME (leaders, managers and employees). The project’s target group, here particularly representatives of SME in the business services sector, was intensively involved in the development of the learning tool (online surveys; conversations with experts, two test phases). As well as this, these individuals were guests at the project’s central dissemination activities (multiplier events). To show this in more detail, there were 304 participants in an online survey across Europe, 20 people were interviewed and shared their experiences, 18 people personally participated in the test phase of the learning tool (focus groups in three project countries) and 79 testers tested the tool online. At the end, 155 people attended the project’s five multiplier events in the five project countries. The project’s sustainable effectiveness in the coming years will be primarily due to the project results being available free of charge online. Even during the project there was already very positive feedback about this, in particular from the participants of the multiplier events. The project will display its full potential in the coming years when up to 5,000 leaders, managers and employees in SME use the learning tool free of charge. Amongst other things, the project’s sustainability is ensured by the fact that the materials developed for the online learning tool in the course of the project are very well suited to the preparation of work-based training courses. For example, the project’s lead partner emcra, together with the German project partner IBWF, will offer a new certified training course from 2020 for digital managers in Germany. In key areas this training course is based on the curriculum in the ‘Digitalisation’ project results.