Scotland s Digital Future: Delivery of Public Services: Professional ICT/Digital Technology Skills Gap Online Survey

Transcription

1 Scotland s Digital Future: Delivery of Public Services: Professional ICT/Digital Technology Gap Online Survey Introduction Scottish Government, Development Scotland and other public sector partners are working together to undertake a skills survey to assess the current and future skill issues within the public sectors professional ICT and digital technology workforce. This work forms an important element of the strategy for delivering Scottish Governments strategy for digital public services in Scotland. EKOS, a Glasgow based economic and social research consultancy, has been commissioned to undertake a strategic review which will identify skills issues and potential solutions to addressing these issues. The study includes undertaking an online survey with a range of organisations operating in the public sector. It would be very much appreciated if you would be able to accommodate the survey within your busy schedule. The online survey can be accessed by clicking here. It may be useful to discuss the response to this survey with other colleagues in your organisation and a copy of the survey has been attached in order to allow for all relevant staff members to provide their input prior to online completion. Please note the survey will be live until Fri 29 th August Findings from the survey will provide a better understanding of the current professional ICT/digital technology workforce across the public sector and highlight skills issues and/or needs. Your support for the survey will not only be valuable in helping to inform the research but also in helping to identify solutions to overcome the future skills gaps/shortages that will assist your organisation in the future. Please be assured all information will be treated in the strictest confidence and no comments will be attributable to individuals or to organisations. Should you have any questions please contact Sarah Turnbull, EKOS on or sarah.turnbull@ekos.co.uk. Scope of the survey Please note, the survey focuses only on the public sectors professional ICT and digital technology workforce and does not relate to the wider workforces ICT or digital literacy such as use of Microsoft Office for daily tasks 1

2 Section 1: Background Please provide the following background information. Name of Contact Organisation Role Tel Number Name/Role of other Name: staff members consulted Role: Number of professional ICT staff employed internally within your organisation? Please tick. Less than or more Please note all information will be held in confidence and no comments will be attributable to any individual. 1. What is the primary function of your organisation? Externally facing organisation (e.g. customer facing) Internally facing organisation (e.g. business facing) Mixture of both internal and external facing What is your organisations current model for delivery of ICT/digital services? In-house delivery Outsourced delivery Mixture of in-house and outsourced delivery Do you have a strategy in place that sets out or includes your organisations approach to the delivery of digital services over the next three, five and ten years? Yes Yes, in the process of developing/draft form No 3 years 5 years 10 years 4. Have you recently, or are you currently, undertaking a skills audit of professional ICT/digital technology staff within your organisation? Yes, already completed (Route to Q5) Yes, currently undertaking (Route to Q5) No (Route to Q6) (Route to Q6) 2

3 For those that have completed a skills audit i.e. Q4=1 5. Would you be willing to share your approach and experiences of completing the skill audit with other public sector organisations? Yes, definitely Yes, probably No Section 2: Current Issues Definitions Shortage: is a shortage of skills or experience outside the business within the wider labour market Gaps: are problems with skills inside the business a problem with the skills of existing employees : is the level of experience or qualifications required for a specific job. For the purpose of this study skills levels have been defined as: o 1 for entry/basic level; o 2 for intermediate/technical level o 3 for higher technical/ management level. 6. Do you have any identifiable skills shortages or skills gaps in your current professional ICT/digital technology workforce? Please tick all that apply and, where able to, please provide an indication of the level of skills required. Shortage Gap Leadership and Management Business Strategy Change Management/HR Relationship/Client Management Monitoring and Reporting Wider Business Development Business Planning Innovation/Problem Solving Project Management Procurement/ Contract Management IT Procurement (Service and Hardware) Contract/Supplier Management Quality Control and Management Client/Customer Management Internal Customer Management Client Support/Engagement Account Management Help Desk/IT Support IT Technical Software Development/ Programming Network/ System Design/Development Network/System Integration Network/System Maintenance 3

4 Shortage Gap Web Development/Design/Management Hardware Engineering/Maintenance Data Data Analysis/Analytics Geographic Data Analysis (GIS) Data Management Business Intelligence ICT Security Information Security Risk Management Compliance.. (Route to Q10) Note: This list of professional ICT/digital technology skills has been aligned with the BCS SFIA framework which is used within the public sector, however it has been simplified for the purposed of this study. A full list of skills can be viewed here: 7. Can you please indicate below the top 3 professional ICT/digital technology skills shortages/gaps that are currently impacting on your organisation? Out of the following options, please specify the top 3 reasons for these skills shortages/gaps within your organisation. Please tick one option for 1, 2, and 3. Lack of people with the correct skills Lack of people with required level of experience Lack of resource to upskill current workforce Internal lack of understanding regarding current workforce Competition from the private sector Perception of the public sector. Gap 1 Gap 2 Gap 3 4

5 9. Do you currently have a skills plan/strategy in place to address these skills issues identified above? Yes (Route to Q9a) No (Route to Q10) (Route to Q10) a) If yes, please briefly explain. Section 3: Future Issues 10. Do you anticipate a change in the overall size of your professional ICT/digital technology workforce over the next three years? Please explain. 11. Do you anticipate any skills issues around skills replacement requirements within your professional ICT/digital technology workforce over the next three years? Please explain. 12. Are you concerned that you may experience future skills shortage or skills gaps in your professional ICT/digital technology workforce? Yes (Route to Q12a) No (Route to Q13) (Route to Q13) a) Are there any particular areas of particular concern? 5

6 Definitions Shortage: is a shortage of skills or experience outside the business within the wider labour market Gaps: are problems with skills inside the business a problem with the skills of existing employees : is the level of experience or qualifications required for a specific job. For the purpose of this study skills levels have been defined as: o 1 for entry/basic level; o 2 for intermediate/technical level o 3 for higher technical/ management level. 13. More specifically, do anticipate any identifiable skills shortages or skills gaps in your future professional ICT/digital technology workforce? Please tick all that apply and, where able to, please provide an indication of the level of skills required. Shortage Gap Leadership and Management Business Strategy Change Management/HR Relationship/Client Management Monitoring and Reporting Wider Business Development Business Planning Innovation/Problem Solving Project Management Procurement/ Contract Management IT Procurement (Service and Hardware) Contract/Supplier Management Quality Control and Management Client/Customer Management Internal Customer Management Client Support/Engagement Account Management Help Desk/IT Support IT Technical Software Development/ Programming Network/System Design/Development Network/System Integration Network/System Maintenance Web Development/Design/Management Hardware Engineering/ Maintenance Data Data Analysis/Analytics Geographic Data Analysis (GIS) Data Management Business Intelligence 6

7 ICT Security ICT Security Risk Management Compliance Shortage Gap.. (Route to Q15) Note: This list of professional ICT/digital technology skills has been aligned with the BCS SFIA framework which is used within the public sector, however it has been simplified for the purposed of this study. A full list of skills can be viewed here: Can you please indicate the top 3 professional ICT/digital technology skills shortages/gaps that you anticipate will impact on your organisation over the next 3-5 years Are you aware of any specialist skills areas that will likely develop in the future? For example big data or cybercrime. Yes (Route to Q15a) No (Route to Q16) (Route to Q16) a) If yes, please specify. 7

8 Section 4: Development and Training Please note all questions refer to professional ICT/digital technology skills. 16. What type of training does your organisation currently utilise? Please tick all that apply and specify the main type of training accessed in the last year. In-house trainers Private training providers Higher education(university) short courses Further education (college) - short courses Higher education (university) degree level etc. Further education(college) HNC/HND etc. E-learning MOOC (Massive Open Online Courses) Internal mentoring On the job/shadow training Please tick all that apply Most accessed (Please tick one) 17. At an organisational level what are the main reasons for choosing one type of training over another? (Please tick all that apply) Accreditation upon completion Quality of training provided Price of training Location Learning environment (online, offline) Time spent away from day job What was the biggest area of spend for continued professional development in the last year? Leadership and Management Business Development Procurement/ Contract Management Client/Customer Management IT Technical Data ICT Security 8

9 19. What do you anticipate the will be the biggest area of spend for continued professional development in the next year? Leadership and Management Business Development Procurement/ Contract Management Client/Customer Management IT Technical Data ICT Security 20. If your organisation requires access to one-off specialist skills, how do you source them? Please tick all that apply. Internally sourced (within own organisation) Internally sourced (within the public sector network) Partnership sourcing with other non-public sector organisations Outsource through contract agreement/procurement Section 5: Future Solutions 21. Does your organisation already undertake collaborative approaches to addressing professional ICT/digital technology skills issues? Such as sharing of spaces on training courses, access to online resources with other public sector organisations etc. Yes (Route to Q21a) No (Route to Q23) (Route to Q23) a) Please provide more information the collaboration undertaken. 22. What are the main challenges/barriers to undertaking a collaborative approach? (Please tick all that apply). Specialised training needs which are not be universally required Never considered it as an option Lack of awareness of potential collaborative partners Lack of understanding of how to collaborate Lack of understanding of own skills needs Lack of resource to implement approach Logistics of arranging collaborative training.. 9

10 Now go to Q Would your organisation be willing to participate in a collaborative approach with other public sector organisations to tackle future professional ICT/digital technology skills shortages/skills gaps? Yes, definitely Yes, probably Probably not No 24. What do you believe are the main challenges/barriers to undertaking a collaborative approach? Please tick all that apply. Specialised training needs which would not be universally required Never considered it as an option Lack of awareness of potential collaborative partners Lack of understanding of how to collaborate Lack of understanding of own skills needs Lack of resource to implement approach Logistics of arranging collaborative training What would encourage you to participate/participate more often in a collaborative learning approach? Please tick all that apply. Price and opportunity to better utilise training budgets Ability to access training not normally available Ability to create bespoke training interventions for public sector Opportunity to network and share ideas 26. Would your organisation be willing to collaborate to source skills through public sector procurement frameworks for specialist skills? Yes, definitely Yes, probably Probably not No a) Why do you say this? 10

11 27. Have you used, or are you aware of any innovative, novel or new ways of providing training or staff development that are effective and efficient and which you would cite as good practice? Examples could include: on-line interactive courses; webinars; distance learning; video streaming etc. and may be within or external to your organisation. If so can you provide details below? 28. Have you used or are you aware of any innovative, novel or new ways of addressing skills shortages or gaps. Examples could include: retraining existing staff from other disciplines, sharing staff with other organisations or call-off contracts etc. If so can you provide details below? 29. Does your organisation have the correct skills in place to: Make better use of data Make better use of geographical data Increase accessibility of information outwith your organisation a) Please briefly comment on your responses Yes No Don t Know 11

12 30. Do you have any other comments you would like to make? Thank you for your participation 12