Developing a Digital Competencies Framework (20.RP4.0041) – Completed

The challenge

Digital innovations are widespread in almost every industry including the energy sector. The energy sector generates data at an astounding rate. These datasets represent critical assets that enable transformations including improved efficiency, effectiveness and safety of operations to reduce the environmental footprint and facilitate business model disruption. Understanding the proficiency of the energy sector workforce across key digital competencies including data engineering, data science, networks required for the Internet of Things (IoT), cloud computing, automation and robotics, and cyber security systems is a critical component of our future success.

The project’s objectives were three-fold:

1. To put forward an assessment of the digital skills required within the Australian energy industry in 2027
2. To provide a snapshot of where current proficiency levels are
3. To offer recommendations for how to fill any gaps between where we are and where we need to be.

Project phases

In Phases 1 and 2 of this project, a five-point digital skills framework was adapted from prior literature that pulled together the range of skills required in the industry, the five-points being:

• Data analytics skills
• Digital communication and collaboration skills
• Digital safety and security skills
• Digital ethics and responsibility skills
• Digital innovation skills

Case study evidence and observations from other industries were amalgamated to establish the proficiency levels that each of the energy industry’s discipline groups should have by 2027 for each of the framework’s five elements.

Phase 3 focussed on designing an online survey to allow industry practitioners to self-assess their skills in each of the framework areas, and the resulting survey was then deployed in Phase 4 to a broad range of participants in a midsize Australian energy company.

In Phase 5, a detailed statistical analysis was conducted of the data arising from the survey. In Phase 6, the statistical results were used to identify the most noteworthy skills gaps between what the industry will need in 2027 and the proficiency levels reported by the industry’s workforce, and then recommend solutions and educational resources that are available to close these gaps. The final phase of the project prescribed specific remedies and training opportunities to address the skills gaps identified, using commercially available resources. Where an identified need cannot be met by existing training opportunities, customised learning modules can be designed and delivered.

The solution

A digital competencies framework has been developed to provide a snapshot of current digital skills proficiency levels and to provide recommendations to significantly upgrade the current skills and competencies within Australian energy industry’s engineers, operators and technicians.

Several noteworthy findings emerged from the project, including:

• One of the most urgent skills gaps identified was in the area of Digital Ethics and Responsibility. Three of the six discipline groups—specifically, Corporate, Digital, and the Graduate communities—reported particularly pronounced gaps in this area.
• Moderate gaps were reported by members of the Corporate and Digital skill groups.
• There were also moderate gaps in the Digital Innovation area, most notably for the Operators and Commercial communities.
• The Commercial community reported a moderate gap in the Data Analytics domain.
• Respondents from the Corporate group had a moderate gap in the area of Digital Communication and Collaboration.

A series of solutions and educational resources including face-to-face courses and online learning opportunities were recommended to close the gaps identified by the survey.

The impact

Leveraging datasets and achieving efficiencies across the value chain in the energy sector hinges on the ability of the workforce to use digital technologies effectively. Digital competency is crucial for the energy sector workforce in anticipating gaps and fostering future knowledge growth in industry, governments and educators.