With digitalization
comes the fear of losing one's job. "Technically speaking, this fear is
very justified," wrote Dr. Holger Schmidt in December 2017 in Netzoekonom. While computers are taking over more and more
professions, the growing demand for digitally versed new employees is not covered.
This is why many companies train existing employees quickly so that they can
keep up, at least at short notice. For the generation of "Digital
Natives" it is worthwhile to already focus on digital change during their
studies and to study e.g. Digital Business Management or Digital Business Strategy at accadis University of Applied
Sciences Bad Homburg.
Jobs in
danger?
In his
article, Dr. Holger Schmidt refers to a McKinsey report from November 2017, among other things: According to
McKinsey, machines can theoretically take over 50 percent of current work
processes. However, as stated in the report, only five percent of all jobs can
currently be fully automated. As a result, the demand for employees who are
able to efficiently think ahead in terms of digital business processes of any
kind is increasing rapidly.
Exponential
vs. linear growth
"The gap between the actual digital level
and the demands that technical progress places on managers and employees is
widening," writes Dr. Holger Schmidt. On the one hand, the digital
knowledge of employees is only growing linearly. On the other hand, technical
progress is accelerating exponentially, leading to a "excess in demand for
digital specialists". Since 2016, the Digitale Job-Monitor, which Dr. Holger Schmidt calculates four times
a year for the Handelsblatt, has
recorded a 50 percent increase in demand for digital expertise. In addition to
the "digital long runners" of artificial intelligence (AI), 3D
printing and robotics, demand is also growing in classic business areas such as
digital finance, digital project management and consulting as well as digital
transformation. "That's why we are offering the Bachelor of
Digital Business Management and the Master of Digital Business Strategy from
October 2018," says Professor Dr. Christoph Kexel, Managing Partner of
accadis University of Applied Science Bad Homburg.
Become a
digital expert by studying
The aim of
the new academic programsis to train the "digital
natives" to manage digital transformation processes comprehensively. They
learn this - in the undergraduate program - in modules such as Digital
Strategies and Business Models, Data Security and Compliance, Internet and
Social Media Marketing or - in lectures in the graduate program - in the areas
of Digital Transformation Strategy or Change Management and Intrapreneurship,
among others. "This is also about integrating innovations into the
existing organization, which is a highly relevant topic for all
companies," says Professor Dr. Christoph Kexel. "Since these are
purely business management programs, IT-specific topics such as coding are not
included."
Young
managers with digital-ethical responsibility
"Another
important component of both programs is business ethics, e.g. in modules on big
data and the influence of digital change on society," explains Professor
Dr. Christoph Kexel. "In addition, we would like to inspire students for
digitization. As an academic institution, we clearly endorse Dr. Holger
Schmidt's statements here. Because only if students graduating from accadis are
enthusiastic about digital change, , he says, they can later lead their
employees as junior executivesin the world which will follow upon ing Industry
4.0, the Internet of Things and AI".
Digital
change throughout all accadis programs
Digital change will not stop at any sector.
"That's why we digitalized the entire academic program some time
ago," says Professor Dr. Christoph Kexel. "The Master's program in Strategic Supply Chain Management, for example, includes topics on digital
transformation in global supply chains, while the students of International Football Managementdeal with the digital marketing of
sport.
The
Bachelor's programs are also based on digital-oriented business management
content. In the International Management lectures, students, among other things,
deal with virtual organizations and innovation management. The International
Marketing module introduces topics such as online marketing, customer
relationship management and big data. In the Leadership Skills modules,
students get to know the agile version of project management.
Young
digital experts for accadis collaborative partners
"Of
course, we also offer the new programs in the dual/work-study format,"
says Professor Dr. Christoph Kexel. "In this manner, corporate partners
can train the dual students along their own company strategy. Based on our
existing collaboration with long-standing partners, we also offer new companies
various work-study format options". The accadis Career Center is happy to
inform potential collaborative partners.