Digital Launchpad – Tackling the digital projects skills gap - Part 1

Al Morris 

Transformation Lead

There is a distinct lack of skilled project professionals that have the skills and ability to handle digital projects. It's a staggering statement to make but unfortunately a very true one.  

All is not lost however, there are some digital masterminds and yes they are very good, but the small numbers result in high costs and big demand.  This is great for the person, not so good for the businesses in vital need of their services.  

Now we know what you are thinking, Scotland is an ever-growing digital force, with thousands of graduates leaving university every year. We have a booming tech, financial, start-up and public sector market. So how can there be a lack of skills and what are we doing about solving this issue?  Well there’s 2 problems here…. The industry is growing, but the right talent just isn’t there in the digital project space.​

Why is there a skills gap? ​

Let’s be really clear – we’re not here tackle technical developer skills, testing skills or UX. (Mostly because there are businesses already doing this, and it's not our forte).  We’re playing in the space of the existing business analyst.  But as you’ll see if you read on – we’re ditching that name - and creating a new job - a future proofed job.
 
There is a long list of reasons why this gap has emerged.  These reasons can be split up into several larger categories including education, guidance, understanding and future.  

This is Milk have delved deep into these topics in regards to digital project skills and this is what we have found. 

Education: 

• There is a lack of graduate paths into these roles. In fact do they even exist? 
• Learning is done with the sink or swim method. There is generally no structure behind it and is ineffective at teaching the necessary skills. 
• Online learning is great, you can reach the masses, boost numbers, surely that’s a solution, right? Wrong. Online learning does not allow for real project learning, which is essential. 
• The training that is out there is old before it’s even published.

Guidance: 

• There is no clear path/career route for these roles – the insight we gathered confirmed what we knew- people just fall into these roles.
• A lack of mentorship and guidance leaves professionals static, struggling to progress their skills in line with industry needs. 
• Still a lot of confusion about basic ways to run projects.

(Read our earlier blog post about confusion over agile for 1 such example).
​
Understanding: 

• There are still many businesses that don't know what they need, who to recruit and how to train and develop the right skills. 
• A disconnect exists between design/UX and traditional project roles.
• There is confusion around job titles including Business Analyst, Project Manager and Product Manager. Exactly who does what and what does the title mean. 
• Most people learn their skills in large/slow traditional projects which are often in the public sector or financial services. 
• Existing training does not evolve fast enough, there is no ongoing progression of thought. 
• Those that are in the field aren't necessarily equipped for the digital projects of today, let alone tomorrow – and they are passing on the techniques of the past.
• Digital projects will overtake non digital projects. We will be left with a massive up-skilling issue in our existing resources. (They probably already have – in fact you may argue all projects are now digital).
• A lack of skills in the market results in an inability to move at pace.​ ​

What this problem needs is something that currently does not exist!

How is it possible to tackle so many issues?

These issues are not new, they have been slowly creeping up resulting in an increasing need for action. The market is showing signs of wear and tear which will only grow. 

To solve this issue requires something new, something purpose designed, something that deals with every issue mentioned above, setting a precedent for all digital projects. 
​
What this problem needs is something that currently does not exist! We need to embrace change by creating something new! 

Do you now want to know what that is? well you can in Part 2

​Doing what we do best. ​

Well we've framed the problem - and we are literally all hands on deck working out the solution for this problem.  It's 2 fold, and we'll be publishing more about what we're planning.  Literally in just the next few days, we'll be publishing a blog about the new project role we're creating.

We're still capturing insight as well - please take a few minutes and complete one of our surveys:

• For people who hire for projects
• For people in high growth tech
• For people who work on projects 

(Pssst...  We have already put some information on the website - so for curiosity's sake - check it out!)

Added bonus: Here's a link to a previous blog written by Angela on Why change needs to change. ​

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(Blog first published 12/01/2018)