HomeEducationDoctorate (PhD & EngD)For current candidatesPhD infoUpcoming public defencesPARTLY DIGITAL - ONLY FOR INVITEES (1,5 m) : PhD Defence Mirjam Koehorst | Modernizing creative work - How organizations in the creative industries can support knowledge workers to develop the skills they need

PARTLY DIGITAL - ONLY FOR INVITEES (1,5 m) : PhD Defence Mirjam Koehorst | Modernizing creative work - How organizations in the creative industries can support knowledge workers to develop the skills they need

Modernizing creative work - How organizations in the creative industries can support knowledge workers to develop the skills they need

Due to the COVID-19 crisis measures the PhD defense of Mirjam Koehorst will take place (partly) online in the presence of an invited audience. 

The PhD defence can be followed by a live stream.

Mirjam Koehorst is a PhD student in the research group Communication Science (CS). Her supervisors are prof.dr.ing. A.J.A.M. van Deursen and prof.dr. J.A.G.M. van Dijk from the Faculty of Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences (BMS).

The Dutch creative industries (CIs) are a knowledge intensive sector in which many highly educated professionals are employed. Next to subject specific knowledge and skills, the jobs they perform demand a high level of cognitive skills like communication, critical thinking and creativity. Furthermore, skills related to the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) and the internet have increased in significance in recent decades.

21st-Century digital skills combine cognitive skills like information management, communication, collaboration, creativity, critical thinking, and problem solving with a digital component. These skills are crucial in ICT-intensive work environments. Despite the importance of the combination of cognitive and digital skills, especially in an innovative sector like the CIs, there is little awareness with regards to these skills. This complicates the efficient development of such skills, which will positively influence job performance.  

This dissertation explores what organizations can do to support the development of 21st-century digital skills among their employees in the Dutch CIs. To achieve this goal, a multi-method approach was taken. By performing a systematic literature review, an overview of the current status of academic literature into organizational factors that influence skills is obtained. Based on these findings a survey was conducted to study the level of 21st-century digital skills among professionals working in organizations in the CIs. In the same survey, it was studied which organizational factors found in the systematic literature review influence these skills. Thereafter, an explorative round of interviews was used to interview managers and leaders to discuss the previous results, and gain insight into the current development opportunities in these organizations. These findings are used to compile recommendations regarding the development of 21st-century digital skills among employees in the creative industries.

Despite the fact that the importance of 21st-century digital skills was directly and indirectly endorsed by participants, many of them struggle to see digital skills as an integrated component of cognitive skills. Therefore, it is challenging for organizations to focus on the development of 21st-century digital skills. The findings presented in this dissertation can help in writing directed and effective policy.