Hybrid Data Competencies for Municipal Civil Servants: An Empirical Analysis of the Required Competencies for Data-Driven Decision-Making

Abstract

This study focuses on an important yet often neglected topic in public personnel competency studies: competencies required for digital government. It addresses the question: Which competencies do civil servants need for data-driven decision-making (DDDM) in local governments? Empirical data are obtained through a combination of 12 expert interviews and 22 Behavioral Event Interviews. Our analysis shows that DDDM as observed in this study is a hybrid process that contains elements of both “traditional” and “data-driven” decision-making. We identified eight competencies that are required in this process: data literacy, critical thinking, teamwork, domain expertise, data analytical skills, engaging stakeholders, innovativeness, and political astuteness. These competencies are also hybrid: a combination of more “traditional” (e.g., political astuteness) and more “innovative” (e.g., data literacy) competencies. We conclude that local governments need to invest resources in developing or selecting these competencies among their employees, to exploit the possibilities data offers in a responsible way.