IT Induced Innovations: Digital Transformation and Process Automation

Abstract

Digital transformation is now one of the most urgent topics in companies and the society. It includes not only application of information technologies, but also process redesign, optimization and automation in order to make services more user friendly, more effective, cost efficient, faster and thus to build the services of next generation with higher quality. Altogether, digital transformation should result in IT induced innovations! This paradigm requires the new type of digital transformation experts, that should not only have knowledge and skills from the area of information technology. It requires experts that should be able to solve the tasks of digital transformation using process modelling, optimization and automation in holistic matter.In this paper, we present a case study of preparing the human resources for digital transformation using process automation as a part of study program in informatics.We build on the top of existing educational methods, that enabled our faculties to produce the most requested graduates in IT labour market in Slovakia. IT products build as the result of digital transformation using process automation require higher quality, security and reliability, therefore we introduce formal methods, such as Petri nets, into curricula. First, we discuss a framework for process driven digital transformation, that includes modelling and automation of processes, based on Petri nets. Second, we discuss our experience in the teaching the digital transformation using process automation. This includes the involving of the students in digital transformation of the real companies.