Self-Assessment of Digital Competenciees among Employees and Non-Working People of Generation Z in the Economy 4.0

Abstract

Purpose: The objective of this article is to identify and analyse self-assessment of digital competencies among employees, soldiers and Generation Z people who are not in employment, as well as its correlations with gender, generation, personality, place of residence, professional status, interest in professional military service, motivation, feeling of satisfaction of their expectations concerning employment/military service, as well as capacity to work in Economy 4.0. Design/Methodology/Approach: The sample was based on random selection of 23 out of 28 powiats and questionnaires handed out during the obligatory military entrance processing by Military Draft Offices. Non-parametric tests were used for data analysis. Correlations between the variables were tested by chi-square test for variables on nominal scale. For analysing correlations between the numerical and categorical variables, U-Mann-Whitney test (for two groups) or Kruskal-Wallis test (for more than two groups) were applied. In the case of two numerical variables, Spearman's linear correlation coefficient was applied. Furthermore, in the case of more than two groups, the author applied Jonckheere-Terpstra trend test and post hoc analysis with Dunn test with Bonferroni's correction for tied ranks. Findings: Empirical research indicates that the level of the studied digital competencies is not high in respondents' self-assessment. Respondents of Generation Y declared the highest self-assessment of the competencies. The level of digital competencies varied depending on the place of residence and it was the lowest among respondents living in countryside. It turned out that soldiers have significantly higher digital competencies than civilians. No significant differences in digital competencies were found with respect to gender and position held. However, a series of significant correlations were found between digital competencies and other variables. Practical Implications: Practical business implications concern mainly necessity of broader development of digital competencies in organisations, and in Economy 4.0. Originality/value: The article describes a diagnosed competency gap in the area of digital competences in employees, soldiers and non-working representatives of generation Z. It has also been established that the increase in their digital competences increases their motivation to work, their willingness to operate their own business, leads to a higher sense of fulfilment of expectations concerning employment/military service, higher interest in professional military service and higher capacity to work in Economy 4.0.