Human Resources Development Efforts in Synergy with the Industrial Revolution 4.0
It cannot be denied that the quality of human resources (HR) is very important for the smooth running of Indonesia’s efforts in facing the era of the all-digital industrial revolution 4.0 . As with the general lecture from Dr. Ir. Basuki Yusuf Iskandar, MA, Head of the Human Resources Research and Development Agency, Ministry of Communication and Informatics, which was held at the online inauguration of the Doctor of Research in Management and Doctor of Computer Science Program of BINUS University on Saturday (26/9). The following is the complete explanation.
The use of digital technology is increasing due to the pandemic
Seeing the current situation of the COVID-19 pandemic , in fact there is silver lining that can be taken. One of them is the increase in the need for digital technology. It was noted that at least 50% of the total digital transactions that had been carried out during this pandemic came from new users. It can be concluded that the COVID-19 pandemic is a superior “promoter” in the ICT or ICT sector.
Pak Basuki explained the flowchart from the ICT industry in Indonesia, starting from the emergence of technological trends that will be applied by businesses. From there, then there will be changes in the aspect of the industrial environment that will encourage the government to make new regulations. This regulation will also be influenced by regulations that have been implemented by other countries. The ultimate goal is the creation of a social life or life in a more modern, advanced and digital society.
Digital transformation in Indonesia’s industry 4.0
Due to the increasing demand for digital technology, Pak Basuki revealed that KOMINFO is increasingly optimistic in bringing Indonesia to the gate of the industrial revolution 4.0. “We feel more ready now to face the 4th industrial revolution, which is all fast paced, full of uncertainty, must be supported quickly and this requires online communication,” said Pak Basuki.
Even so, Pak Basuki still felt that digital developments in Indonesia were still lagging behind other countries. Especially when predictions have emerged that Indonesia will become the 4th largest economy by 2050. The question arises, can human resources in Indonesia be successful in the industrial revolution 4.0? According to Mr. Basuki, as long as Indonesian human resources are still fixated as users and not creators, the ideals of welcoming the 4.0 industrial revolution will be dashed.
In the 4.0 industrial revolution, there are 3 main pillars that a country must have, namely physical, digital and biological. According to Mr. Basuki, Indonesia must catch up with digital transformation, where Indonesians must have a sufficient level of digital literacy and fully support digital transformation. If Indonesia responds to the 4.0 industrial revolution with evolution, then Indonesia will not be able to catch up.
So, what is included in digital transformation? This includes the procurement and implementation of technologies such as blockchain, Internet of Things (IoT), AI, big data, virtual reality, augmented reality, and cloud computing.
The need for talented HR hard skills and soft skills
Based on a survey conducted by Cedelop European, Pak Basuki explained that the ICT industry is the fastest growing industry. This means that ICT practitioners must be fully committed to continuing to learn, otherwise known as life-long learning.
However, a new problem arose in the ICT industry, namely the underdevelopment of soft skills. In the world of work, ICT practitioners tend to prioritize hard skills without paying attention to soft skills. In fact, according to data from BCG, all countries in the world feel that soft skills are needed, especially communication, analytical, leadership and problem solving competencies.
This need is also evidenced by the declaration of giant companies such as Apple and Google that employ employees without college degrees, as long as they have competence and talent. Pak Basuki explained that this competency serves to maintain incremental growth. Meanwhile, talent is needed to create radical innovations that can lead to significant growth and change the industrial landscape.
KOMINFO initiative in HR development
Competence and talent have become the focus of KOMINFO in developing the quality of Indonesian human resources. After passing the pandemic, the national education system must be able to combine offline and online learning. It no longer only teaches students materials, but also teaches them how to expand their learning capacity.
To be able to achieve digital transformation, it is also necessary to have a digital business. A successful and relevant digital business requires 3 components, namely technology, management and economy. Pak Basuki said that many digital businesses have good innovations but fail in the market because they do not have qualified management skills.
