Digital Capability

At an organizational level we need to look beyond the capabilities of individuals and consider the extent to which the culture and infrastructure of an institution enables and motivates digital practices.

Individual digital capabilities

At an individual level we define digital capabilities as those which equip someone to live, learn and work in a digital society.

Digitally capable will vary for each person. It will depend on the requirements of their role, their subject specialism, career choice, personal and other contextual factors. Our Digital capabilities framework looks more closely at what this means for individuals.

The six elements of this framework are:

• Digital proficiency and productivity (functional skills)
• Information, data and media literacies (critical use)
• Digital creation, problem solving and innovation (creative production)
• Digital communication, collaboration and participation (participation)
• Digital learning and development (development)
• Digital identity and wellbeing (self-actualising)

Organizational digital capability

In addition to our framework for organizational digital capability we offer some further tools and guidance: an interactive strategic steps model and our organizational digital maturity model.

Technology plays an important role in supporting the core business functions of universities and colleges. Ensuring staff and students are digitally capable is therefore essential and leaders will want to ensure that the organizational culture and ICT infrastructure support and facilitate core activities.

Our digital capabilities framework for organizations explores the critical role that technologies play in supporting the core business functions of universities and colleges. Crucially, it also recognises that digitally capable staff and students are essential to organizational success and looks at ways in which organizations can support and encourage the development of individuals.

Digital Wellbeing

Digital wellbeing – the impact of technologies and digital services on people’s mental, physical and emotional health

Digital wellbeing is a term used to describe the impact of technologies and digital services on people’s mental, physical, social and emotional health. It is a complex concept that can be viewed from a variety of perspectives and across different contexts and situations:

Individual perspective: personal, learning and work contexts: this involves identifying and understanding the positive benefits and any potential negative aspects of engaging with digital activities and being aware of ways to manage and control these to improve wellbeing.

Societal or organizational perspective: providers of digital systems, services and content have a responsibility for ensuring that these are well managed, supported, accessible and equitable. They also need to empower and build capability in users so that all who engage with them are equipped to do so in a way that supports and/or improves their wellbeing.