Critical Hard Skills for Information and Knowledge Management in South Africa

Hard skills are central to achieving efficiency and productivity and are critical for demonstrating competency in many socioeconomic setups. The challenge, however, is that there is a plethora of conceptualisations of hard skills depending on the context in which they are considered. Many fields have explicitly itemised the hard skills relevant to success. However, this is not the case with the Information and Knowledge Management (IKM) field due to its multidisciplinary nature. Understanding specific hard skills needed is vital because it facilitates the development and advancement of a given profession. The lack of a clearly understood combination of hard skills means that IKM cannot grow and be at the centre of the 4IR. Consequently, IKM will not adequately contribute to socioeconomic development. This study aimed to understand specific hard skills relevant to contemporary IKM practitioners, especially in the South African and contextually similar contexts. The study used a Delphi study approach where experts shared their opinions in two rounds of data collection. Ninety-seven skills were identified; however, a consensus was reached on 23. This study serves as a stepping stone toward creating a framework fit to guide IKM practitioners on their journey to success. The framework will also act as a guide for students through identifying the hard skills that need to be developed early while still in their schooling career. Furthermore, the framework can act as a guide for curriculum development.