Auswirkungen der Digitalisierung auf Stellenprofile und Kompetenzen in Schweizer bundesnahen Unternehmen. Eine qualitative Untersuchung

The dissertation ‘Auswirkungen der Digitalisierung auf Stellenprofile und Kompetenzen in Schweizer bundesnahen Unternehmen’ (The Impact of Digitalization on Job Profiles and Skills in Swiss Companies Close to the Federal Government) examines how digital transformation is affecting job profiles and the skills required in Swiss federal-related companies, such as Swiss Post, Swiss Federal Railways (SBB), and Swisscom. These companies face unique challenges due to their public mandates, specific HR policies, and close ties with ICT service providers.
Digitalization, driven by technological innovations and social trends, is fundamentally trans-forming work processes, management styles, and corporate cultures. The integration of digital technologies demands new competencies, such as adaptability to change, the ability to man-age complexity, and intercultural skills, which are increasingly important across various job profiles. The study highlights that federal-adjacent companies, especially those near the Ger-man border, have established specialized departments dedicated to digital innovations and their impact on the workforce. These departments are experimenting with new forms of work and developing innovative job profiles, presenting new challenges for HR departments, par-ticularly in recruiting and developing digital skills.
A specific challenge for these companies lies in their limited flexibility in responding to digital-ization compared to private enterprises, due to regulatory frameworks, personnel policies, and union ties. Nevertheless, they are compelled to take action to adapt to dynamic market conditions and evolving customer needs. This is especially evident in their collaboration with external ICT providers, who are selected through WTO tenders and are bound by framework agreements. These providers must align their processes and infrastructures with the specific requirements of federal-related organizations in order to effectively support the digital trans-formation.
The aim of this study is to provide a solid information base for addressing job profiles and competencies, considering the unique characteristics of federal companies. It analyzes the gap between the digital demands and the existing digital capabilities in order to formulate specific recommendations for both federal companies and the ICT sector.