Harnessing human capital in the era of digitisation

In a country like South Africa, high unemployment rates have posed a significant challenge for the workforce. However, the Managing Director and Founder of Beyond Transform, Dirusha Ganapathy Juta, sheds light on the untapped potential of human capital and the pivotal role of HR professionals in navigating the era of digitisation. In a recent interview with CNBC Africa, Juta emphasized the need for organizations to re-evaluate job roles and embrace the emerging skill sets required in a rapidly evolving technological landscape. Juta highlighted the paradoxical situation where unemployment coexists with unfilled job positions due to the impact of digitisation on traditional job roles. Rather than resorting to job cuts, Juta advocates for the redesign and creation of new job roles to align with technological advancements. She emphasized the importance of human-machine interaction and the necessity for employees to cultivate traits such as creativity, complex problem-solving, analytical ability, resilience, and adaptability. As technology continues to reshape the workplace, HR professionals play a crucial role in spearheading the reskilling and upskilling of employees to meet the demands of the digital age. Juta underscored the need for organizations to adapt their HR functions to accommodate the changing skill requirements and foster a culture of continuous learning and development. Moreover, Juta emphasized the significance of gender diversity in the workforce, with a specific focus on empowering women and leveraging their unique traits to drive organizational success. By prioritizing gender balance in the workplace, companies can harness a diverse range of talents and perspectives, ultimately fueling innovation and growth. Despite the evident need for reskilling and adapting to the evolving technological landscape, Juta lamented that many organizations are failing to identify and address these needs effectively. The prevalent trend of hasty retrenchment overlooks the potential for creating new roles in emerging fields such as cybersecurity and data science, indicative of a lack of strategic foresight among companies. In conclusion, Juta emphasized the pivotal role of HR professionals in facilitating the transition to a digitally-driven economy. By embracing change, fostering a culture of learning and development, and championing gender diversity, organizations can harness the full potential of human capital and thrive in the era of digitisation.