By Khoong Chan Meng, CEO, NUS-ISS
Human history is not unfamiliar with change and disruption.
Before the combustion engine, horses were the main mode of transport in cities. The use of these animals provided people with ancillary jobs such as stable owners, feed producers, trainers, veterinarians and road cleaners. As cities transited from horses to automobiles, entire industries and systems were upended. At the same time, new jobs and opportunities were created – there is now a need for car factory workers, engineers and drivers.
Over the last 250 years, there has been a repeating pattern of massive disruption that has occurred regularly. If we were to look at the trajectory of history, we will realise it is not a new phenomenon. As economic historian Carlota Perez noted, “When a transformational technology appears, an explosion of energy can occur, as the existing ways of operating are disrupted by those who have mastered the new technology. New businesses prosper and old ways of doing things collapse and vanish.”
In the digital age, this process is sped up and amplified. An Accenture study on 10,000 companies across 18 industry sectors found that 71 per cent are currently either in the throes of, or stand on the brink of, significant disruption. It has become an inescapable challenge for all industries.
Disruption is only a threat if one watches, and an opportunity if one acts. The current COVID-19 crisis is a harbinger of change. Companies have to act fast and rethink their service delivery amidst difficult constraints. In a way, crisis generates opportunity and pushes industries to escalate the speed in which they transform. Businesses everywhere are rapidly innovating the ways in which they can continue to operate, collaborate and serve customers – harnessing telecommuting, e-logistics, e-health, e-learning, robotics, AI and data science. It is an impetus for companies to really focus and invest heavily in transformation and this sense of urgency will continue to increase in the years ahead.
While we cannot predict when and how the changes might strike, we can build resilience into our careers so that we are better prepared to take on the challenges and turn them to our advantage.
Building a Resilient Career
In the fourth industrial revolution, the boundaries between disciplines and industries, the physical and the cyber realm, become increasingly blurred. Building resilience in the digital age is not just about becoming more specialised or skilled in a narrow area.
Rather, it is crucial to reach beyond the comfort zone to grasp a set of diverse skills, such as communication, design thinking, and problem solving. These are core competencies that, regardless of how your career path changes, will stay with you, enhance your work as a professional and even help you lead a more fulfilling life.
At NUS-ISS, we help professionals take ownership of both their career and skills development, as well as provide them with the necessary support to do so. The first step, is to have clarity on what you want to be and where to go. From there, you can then develop a sense of direction and plan for the journey.
We appreciate it is not as straightforward as it seems. This clarity will evolve, as every professional progresses from what was once a nebulous outlook. Especially so in today’s environment where constant change is a norm. We think of ourselves as a lighthouse that, through the storms, illuminates individuals and organisations alike in the possible directions they should pursue, through the multiple learning pathways and programmes we provide.
From a National Strategy to an Ecosystem
NUS-ISS began as part of a national strategy by the government to train digital talents in a short period of time. Now, we are looking to help accelerate this process further, to serve the needs of the professionals we train and the industry partners we work with.
We do this by forming an ecosystem that provides a holistic approach to skills development and business transformation – within a tight integration timeframe.
Given the speed of change and the pressure of productivity, many professionals cannot afford to press the pause button and embark on a long-term programme. NUS-ISS' Stackable Programmes were crafted to offer students the flexibility to take their learning at a gradual pace, based on their career progressions. Over time, the different graduate certifications can be stacked to a Masters of Technology degree. This enables us, as our students’ career evolve, to support the increasing number of job advancement opportunities that open up to them.
For employers, be open-minded about how an organisation can embrace a diversity of talent. The jobs which are critical today may be very different tomorrow. Human Resources departments need to build and sustain a learning organisation, train the trainers and cultivate workplace learning. Invest in facilities and people within the company and provide learning opportunities. The innovative Skills for Transformation Programme, launched recently in collaboration with Singapore Business Federation with the support of SkillsFuture Singapore is specifically designed for companies keen to embark on a digital transformation journey and interested to develop their in-house talent to become change agents.
Beyond just a learning provider, NUS-ISS is also available as a coach and a mentor to provide guidance on your career journey. Our experienced Career Services team will be able to help you address your challenges and prepare you for future opportunities –be it in your current firm, another company, or an entirely different industry. With NUS-ISS’ strong network of industry partners, we are in the best position to help professionals navigate the fast-changing digital world, and we go the extra mile to connect them with potential employers.
Transformation can be daunting, especially at the speed and magnitude that it is happening today. As Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius puts it, “What stands in the way becomes the way.” In the face of uncertainties, NUS-ISS hopes to offer the insights and tools for you to see disruption differently – as something that inspires, rather than constrains, your career journey.