Process Automation and Skills in the Context of Knowledge Work (Short Paper)

Abstract

The rise in digitization has significantly expanded the application of process automation beyond traditional engineering, as there is now a substantial increase in automation tools available for white-collar professionals. In this study, we aim to gain a better understanding of the interaction between process automation and skills in the context of applied knowledge work. Different relevant theoretical models relating to process automation, from the fields of engineering, information systems , and the applied domain of accounting, are examined. Insights from these models are then combined into a single unified model describing process automation. This short paper reports on a pre-study to closely examine in which way elements of automation affect knowledge worker skills. We also highlight two gaps in the literature regarding the context in which optimal automation effects occur and the lack of research regarding reskilling.