Competencies and human factor-related organizational barriers to digital transformation: a systematic literature review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18046/j.estger.2026.180.7696Keywords:
technical competencies, soft skills, digital transformation, organizational barriers, systematic literature reviewAbstract
The relationship between employee competencies and human factor-related organizational barriers remains understudied. Accordingly, this study examines how technical competencies and soft skills relate to these barriers. A systematic literature review of articles published between 2000 and 2024 and indexed in Scopus and Web of Science was conducted; 77 studies were analyzed. Three key components were identified: technical competencies, soft skills, and organizational properties. The latter may hinder or facilitate the influence of competencies, particularly soft skills, on these barriers. The results show that staff and cultural resistance are closely associated with soft skills, whereas systemic resistance is primarily linked to technical competencies. The study provides an integrative sociotechnical framework for sustainable digital transformation.
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