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People, Intangibles and Digital Transformation

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Knowledge, People, and Digital Transformation

Part of the book series: Contributions to Management Science ((MANAGEMENT SC.))

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Abstract

This chapter seeks to characterise the main issues of Digital Transformation (DT) and to relate this concept with National Intangible Capital (NIC), having in mind people’s attitudes and reactions to this transformation process, which is affecting the basic foundations of social life and civilisation. Previous technological revolutions replaced physical attributes of Man by the force of mechanical systems, and, later, machines were used to carry out repetitive, painful and dangerous tasks. With the present DT, intrinsic and noble characteristics of the human being, the mental characteristics, are being replaced or intended to be replaced by machines. This replacement is frequently made according to a logic that does not always put the Human Capital (HC) as the recipient and main beneficiary.

Moreover, one of the main objectives of this work is to show that, despite the extraordinary complexity of social life and the relations between nations, technologies and science, DT is based on a small number of simple concepts, very stable over time and with universal meaning. This explains, in a great measure, the DT economic success and its potential for transforming all aspects of social, economic, political and cultural life. Furthermore, this is an illustration of the Intangible Capital (IC) or Artificial Intelligence (AI) multiplier effect.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Tim Berners-Lee original document proposing this concept can be read at https://www.w3.org/History/1989/proposal.html

  2. 2.

    See: https://www.oecd.org/going-digital/

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Correspondence to Valter Vairinhos .

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Annex: Correspondence of the Variables Used in the Data Set and Some of the Variables Included in the Questionnaire of EU (2017, pp. 121–171)

Annex: Correspondence of the Variables Used in the Data Set and Some of the Variables Included in the Questionnaire of EU (2017, pp. 121–171)

QD1.1:

In your view, what impact do the most recent digital technologies currently have on: The economy (%).

Resulting columns in data set: QD1-1_TP—Total “Positive” QD1-1_TN—Total “Negative”.

QD1.2:

In your view, what impact do the most recent digital technologies currently have on: The society (%).

Resulting columns in data set: QD12_TP—Total “Positive” QD12_TN—Total “Negative”.

QD4.1:

To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements regarding your skills in the use of digital technologies: You consider yourself to be sufficiently skilled in the use of digital technologies … in your daily life (%).

Resulting columns in data set: QD41_TA—Total “Agree” D41_TD—Total “Disagree”.

QD4.4:

To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements regarding your skills in the use of digital technologies: You consider yourself to be sufficiently skilled in the use of digital technologies … to use online public services, such as filing a tax declaration or applying for a visa online (%).

Resulting columns in data set: QD44_TA—Total “Agree” QD44_TD—Total “Disagree”.

QD4.5:

To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements regarding your skills in the use of digital technologies: You consider yourself to be sufficiently skilled in the use of digital technologies … to benefit from digital and online learning opportunities (%).

Resulting columns in data set: QD45_TA—Total “Agree” QD45_TD—Total “Disagree”.

QD5:

When you see or read a story published on online social networks, what makes you consider the story trustworthy? (MAX. 2 ANSWERS) (%) (IF ‘ONLINE SOCIAL NETWORKS USERS’, CODE 1 TO 5 IN D62.5). Resulting columns in data set:

Resulting columns in data set: QD5_01—The story comes from a reliable source (e.g. media, brand or organisation) Q D5_02—You generally do not trust stories published on online social networks.

QD6:

Have you ever used a fact checking website, for example to check if a story you read on online social networks was trustworthy? (%).

(IF ‘ONLINE SOCIAL NETWORKS USERS’, CODE 1 TO 5 IN D62.5).

Resulting columns in data set: QD6_N—No, never Q D6_Y – Total “Yes”

QD9:

In the last 12 months, have you heard, read or seen anything about artificial intelligence? (%).

Resulting columns in data set: QD9_Y—Yes Q D9_N—No.

QD10:

Generally speaking, do you have a very positive, fairly positive, fairly negative or very negative view of robots and artificial intelligence? (%).

QD10_TP—Total “Positive” QD10_TN—Total “Negative”.

QD11:

Do you think your current job could be done by a robot or by artificial intelligence in the future? (%).

(IF “CURRENTLY WORKING”, CODE 5 TO 18 IN D15a).

Resulting columns in data set: QD11_Y—Yes, entirely QD 11_N—No, not at all.

QD12.1:

Please tell me to what extent you agree or disagree with each of the following statements. Due to the use of robots and artificial intelligence, more jobs will disappear than new jobs will be created (%).

Resulting columns in data set: D121_TA—Total “Agree” QD121_TD—Total “Disagree”.

QD12.2:

Please tell me to what extent you agree or disagree with each of the following statements. Robots and artificial intelligence are a good thing for society, because they help people do their jobs or carry out daily tasks at home (%).

Resulting columns in data set: QD122_TA—Total “Agree” QD122_TD—Total “Disagree”.

QD12.3:

Please tell me to what extent you agree or disagree with each of the following statements. Robots and artificial intelligence are technologies that require careful management (%).

Resulting columns in data set: QD123_TA—Total “Agree” QD123_TD—Total “Disagree”.

QD12.4:

Please tell me to what extent you agree or disagree with each of the following statements. Robots are necessary as they can do jobs that are too hard or too dangerous for people (%).

Resulting columns in data set: QD124_TA—Total “Agree” QD124_TD–Total “Disagree”.

QD12.5:

Please tell me to what extent you agree or disagree with each of the following statements. The EU is ahead of other world regions when it comes to the digital transformation of industry (%).

Resulting columns in data set: QD125_TA—Total “Agree” QD125_TD—Total “Disagree”.

QD12.6:

Please tell me to what extent you agree or disagree with each of the following statements. Robots and artificial intelligence steal peoples’ jobs (%).

Resulting columns in data set: QD126_TA—Total “Agree” QD126_TD—Total “Disagree”.

QD13.4:

Here is a list of things that could be done by or with robots. For each of them, please tell me, using a scale from 1 to 10, how you would personally feel about it. On this scale, “1” means that you would feel “totally uncomfortable” and “10” means that you would feel “totally comfortable” with this situation. Receiving goods delivered by a drone or a robot (%).

Resulting columns in data set: QD134_TC—1 Totally Comfortable QD134_TU—10 Totally Uncomfortable.

QD13.5:

Here is a list of things that could be done by or with robots. For each of them, please tell me, using a scale from 1 to 10, how you would personally feel about it. On this scale, “1” means that you would feel “totally uncomfortable” and “10” means that you would feel “totally comfortable” with this situation. Being driven in a driverless car in traffic (%).

Resulting columns in data set: QD135_TC—1 Totally Comfortable QD135_TU—10 Totally Uncomfortable.

QD14:

Would you like to have online access to your medical or health records (health data, prescriptions and medical records about you) allowing you to consult them at any time wherever you are? (%).

Resulting columns in data set: QD14_Y—Yes QD14_N—No.

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Vairinhos, V., Matos, F., Edvinsson, L. (2020). People, Intangibles and Digital Transformation. In: Matos, F., Vairinhos, V., Salavisa, I., Edvinsson, L., Massaro, M. (eds) Knowledge, People, and Digital Transformation. Contributions to Management Science. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-40390-4_2

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