Getting Rid of It: An Unlearning Perspective on Digital Government Competences

Koddebusch, Michael; Distel, Bettina; Di Maria, Marco; Brützke, Paul; Becker, Jörg

Abstract

Digital Government Competences are vital for digital transformation in public administration. However, research has mostly focused on the acquisition of new competences, neglecting prevailing ones that contradict transformation efforts. We address this shortcoming by adopting an unlearning perspective, which depicts the process of discarding obsolete competences that hinder rather than foster change. Consequently, we present the results of a focus group study with 34 public servants and subsequent in-depth qualitative analysis. We apply the lens of an established competence framework that defines competence dimensions as individual and organizational as well as visible (observable behavior) and hidden (cognitive mechanisms). The results identify both individual and organizational competences in 24 categories that must be unlearned to unlock the potential of digital transformation in public administration without legacy burdens. We contribute to digital government research by complementing the competence discourse with an unlearning perspective and offer practitioners a new angle on continuous education.