Navigating the IT Professional Shortage with System Thinking: Practical Insights for Better Decision Making

The shortage of skilled IT professionals is a growing problem with various contributing factors. Managerial practices that lead to turnover and recruitment issues, a need for more appropriately trained individuals, low enrollments in relevant programs, ICT skill shortages, inadequate budgeting and planning, and a lack of trained personnel are all contributing factors. This chapter proposes a systems thinking approach to address the IT professional shortage, providing practical insights for better decision-making. This chapter explores the key principles of systems thinking and how they can be applied to the IT job market, with examples of organizations that have successfully implemented this approach. It also provides practical insights for organizations seeking to address the IT professional shortage and recommendations for implementing systems thinking in their approach. Finally, it discusses the importance of adopting a system-thinking approach to address IT professional shortages and other complex problems. The chapter concludes with a call for a systemic vision of digital competencies and skills to effectively address the digital talent gap and promote a stronger digital economy.