Digitalization in my field: Experiences and future directions

Working in workforce planning, operations, and communications has shown how deeply digitalization has transformed expert organizations. In professional services, digital tools have become the backbone of coordination, prioritization and visibility. My experience aligns strongly with the ideas presented by the orientation material: data has shifted from a static “stock” to a dynamic “flow,” constantly updated, reused and generating new insights. This has been evident in my everyday work. Digital planning platforms, automated reporting tools and shared dashboards help reveal patterns that would otherwise remain hidden, making it possible to see developments and connections that were once difficult to discern.

Digital communication tools have also changed expectations for transparency and responsiveness. In my work developing internal communication practices, hybrid and distributed teams required clear documentation, structured message flows and shared online meeting spaces. This aligns with the idea of intelligent systems, where people and digital technologies work together in a continuous exchange. The digital workplace increasingly depends on real-time information, automated alerts, and tools that proactively provide context rather than waiting for manual updates.

Looking ahead, I expect digitalization to deepen through predictive modelling, AI-assisted forecasting and advanced people analytics. The orientation materials highlight how automation will reshape decision-making and create new forms of collaboration between human and machine. For example, preventive analytics in industrial settings are already preventing delays and system failures; organizational planning tools are likely to evolve in a similar direction, becoming increasingly adaptive and integrated into everyday work processes, supporting proactive resourcing and skill management. AI will also influence communication through automated summarization, tone optimization and personalized messaging.

However, even as technology accelerates, human judgement remains crucial. The videos emphasis that innovation does not automatically solve ethical challenges, and my work experience reinforces this. Technology increases speed, but also demands intentionality in interpretation, transparency and fairness. Leaders must ensure that digital development does not replace good communication, psychological safety or equitable decision-making.

Risks of the Open Digital Society and the Impact of the GDPR

The benefits of digitalization come with significant risks, as emphasized in the cybersecurity materials. It becomes clear how easily personal data, online activity and device information can be monitored, exploited or misused. Everyday communication, especially e-mail, functions more like an open postcard than a sealed message, leaving privacy highly exposed in a data-driven environment. Even harmless seeming metadata or Wi-Fi signals can reveal remarkably sensitive personal patterns.

These risks directly influence work in HR and people operations. Workforce systems contain highly sensitive data: performance metrics, availability, personal identifiers and, in some cases, wellbeing-related information. GDPR has therefore played a central role in structuring secure processes. The regulation requires strict purpose limitation, minimal data collection and transparent processing, principles extremely relevant to everyday planning tasks. The material emphasizes that GDPR obliges organizations to demonstrate compliance, document data use, and react quickly to incidents. This has strengthened internal protocols and increased employees’ trust in data handling.

Positive impacts in my work and personal life include:
Clearer standards for what can be stored, shared and retained
Stronger cybersecurity practices in HR and operations
Transparency toward employees regarding data rights
Improved awareness of digital risks

Negative impacts include:
Administrative overhead: documentation, assessments and ongoing audits
Limitations on using certain tools or data sets for development
Risk-avoidant attitudes that may slow innovation

Despite these challenges, GDPR acts as a necessary safeguard in a society where data flows constantly and systems are increasingly interconnected. Digitalization is rapidly expanding through IoT, sensors and analytics, making governance frameworks essential.

ChatGPT in my field: Usefulness and limitations

I tested ChatGPT with several questions related to workforce planning, hybrid communication structures and internal process development. The responses demonstrated strong surface-level understanding and provided helpful frameworks, such as how to prioritize tasks, how to ensure communication clarity, or how to utilize analytics in resourcing. These insights aligned with common best practices and were useful for structuring ideas.

However, limitations quickly became visible. When the questions required organizational knowledge, cultural nuance or situational judgement, the answers became vague or overly generic. This match concerns raised in the materials about algorithmic decision-making: data-driven tools can identify patterns but cannot fully interpret context, intentions or the interpersonal dynamics that shape expert organizations.

AI is most effective in:
• summarizing large amounts of information
• generating draft communication
• supporting documentation and scenario modelling
• offering alternative viewpoints

It is less reliable when:
• assessing human behavior or team culture
• providing context dependent advice
• interpreting incomplete information

Below are examples of the kinds of questions I used during testing:
• What indicators should an organization monitor to anticipate future resourcing needs
• How can a hybrid team ensure consistent communication without increasing meeting load?
• What steps help streamline an internal workflow that involves multiple handover points?
• How should task prioritization be handled when project deadlines overlap?
• What factors should be considered when evaluating whether a process should be automated?

Overall, I see AI as a significant support tool, especially as digitalization increases information flows. It can enhance productivity, but it must remain supervised by human judgement and ethical guidelines. This reflects the theme of orientation that humans and intelligent systems will increasingly collaborate, but responsibility and interpretation remain human tasks.

Self-Evaluation: Learning and development needs

This assignment deepened my understanding of how technological, societal and regulatory forces intersect. The orientation materials helped connect my everyday work with broader themes: how big data alters decision-making, how intelligent systems shape work processes, and how cybersecurity and privacy challenges influence trust. Reading and reflecting on these materials confirmed how essential it is to integrate ethical, secure and transparent practices into digital development.

I learned to view digitalization not only as improved efficiency, but also as a complex societal transformation. The risks described in the cybersecurity talks highlighted why organizations must stay proactive in protecting employees’ data and supporting digital literacy. Evaluating AI clarified its potential while reminding me of the importance of human oversight.

Going forward, I want to develop:
• deeper knowledge of data ethics and responsible AI use
• stronger competence in data protection and risk management
• skills in using predictive analytics for workforce planning
• advanced digital communication strategies for hybrid environments

Digitalization will continue to reshape work and society, and staying informed, adaptable and ethically grounded will be essential for future leadership roles.

Sources

Andy Yen: Think your email’s private? 
Drone & Healthcare 
James Lyne: Everyday Cybercrime – and what you can do about it 
European Union: Data protection reform 
Europe’s Digital Decade: digital targets for 2030 
Kenneth Cukier: Big data is better data 
Marco Annunziata: Welcome to the age of the industrial internet 
Maurice Conti: The incredible inventions of intuitive AI 
Office of Today, Workplace of Tomorrow 
Pranav Mistry: The thrilling potential of SixthSense technology 
Robots that fly … and cooperate 
Watch your day in 2020 What is GDPR? 

Disclamer: All visual materials and images used in this blog had been created by me using the paid version of Canva. By producing every illustration and design myself with licensed Canva assets, I ensured full compliance with copyright requirements and avoided any issues related to the use or publication of visual content.