Open Access 2025 | Open Access | Buch

Soft Skills for the 21st Century

Defining a Framework for Navigating Human-Centered Development in an AI-Driven World

verfasst von: Jaroslava Kubátová, Michal Müller, David Kosina, Ondřej Kročil, Pavla Slavíčková

Verlag: Springer Nature Switzerland

Buchreihe : SpringerBriefs in Business

Enthalten in: Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik" , Springer Professional "Wirtschaft"

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Über dieses Buch

In diesem Open-Access-Buch begeben sich die Autoren auf eine bahnbrechende Erkundung des oft schwer fassbaren Bereichs der Soft Skills und gehen dabei auf die Herausforderungen ein, die von der Technologie und dem sich entwickelnden Arbeitsplatz ausgehen. Mit fundierter Forschung navigiert das Buch durch die komplexe Landschaft akademischer und nicht-akademischer Wahrnehmungen und bietet eine kritische Analyse der sich entwickelnden Definitionen und Klassifizierungen von Soft Skills. Das Herzstück des Buches bildet die Delphi-Forschungsmethode, die dazu beiträgt, 30 wichtige Soft Skills für das 21. Jahrhundert aufzudecken. In den folgenden Kapiteln werden diese Fähigkeiten neu definiert, kategorisiert und modelliert, wobei Rubriken und ein Baummodell eingeführt werden, die ihre miteinander verbundene Natur veranschaulichen. Dieser strukturierte Ansatz bietet Pädagogen, Trainern und Fachkräften einen umfassenden Rahmen für das Verständnis und die Entwicklung von Soft Skills, die auf die Anforderungen der modernen Welt zugeschnitten sind. Wie das Buch abschließt, betont es die anhaltende Bedeutung von Soft Skills angesichts des technologischen Fortschritts und bietet eine wichtige Ressource für Lehrer, Trainer, Fachleute und politische Entscheidungsträger, die versuchen, ethische Entscheidungsfindung und effektive Beziehungen in der heutigen dynamischen Landschaft zu fördern.

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Inhaltsverzeichnis

Frontmatter

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Chapter 1. Introduction: Why Soft Skills Again?

Abstract

The Introduction explains why the authors deal with the topic of soft skills, which is quite frequent, and what their new contribution in this area is. The book addresses the challenges of ambiguous definitions and classifications in the field of soft skills and responds to the contemporary challenges posed by technological advancements, particularly artificial intelligence. Providing clarity and structure to the topic of soft skills is crucial for stakeholders involved in soft skills development. This makes the findings presented in the book a significant resource for understanding soft skills in a technologically advanced era.

Jaroslava Kubátová, Michal Müller, David Kosina, Ondřej Kročil, Pavla Slavíčková

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Chapter 2. Soft Skills in the Academic Literature

Abstract

The chapter explores the complex and evolving understanding of soft skills since this concept gained prominence in the 1970s. It illustrates the diverse and ambiguous definitions of soft skills in academic literature. It highlights the need for a more structured and clear understanding of what soft skills entail, especially given their importance in various professional contexts. In the final part, a list of the most important soft skills according to academic sources is presented.

Jaroslava Kubátová, Michal Müller, David Kosina, Ondřej Kročil, Pavla Slavíčková

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Chapter 3. Soft Skills in Non-academic Sources

Abstract

The chapter, within its five subchapters, provides a comprehensive overview of how soft skills are perceived and defined outside of academic circles, specifically focusing on documents, initiatives, and information from the European Union, global institutions such as the International Labour Organization, OECD, UNICEF, World Bank, and World Economic Forum, professional services firms, i.e., consulting and advisory firms, and from publicly available Internet sources. The chapter demonstrates that while there is widespread agreement on the importance of soft skills across non-academic sources, there is still considerable ambiguity in definitions and categorizations. Finally, the chapter presents the key soft skills identified by these sources.

Jaroslava Kubátová, Michal Müller, David Kosina, Ondřej Kročil, Pavla Slavíčková

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Chapter 4. Comparison of the Most Important Soft Skills in Academic and Non-academic Sources

Abstract

This chapter, with two subchapters, compares the lists of most recommended soft skills from academic and non-academic sources and finds them to be largely identical. Other important findings presented in this chapter are the general agreement on the importance of soft skills as a prerequisite for a successful working life, and the fact that there is still no consistent definition of soft skills, nor their categorization or model. Based on these findings, further research in this area is suggested. It is emphasized that the research must be purely prospective, given the new circumstances that affect the current social and economic development. Therefore, the Delphi method is chosen for this research, which is presented in detail.

Jaroslava Kubátová, Michal Müller, David Kosina, Ondřej Kročil, Pavla Slavíčková

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Chapter 5. Soft Skills for the Twenty-First Century: Delphi Research

Abstract

The chapter presents in its five subchapters the process of the Delphi research, which was conducted over three months and consisted of three rounds, each with sub-rounds focusing on different aspects of soft skills. The first round involved proposing and refining a list of important soft skills for the twenty-first century, along with their definitions. The second round aimed to categorize these skills. The goal of the final round was to develop a model that illustrates the interrelationships among these soft skills. The Delphi research successfully identified and defined thirty key soft skills for the twenty-first century and proposed their possible categorization. However, no consensus was reached on a specific model.

The results of the Delphi research were reviewed with the conclusion that the names of the soft skills needed to be slightly modified to better align with established classifications. The definitions were evaluated against the criteria for a good definition with the conclusion that there is much room for improvement. The final recommendation is that the next steps include optimizing soft skill names and definitions and proposing a new classification and model that reflects the characteristics of specific soft skills and their interrelationships.

Jaroslava Kubátová, Michal Müller, David Kosina, Ondřej Kročil, Pavla Slavíčková

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Chapter 6. Soft Skills for the Twenty-First Century: Definitions, Rubrics, Categories, and Model

Abstract

Based on the results of the Delphi research (Chap. 4), this chapter describes the process of redefining soft skills for the twenty-first century, creating rubrics, and proposing the categories and a model of these soft skills. The methods used, i.e., content analysis, and nominal group technique, as well as the six phases of the process, are presented in detail and justified.

Jaroslava Kubátová, Michal Müller, David Kosina, Ondřej Kročil, Pavla Slavíčková

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Chapter 7. The Final Twenty-First-Century Soft Skills Definitions and Rubrics, Categories, and Tree Model

Abstract

This chapter presents the culmination of extensive research and development into the definitions and assessment of soft skills for the modern era. It begins with a clear definition of the concept of soft skills and the definitions of individual soft skills that have been identified as important in the twenty-first century. The chapter then introduces the concept and structure of rubrics, tools designed to develop and assess soft skills. These rubrics, inspired by frameworks such as the VALUE rubrics, provide a structured approach to assessing the manifestation of soft skills at different levels. Each soft skill is defined and then broken down into dimensions, which represent its core elements, and levels of manifestation, which indicate the depth of the skill expression.

The next part of the chapter introduces a categorization system for these soft skills, grouping them into four primary categories: intrinsic skills, navigational skills, connective skills, and visionary skills. This categorization helps to understand the interrelationships between different skills and their collective impact on personal and professional development. The final part presents the Tree Model of Soft Skills for the Twenty-First Century, a metaphorical representation that shows how these categories of skills are interconnected and support each other.

In summary, this chapter provides a comprehensive and structured approach to understanding, defining, and assessing soft skills. It emphasizes the multifaceted nature of these skills and their critical role in navigating the complexities of the twenty-first-century workplace. The chapter is a significant contribution to the field of soft skills, providing educators, trainers, and professionals with a structured and comprehensive framework. It paves the way for more effective understanding, development, and application of soft skills, tailored to meet the dynamic demands of the modern world.

Jaroslava Kubátová, Michal Müller, David Kosina, Ondřej Kročil, Pavla Slavíčková

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Chapter 8. Conclusion

Abstract

In the conclusion it is emphasized that this book underscores the enduring importance of soft skills amidst technological advancements. It is argued that while AI epitomizes our logical capabilities, soft skills, rooted in human nature, are crucial for ethical decision-making and effective interpersonal relationships. It is summarized that the book provides clear definitions, rubrics, and categorization for thirty essential soft skills relevant in the twenty-first-century’s AI-driven landscape, and introduces an innovative tree model to illustrate their interrelations. It is explained that despite acknowledged research limitations, the book highlights the necessity of soft skills as a vital complement to ongoing technological evolution, offering a comprehensive framework for their development in various institutional settings.

Jaroslava Kubátová, Michal Müller, David Kosina, Ondřej Kročil, Pavla Slavíčková

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Chapter 9. Summary

Abstract

The Summary presents the content of the book in a nutshell: the book highlights the enduring significance of soft skills in a technologically advanced world, emphasizing their irreplaceability in sustainable human-centered development. This comprehensive research has implications for educators, employers, and policy makers, underscoring the need for systematic development and assessment of soft skills in various professional and personal settings.

Jaroslava Kubátová, Michal Müller, David Kosina, Ondřej Kročil, Pavla Slavíčková

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Titel: Soft Skills for the 21st Century
verfasst von: Jaroslava Kubátová
Michal Müller
David Kosina
Ondřej Kročil
Pavla Slavíčková
Verlag: Springer Nature Switzerland
Electronic ISBN: 978-3-031-89557-9
Print ISBN: 978-3-031-89556-2
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-89557-9