A Framework for Enhancing Digital Competency in Executive Secretarial Practice

Thesis Abstract

In the contemporary digital era, executive secretarial practice is increasingly dependent on advanced digital skills to enhance operational efficiency, confidentiality, and strategic support functions, yet a significant skills gap persists among secretarial professionals in developing economies. This study addresses the pressing need to develop an integrated framework that systematically enhances digital competency within executive secretarial roles, thereby contributing to organizational effectiveness and professional development. The primary aim is to conceptualize, develop, and validate a comprehensive framework that can guide training, policy formulation, and capacity building initiatives tailored to the digital skills requirements of secretarial practitioners. Specific objectives include identifying key digital skills essential for executive secretarial practice, evaluating the current digital proficiency levels among secretaries, and establishing a developmental model aligned with organizational and individual needs. The research employs a mixed-methods approach, integrating quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews. The target population comprises 400 executive secretaries employed across multinational corporations and government agencies within metropolitan regions, selected through stratified random sampling to ensure representation across sectors. Quantitative data is collected through a structured questionnaire, measuring self-assessed digital competency, perceived training needs, and digital tool utilization, with reliability monitored via Cronbach’s alpha (target > 0.8). Qualitative data is gathered through semi-structured interviews with 20 senior executives and training managers to contextualize the quantitative findings and elicit expert insights. Data analysis involves multiple regression analysis to identify determinants of digital competency development, thematic analysis for qualitative data to extract emergent themes, and structural equation modeling (SEM) to validate the proposed framework. Anticipated findings suggest that digital literacy, technical skills, and adaptive learning capability are significant predictors of digital competency among secretaries. Moreover, organizational support mechanisms, including targeted training programs and policy frameworks, are crucial enablers facilitating skill enhancement. The study is expected to validate a conceptual model rooted in the Social Cognitive Theory and the Competency-Based Framework, illustrating the dynamic relationships among individual, organizational, and technological factors influencing digital competence development. The model underscores the importance of a three-tiered approach involving individual skill assessment, organizational capacity building, and continuous learning ecosystems. This research contributes novel insights into the development of a context-specific, practically applicable framework that integrates existing theories with empirical data tailored to secretarial roles within modern workplaces. It fills a critical gap in existing literature by providing a systematic, validated model for digital competency enhancement that can inform policy and curriculum development in professional secretarial training. The findings underpin a strategic pathway for organizations to identify digital skill gaps, design targeted interventions, and foster an adaptive learning culture. The main conclusion emphasizes that a well-structured, evidence-based framework significantly improves digital skills, thereby elevating the role of secretaries to strategic partners within organizations. Recommendations include the adoption of the proposed framework by corporate training programs, government agencies, and professional associations, along with the incorporation of continuous digital skills assessment into organizational development plans. Future research directions propose longitudinal studies to examine the framework’s effectiveness over time and scope expansion to include emerging digital technologies such as artificial intelligence and data analytics, ensuring the ongoing relevance of the digital competency framework within evolving organizational contexts.