The Impact of Employee Digital Skills on Digital Transformation and Organizational Performance: A Study in Vietnam's Coal Mining Companies

Abstract

Under the impact of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, digital transformation has become an inevitable trend, playing a key role in enhancing the adaptability and sustainable development of enterprises. Numerous studies have confirmed that the digital transformation process is significantly influenced by employees’ digital skills and contributes to improving organizational performance. This study aims to examine the relationship between employees’ digital skills and the operational performance of coal mining enterprises in Vietnam, with the mediating roles of digital collaboration capabilities and the level of digital transformation implementation. Data analysis from 402 employees working in the industry reveals that digital skills have both direct and indirect impacts on organizational performance. Notably, the indirect effect through digital collaboration is stronger, highlighting the critical role of digital collaboration in driving digital transformation and improving business performance. Based on the research findings, the authors propose several solutions to enhance employees’ digital skills and collaboration capabilities, thereby supporting the digital transformation process and improving operational performance in coal mining enterprises and industrial enterprises in general.