To successfully transform digitally, each person must "transform themselves"

According to Dr. Cu Van Trung, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Education Consulting and Training Joint Stock Company, if a country wants to quickly transform digitally and take advantage of the achievements of the 4.0 industrial revolution, it needs synchronous and comprehensive participation from the government, people and businesses.

TS. Cù Văn Trung: Muốn chuyển đổi số thành công, cần sự vào cuộc của toàn dân

Dr. Cu Van Trung believes that to successfully transform digitally, the participation of the entire population is needed. (Photo: NVCC)

The steps of change

How do you evaluate the digital transformation process in our country today?

Digital transformation in Vietnam has really created a change for many years now. Especially since the Covid-19 pandemic, which has led to disruptions, internal needs and objective requirements, state agencies and people have had to adapt, change, and at the same time, use the achievements of science and technology 4.0 in management, business and life services.

From 2010 to 2020, our Party and State have issued many policies and decisions on the application of information technology in management as well as in people's lives. In particular, since 2020, many decisions of the Prime Minister on national digital transformation show that Vietnam is increasingly aware of the importance of digital transformation for the country's socio -economic development process.

Through observation, many ministries, branches and enterprises have implemented the digital transformation program in a drastic and strong manner. The leading role must probably be mentioned as the role of the Ministry of Information and Communications, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Public Security, Ministry of Justice, etc.

Personal data, medical records, population work and many other information and software applications are being deployed on a large scale. Provinces and cities such as Quang Ninh, Hanoi, Da Nang, and Ho Chi Minh City are bright spots in the current digital transformation process.

It can be said that the national digital transformation process promotes creativity and awakens human potential, economic and social activities take place vibrantly and diversely. Creative start-ups, sharing economy, regional, transnational and cross-border linkages in applying the achievements of Industry 4.0 effectively and practically.

However, objectively speaking, digital transformation in our country has not yet been as expected. It is taking place unevenly in some places, in some fields and industries. In fact, there are still misunderstandings and obstacles to the digital transformation process; many people and businesses are slow to declare and apply new software...

In recent years, a series of public service digital transformation projects have been launched by ministries and branches within the framework of administrative reform programs. However, in some cases, digital transformation still faces barriers?

It is not enough to just have funding and investment policies for some public services in the digital transformation process. Because it is also related to the capacity to receive, use and operate the invested agency. Human resources need to be trained, coached, and are the infrastructure and auxiliary equipment compatible and synchronized?

Currently, only a few universities such as Hanoi University of Science and Technology, Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology, FPT, and National University of Technology are training new majors in artificial intelligence, data science, and machine learning with a small scale and number of students. There has not been any bachelor's degree in that major to date.

In particular, the leadership team in some places is not enthusiastic about digital transformation, even wondering whether digital transformation is necessary and really helpful in their work? Some units and organizations believe that with the old way of doing things, they have more conditions to directly approach businesses and people.

Those are the obstacles to digital transformation.

To avoid "everyone doing it their own way"

Faced with such a situation, how can we ensure that digital transformation does not have to be "everyone doing it on their own", according to you?

This is an objective reality, it cannot be otherwise, development is not uniform, each unit has different capacity, finance, human resources and action goals. Therefore, the digital transformation process must also be carried out very differently.

We should not worry about that because it is the natural law of life, of market competition and creates a colorful picture in economic and social life. The allocation of resources and finance will be balanced when needed. At that time, the State will issue legal documents, a policy or investment project for a certain locality or unit.

We are still in the process of not being proactive, still having to be affected, "lying in wait", enjoying the fruits of the world revolution. Therefore, we are in the process of experimenting, progressing and consulting, learning from each other in this matter.

This is not really the stage where Vietnamese people have to worry about the imbalance and the growth of a certain "dinosaur" in the digital transformation era that will overwhelm and "eat" up all the remaining resources of other parts of society.

Some people say digital transformation is not enough, transform yourself, what do you think?

Yes, this shows the factors of favorable time, favorable location, and favorable people, which means that for the goal to be successful and to happen according to the subject's intention, there must be consensus. Consensus is the self-transformation in the perception of each person in the process of participating in it. In other words, digital transformation can only "flourish" in an environment where there is initiative and cooperation between the State, people and businesses.

As for the individual case of this process, we must be open to receive and have a positive view of what digital transformation brings. Avoid being timid, fearful, and prejudiced to miss the opportunities it brings. I think that with a topic (digital transformation) that the whole society speaks up about, the State encourages, and humanity spreads, there is no reason why we should not change ourselves to keep up with the times.

The question is, the important thing is, who is transforming with me or am I transforming alone? When researching digital transformation in Vietnam, I found it so interesting, it was changing so quickly and I wanted to popularize it, wanted to study technology courses. However, when I "transformed", I saw that my friends and relatives were indifferent, not enthusiastic, did not think it was important, so I felt disappointed, and gradually my enthusiasm also decreased. Therefore, "transforming" requires an environment, a community, and allies and friends.

So what kind of synchronous solutions does digital transformation require, sir?

As we know, digital transformation includes digital economy, digital society, digital government, each of which has detailed and specific solutions. Here, we often only pay attention to the State aspect in the digital transformation process. The State is both the proactive decision-maker, leader and manager, and the subject of the digital transformation process.

If a country wants to quickly transform digitally and take advantage of the achievements of the 4th industrial revolution, it needs the synchronous and comprehensive participation of the government, people and businesses. People often jokingly say that 4.0 technology, with the level, capacity and starting point of only 0.4, cannot break through.

When it comes to digital transformation, we cannot be like players of a game invented by others. That is, we cannot be passive, without any role or ability in the ongoing trend of the world.

Saying so is to show that the Party and State's policies have been issued, the action program has been launched, the national goals have been established, but the cooperation of the whole community is still needed. Because to comprehend, master, take advantage of, and keep up with the digital transformation process requires great capacity on the corresponding economic - political - social foundation.

Thank you!

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