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DX Skills Classification and DSS-P Role Mapping Matrix

This document maps this technical skill classification (12 Chapters) to the 5 talent roles defined in the IPA "Digital Skills Standard for Promotion (DSS-P)" to indicate the level of importance for each role.

Legend​

  • *** (Must Have): Core skills and knowledge areas essential for the role.
  • ** (Nice to Have): Areas desirable for execution or necessary for collaboration.
  • * (Partially Relevant / Specialized): Relevant in specific contexts/projects or requires basic understanding.
  • -: Low direct relevance or outside the area of expertise.

Skill Mapping by Category​

01. Development Method, Management & Business​

(Agile, DevOps, Project Management, Business Administration)

  • Rationale: This section covers the foundational methods and business-related knowledge for software development. Agile, DevOps, and project management are essential for all roles to collaborate effectively. Business administration topics are particularly important for BAs.
  • Role Relevance:
    • Must Have (***): Software Engineer (SE), Business Architect (BA)
    • Nice to Have (**): Designer (Des), Data Scientist (DS), Cyber Security (Sec)

02. Web Application Development​

(Frontend, Backend, DOM, UI Libs)

  • Rationale: The primary domain for SEs (especially Web/App dev). For Des, understanding UI libraries and DOM helps in collaboration during implementation.
  • Role Relevance:
    • Must Have (***): Software Engineer (SE)
    • Nice to Have (**): Designer (Des), Cyber Security (Sec)
    • Low Relevance (-): Business Architect (BA), Data Scientist (DS)

03. Cloud, Container, Delivery & SRE​

(Cloud, K8s, CI/CD, IaC, Observability)

  • Rationale: Infrastructure & SRE domain. DS increasingly needs knowledge of containers and cloud for building analysis platforms.
  • Role Relevance:
    • Must Have (***): Software Engineer (SE)
    • Nice to Have (**): Data Scientist (DS), Cyber Security (Sec)
    • Low Relevance (-): Business Architect (BA), Designer (Des)

04. Security & Privacy​

(InfoSec, Crypto, IAM, Vulnerability)

  • Rationale: The specialized domain of Sec. However, since "Secure Software Development" is included, it is also mandatory for SEs. Important for DS from a privacy protection perspective.
  • Role Relevance:
    • Must Have (***): Software Engineer (SE), Cyber Security (Sec)
    • Nice to Have (**): Data Scientist (DS)
    • Partially Relevant (*): Business Architect (BA), Designer (Des)

05. Data Science & Engineering​

(Math, Statistics, SQL, NoSQL, Pipelines)

  • Rationale: The core domain of DS. Also mandatory for SEs for DB design and building data pipelines (Data Engineering).
  • Role Relevance:
    • Must Have (***): Data Scientist (DS), Software Engineer (SE)
    • Nice to Have (**): Business Architect (BA)
    • Low Relevance (-): Designer (Des), Cyber Security (Sec)

06. AI, Machine Learning & LLM​

(NLP, MLOps, DNN, Agents)

  • Rationale: The core domain of DS. Important for SEs for integrating AI into applications (e.g., LLM utilization). BAs need understanding to judge business applications of Generative AI.
  • Role Relevance:
    • Must Have (***): Data Scientist (DS), Software Engineer (SE)
    • Nice to Have (**): Business Architect (BA)
    • Low Relevance (-): Designer (Des), Cyber Security (Sec)

07. Terminal & IDE​

(Python, JS/TS, Shell, Vim/Emacs)

  • Rationale: Basic tools for developers and engineers. Python is essential for DS, and Shell skills are essential for Sec investigations.
  • Role Relevance:
    • Must Have (***): Data Scientist (DS), Software Engineer (SE), Cyber Security (Sec)
    • Low Relevance (-): Business Architect (BA), Designer (Des)

08. OS & Network Basics​

(Linux, TCP/IP, DNS, Virtualization)

  • Rationale: Infrastructure basics. One of the most important items for Sec as it is the stage for both attack and defense.
  • Role Relevance:
    • Must Have (***): Software Engineer (SE), Cyber Security (Sec)
    • Nice to Have (**): Data Scientist (DS)
    • Low Relevance (-): Business Architect (BA), Designer (Des)

09. Programming Concepts & Paradigms​

(OOP, FP, Algorithms, Clean Code)

  • Rationale: Fundamental programming proficiency. Absolutely essential for SEs. Important for DS to ensure code quality.
  • Role Relevance:
    • Must Have (***): Software Engineer (SE)
    • Nice to Have (**): Data Scientist (DS)
    • Partially Relevant (*): Cyber Security (Sec)
    • Low Relevance (-): Business Architect (BA), Designer (Des)

10. Advanced Programming​

(Regex, Debugging, Testing, Build Tools)

  • Rationale: Practical skills for writing high-quality code. Directly linked to SE productivity and quality.
  • Role Relevance:
    • Must Have (***): Software Engineer (SE)
    • Nice to Have (**): Data Scientist (DS)
    • Partially Relevant (*): Cyber Security (Sec)
    • Low Relevance (-): Business Architect (BA), Designer (Des)

11. Advanced Programming 2​

(Binary, Media, IoT, Mobile)

  • Rationale: Domain-specific skills. Essential for SEs developing IoT or mobile apps. Des may be interested in media processing.
  • Role Relevance:
    • Must Have (***): Software Engineer (SE)
    • Nice to Have (**): Designer (Des)
    • Partially Relevant (*): Data Scientist (DS), Cyber Security (Sec)
    • Low Relevance (-): Business Architect (BA)

(Documentation, Psychology, Economics, Finance, Logic)

  • Rationale: This category covers a broad range of topics that are not strictly software engineering but are highly relevant for building a well-rounded understanding of the context in which software is built and used. They are beneficial for all roles to foster a wider perspective.
  • Role Relevance:
    • Nice to Have () **: Software Engineer (SE), Business Architect (BA), Designer (Des)
    • Partially Relevant (*): Data Scientist (DS), Cyber Security (Sec)

Advice for Usage​

1. Identifying Common Skills​

Category 01 (Development Method, Management & Business) can be positioned as "Common Literacy" that should be broadly educated regardless of the role to foster an organizational culture for promoting DX.

2. Deepening Expertise​

  • Software Engineer (SE): Focus evaluation on Categories 02, 03, 07, 08, 09, and 10.
  • Data Scientist (DS): Focus evaluation on Categories 05, 06, and 07.
  • Business Architect (BA): Centered on the Management & Business aspects of Category 01, evaluate understanding of Categories 05, and 06 at a "Utilization/Planning level".

Supplementary Note: About IPA​

The IPA (Information-technology Promotion Agency, Japan) is a policy implementation agency under the jurisdiction of Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI). It plays a central role in Japan's national IT strategy, including Human Resource Development (administering national IT examinations), Information Security Measures, and establishing Guidelines for Digital Transformation (DX).

The "DSS-P (Digital Skills Standard for Promotion)" referenced in this document is a public standard defined by the IPA to accelerate DX in Japanese companies. It is widely adopted by many Japanese enterprises as a benchmark for talent development and hiring.