The Evaluation of Technological Competencies among Leaders of the Renewable Energy Industry: The Case of SMEs in Baja California, Mexico

Norma Candolfi-Arballo (), Alfredo Hualde-Alfaro, Yessica Espinosa-Díaz, Patricia Avitia-Carlos and Bernabé Rodríguez-Tapia
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Norma Candolfi-Arballo: Faculty of Engineering Sciences and Technology, Autonomous University of Baja California, Tijuana 21500, Mexico
Alfredo Hualde-Alfaro: Department of Social Studies, North Border College, Tijuana 22560, Mexico
Yessica Espinosa-Díaz: Institute of Social Research, Autonomous University of Baja California, Mexicali 21280, Mexico
Patricia Avitia-Carlos: Faculty of Engineering Sciences and Technology, Autonomous University of Baja California, Tijuana 21500, Mexico
Bernabé Rodríguez-Tapia: Faculty of Engineering Sciences and Technology, Autonomous University of Baja California, Tijuana 21500, Mexico

Energies, 2022, vol. 15, issue 16, 1-20

Abstract: This research explores and analyzes the context of the renewable energies industry sector of Baja California, Mexico, regarding the adoption, appropriation, knowledge and usage of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) by focusing on human resources, mainly its business managers and directors, as key actors of strategic plans in terms of research and technological development. For this task, a Technological Competencies Profile (TCP), meant for evaluating the incorporation of ICTs by business leaders, was constructed by reviewing the definition of “technological competency” in 140 publications, and by considering the European e-Competence Framework (e-CF), the Skills Framework for the Information Age (SFIA), and other related guidelines. This profile was later applied to analyze 13 SMEs and their leaders’ technological competencies. The investigation was further enriched with the information extracted from 13 interviews made with renewable energy experts in Baja California. The conclusions of this study show that, although SME leaders do have knowledge of ICTs and use them effectively for their own communicative and personal purposes, they do not consider them as a part of their business operation that can optimize their processes and impact its innovative capabilities.

Keywords: technological competencies; ICTs; renewable energies; e-competence; e-skills; SMEs; Baja California; Mexico (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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