Abstract
Contrary to various authors' aspersions, hard skills are still relevant and essential in today's world. Arguably, hard skills are at the centre of achieving efficiency and productivity and are a critical requirement for demonstrating competency in many socioeconomic setups. The challenge, however, is that there are a plethora of conceptualisations of hard skills depending on the context in which they are considered. Many fields have explicitly itemised the hard skills relevant for success. However, this is not the case with the Information and Knowledge Management (IKM) field, perhaps due to its multidisciplinary nature. Understanding specific hard skills needed in a given field is vital because it facilitates the development and advancement of a given profession. Especially in the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), the lack of a clearly understood combination of hard skills means that IKM cannot grow and be at the centre of the 4IR. Consequently, IKM will not adequately contribute to socioeconomic development. This study aims to understand specific hard skills relevant for contemporary IKM practitioners, especially in the South African and contextually similar contexts. The study uses a Delphi study approach where experts shared their opinions in two rounds of data collection. 97 skills were ultimately identified; however, a consensus was reached on 23 hard skills. This study serves as a stepping stone toward creating a framework fit to guide IKM practitioners on their journey to success. The framework will also act as a guide for students through identifying the hard skills that need to be developed early while in their schooling career. Furthermore, the framework can act as a guide for curriculum development.