Digital Transformation in Scientific Disciplines:

Between Technical Necessity, Professional Responsibility, and Executive Governance

From my humble experience, I believe that the desire for development is not enough unless accompanied by digital awareness and evolving operational skills. In today’s world, every professional must master digital tools and engage with artificial intelligence as an integral part of their role—not as a task to be outsourced to others. Empowering scientific disciplines with their own digital capabilities is no longer a luxury, but a necessity imposed by professional responsibility and the requirements of sound governance.

Comprehensive Vision:

In the new digital era, technology is no longer a supporting tool—it has become a fundamental requirement for every scientific field, whether medical, engineering, or otherwise. Having access to technical capabilities is no longer optional; it is essential for achieving quality, efficiency, privacy, and proper governance.

1. Responsibility of the Discipline in Executing Technical Tasks

Professional Perspective:

Digital transformation is not just about acquiring tools; it requires enabling each scientific field to manage and apply its own digital systems relevant to its mission.
We must move beyond the outdated model of:
“Let IT do it for us,”
towards a more mature framework:
“The subject-matter expert is trained, authorized to implement, and supported technically when needed.”

2. Examples of Tasks Requiring Technical Competence Within the Discipline

·       Entering and formatting exam questions in accordance with scientific and quality standards.

·       Designing and executing digital exams aligned with assessment objectives.

·       Collecting and analyzing exam data, linking it to feedback and performance improvement.

·       Drawing educational or clinical conclusions that require deep understanding of the specialty.

3. Executive Governance of Technology Within Disciplines

Strategic Note:

Amid the rapid pace of digital change, operational processes in scientific fields must be managed and executed by professionals within those fields—not delegated entirely to IT departments.

Privacy and Control:

·       When handling clinical data, sensitive evaluations, or scientific models, privacy concerns prevent such tasks from being outsourced beyond the discipline.

·       Control over data and the accuracy of execution must remain with the scientific domain, while IT teams provide infrastructure and technical support only.

Core Principle:

Digital Technology is not an external task—it is part of the core function of any scientific profession.

4. Practical Recommendations

·       Establish discipline-specific teams trained in the relevant digital tools for each scientific council or professional body.

·       Develop a clear digital implementation plan that addresses both scientific and governance aspects.

·       Build a balanced integration with IT teams without surrendering executive authority or sensitive tasks beyond the professional scope.