Frameworks on the development of soft skills in the professional context - a systematic literature review

Abstract

In today’s professional landscape, soft skills like communication, teamwork, and adaptability are essential for success, yet frameworks for their development often lack consistency. This work project conducts a systematic literature review using PRISMA 2020 and SPIDER to analyze recent research, identifying five “master keys” for effective frameworks: (1) Core Soft Skills, such as teamwork and communication; (2) Experiential Learning, like work-based training; (3) Feedback & Evaluation, including peer and self-assessments; (4) Adaptability, across industries and cultures; and (5) Challenges & Gaps, such as scalability. This work project offers actionable insights for scalable, inclusive, and digitally adaptive soft skill development strategies.