If science fiction has taught us anything, we always are interested in what the world will look like. Asking someone what work will be like in 5 years: we might consider the new technologies that will effect the world. For example in 10 years, maybe we have a more green economy, with products and careers centered around sustainability. We might also consider our values and our visions of our shared future. The type of work we engage in, how much we work, the reasons why we work, could all be challenged.
The good news is that even if we can't see the future yet, we can use the data from today about the emerging trends with evidence and current data.
"The 2020 Workplace: How Innovative Companies Attract, Develop, and Keep Tomorrow's Employees Today" by Jeanne C. Meiseter and Karie Willyerd is a brillant book that helps guide us in that ponderous exercise.
Here are the findings from Meiseter and Willyerd about the changes we will see in the 2020 Workplace. All 10 terms are directly from the book, and I expand on each idea.
1. Shifting Workplace Demograpics - We're going to see a huge shift in the demographics of the developed world. The number of workers aged 55 and older will grow from 13 percent of the labor force in 2000 to 2020 to 20% (page 16), and generally the population is aging and shrinking (p.17). Even in the U.S. that has a stable birth rate and strong immigration will have to deal wit the baby boomer retirement in 2020
2. Knowledge Economy – The skills and knowledge levels needed to get and keep a job in a global economy. This requires complex interdisciplinaru skills. Many white collar jobs (3.3 million and $136 billion in wages) are going to India and Russia by 2015 (p.21). This changes the very type of work that many of us will be doing.
3. Globalization – Things are moving so quickly, that organizations have to contend with moving these quickly changing market; tapping into a global talent pool. Companies will deal with a number of pressures not just external (environment, politics, terrorism) but internal ones (organizational design, finding talented employees, central vs decentralized decision , making).
4. Digital Workplace – This is the continued expansion of knowledge. General point, but so important
5. Ubiquity of mobile technology. As of 2008 more then 2.5 trillion text messages were sent (p.27). This is even more central in developing world; less setup is needed with a mobile device. Also, who isn't fascinated about the latest Iphone coming out this year.
6. Culture of Connection – becoming hyperconnected; social media, can be any age (though 60% are under 35 (p.29), RSS feeds, companies use social media for internal purposes, connect with customers
7. Participation Society – Contributions from individuals are valued. Companies will use collaboration and knowledge sharing to improve business results. Consider web forms, websites, and even blogging
8. Social Learning – Some of values here are: collaboration, immediate access and relevance. All of these are central to social learning and social media today. Many companies are reinventing training and corporate excercises that are virtual and more experiential.
9. Corporate Social Responsibility – Increasingly, companies are trying to differentiate themselves and attract top talent. Some of this can be done by having a company that values more than the profit margin. Think of environmental values, religious values and humanitarian values.
10. Millenials in the workplace - These are the latest generation to enter the workplace and they do work differently. They value collaboration, they value feedback, they value quick learning and they are tech savy.
Lets see how this holds out in 2020.
Greg
No comments:
Post a Comment