Thinque Futurist Blog by Anders Sorman-Nilsson

The Technological Drivers That Will Shape The Future Of Work

Written by anders@thinque.com.au | October 11, 2016

We continue our coverage on the future of jobs / future of work by more closely examining and analysing the technological drivers of change as well as the barriers to change. The approaching technological shift which by many is called the fourth industrial revolution is anticipated to impact almost every industry, and consequently the way we shop, live and work. 

As mentioned before, we are approaching a technological paradigm shift which is fueled by the advancements in artificial intelligence, robotics, 3D printing, biotechnology and the Internet of Things. In order to thrive and be successful in the workplace of the future you need to not only update your skillset, but also have a strategy for how to make sense of the disruptive changes around you.  

'Mobile internet' and 'cloud technology' followed by 'processing power' and 'big data' are the most significant drivers of change.

The data for the graph below is from World Economic Forum's report, Future of Jobs. To the left we can see which technologies that will be the drivers of change and when we will feel the impact of those technologies. For example, we can from the graph see that 'mobile internet' and 'cloud technology' followed by 'processing power' and 'big data' are the most significant drivers of change.

Mobile internet and cloud technology have enabled us to work from anywhere and collaborate effeciently via co-working platforms...

Mobile internet and cloud technology have enabled us to work from anywhere and collaborate effeciently via co-working platforms such as Podio which we at Thinque use on a daily basis.  Satya Nadella, the CEO of Microsoft, said in an article in HR Review that: Work is no longer a place you go to. Work is about making things happen where you are. It is also having the experience you need to get things done, available on every device wherever.”

 

The three biggest barriers to change on the other hand is according to World Economic Forum:

  1. Insufficient understanding of disruptive changes (51%)
  2. Resource constraints (50%)
  3. Pressure from shareholders & short-term profitability (42%)
As the rate of change is increasing it's logical to assume that business leaders are struggling to understand the disruptive changes that's reshaping the market. Nonetheless, it's equally if not even more important to try to make sense of these emerging trends and form strategies on how to proactively respond. Are you feeling the waves of change? And how is your business responding to these changes?