THE FUTURE OF WORK – TECHNOLOGY BLURRING GEOPOLITICAL REALITY
Humans have always been fascinated by the future and the possibilities it might hold. This, in large part, is because of the unknown world of new possibilities it promises; interpretation, alternate pathways and exciting developments, all of which ultimately combine to give structure to our lives.
So how does this same anticipation factor into the world of work? Can our imagination be similarly stimulated by the possibilities surrounding the conventional and everyday entanglements of business, such as planning, budgeting and forecasting?
Despite differences of narration, the nature and future of work is currently being revolutionised by technological advancement, shifting demographics and changing socioeconomic landscapes. Looking back, in the late 19th century, Karl Marx, the German philosopher and economist, warned that technology in the workplace would turn workers into mere extensions of machines, serving the interests of capitalists.
Dawn of the robots
In 1920, Karl Capek, the Czech writer and playwright, authored the theatrical masterpiece ‘Rossum’s Universal Robots’. This story describes how robots acquired increasing intelligence and then rebelled against their human masters. Why would they do this? Their dawning realisation that they were being exploited as cheap labour.
By the 1930s, John Maynard Keynes, the English economist, optimistically predicted that technological advancements would lead to a 15-hour work week by the end of the 20th century. This future has, so far, not materialised. In the early 20th century, the typical working week stretched to six or seven days, with extended hours every day. This only changed after labour movement advocacy efforts led to the establishment of the eight-hour workday.
Jan-Mar 2024 Issue
Henley Business School