Machines spell change rather than doom for white-collar work
- Mark Skilton
- Jan 29, 2014
- 2 min read
The article explores the impact of the Internet of things on the economy and jobs. Following Eric Schmidt’s (Google) assertion that the automation of jobs will be the “defining” problem of the next two to three decades. At a debate at Davos 2014, he warned that the constant development of new technology will put more and more middle class people out of work.
I explore real examples of how connected technologies will move beyond todays mobile apps and social networks to impact a range of jobs. I believe this will radically change economy drivers and business within the next 20 to 30 years requiring governments and enterprise to consider how to position and exploit this change.
While governments have Open data initiatives, smart energy and various sector and cross sector technology incubator initiatives, and figures from £ 100 billion to north of £ 900 billion and more for the UK Economy along in potential GDP growth, this will need serious leadership, proper investment (that is co-investing support between industry, government and academia) and proven skills to translate and convert into real value in a timely competitive manner. Time is probably the one factor I often see left out of change programs as a critical factor for success beyond the day to day tracking and micro management. What I speak of is clear roadmaps (one of the axis is time as is earned value management) that coordinate activities in an effective, inclusive and sustainable way. This includes communicating and engaging experts and industry players to come forward and work on value added initiatives that have clear benefits and managed risks. Many transformation programs fail due to their inability to quantify and equate value and to manage the time related changes from ideas to action, and as such as not transformational in reality.
I believe the technology trends can be a positive change in that it creates a new reality for a better world where employment, use of resources and quality of life can be better enhanced and managed.
Given the increasing and aging global population, the changing global weather patterns, and the scarcity of resources I can not think of a more pressing and important issue facing everyone.
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