Eliminating future shock: the changing world of work and the organization

Abstract

Purpose

To explore the alternative futures of work and the changing nature of the organization.

Design/methodology/approach

Along with a long‐term macrohistorical approach, two futures methods are used: emerging issues analysis and scenarios.

Findings

Four scenarios are developed: business as usual (pendulum of labour versus capital); social and innovative transformation (moving toward the triple bottom line and flatter organizations); gut‐wrenching globalization (outsourcing of everything and the end of the nation‐state); and the unknown world (dramatic changes in the nature of work and organization, particularly because of AI technologies).

Originality/value

Novel approach in linking macrohistory to emerging issues to scenarios. Challenges litany approaches to work and the organization and links with deeper worldviews.

Citation

Inayatullah, S. (2006), "Eliminating future shock: the changing world of work and the organization", Foresight, Vol. 8 No. 5, pp. 3-14. https://doi.org/10.1108/14636680610703054