31 March 2008
2020: the changing work landscape
Report predicts more virtual working.
Training Journal and the Institute for Employment Studies have recently teamed up to conduct an ambitious research project – Learning and Development 2020 – to explore the possible scenarios organizations may have to face in 2020.
Phase one of the study has looked at 4 specific areas:
- Society – how will changing demographics and workforce mobility affect the nature of learning required?
- Work and business – how will the changing nature of business and work affect the type of employee development required?
- Brain and mind – how will developments in neuroscience, psychology and adult education influence how people learn?
- Technology – how will new technologies, communications and social networks support people's development?
Key trends highlighted
Paul Fairhurst, principal consultant, Institute for Employment Studies says, “The aim of choosing these areas was to highlight the key trends that may affect both the demand for learning and development in the future – and also the ways that it might be delivered.”
Phase one of the study is now complete. It predicts a growth in flexibility with “moofers” (mobile out of office workers) working from whatever location best suits the task in hand – restaurants or clubs with designated rooms or serviced offices.
Improved telepresence and holograms
But what about situations where people need to physically see each other? Di Smith (pictured, right), one of the report’s researchers says, “We’re already seeing the emergence of improved telepresence technologies, which mean people can see colleagues on a screen as if they’re really present.”
She says holographic imaging will also become more widely available and the use of avatars is already on the increase – for example in serious gaming. “Serious gaming is widely applicable to a number of business situations,” she suggests.
“It has a big use in learning, for example, but I could see it being used for internal communication uses such as communicating corporate strategy to different audiences globally,” Smith says.
Workspaces for moofers
Smith also believes we will see a radical alteration in the shape of city center shopping areas. “I think online shopping and out of town megastores will make our huge in-town malls unsustainable. Rents will fall and shops could be replaced by serviced office space for moofers and others who must physically work together to produce goods and services.
We’re seeing the emergence of improved telepresence technologies, which mean people can see colleagues on a screen as if they’re really present.
“We’re already seeing an increase in freelance and contract workers and I’m sure this is set to continue,” Smith says. She believes this increase in flexible work patterns will also bring a demand for flexible workspaces. “Not everyone wants to work out of their bedroom or kitchen,” she says.
Fairhurst says, “Although we’ve been focusing on learning and development in this project, the trends that have been identified raise questions for all aspects of the ways organizations work – including internal communication.”
The 2020 study will be the basis of a workshop option at Training Journal’s annual conference in June, when the final report will also be available.
Have your say
Some of the report’s predictions might seem far-fetched – how about downloading your brain, for example? But if we think back even to the mid-90s we've already seen major changes, such as an increased use of the web, mobile telephony and social media plus advances in neuroscience and smart materials.
What are the implications of increasingly flexible work patterns for internal communication? What are the specific challenges of communicating with contract staff, or freelancers, who may work for several organizations?
What trends do you think will impact internal communication in the run up to 2020?
Internal communication should be in the vanguard of improving the workplace landscape, by keeping up to date with what’s around the corner. But this doesn’t mean change for its own sake. Internal communicators are well placed to create a bridge between their organization’s needs, societal trends and what science and technology can deliver.
What trends do you think will impact internal communication in the run up to 2020?
Discuss these issues with other comms practitioners by joining the Internal Comms Hub members' group on the Communicators' Network.
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