The Future of Work: Challenges and Prospects for Organisations, Jobs and Workers (Palgrave Studies in Digital Business & Enabling Technologies)

The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption of new forms of working and new working arrangements largely enabled by technology. The Future of Work is a projection of how work, working, workers and the workplace will evolve in the years ahead from the perspective of different actors in society, influenced by technological, socio-economic, political, and demographic changes. This open access book is a timely exploration of some of the challenges and prospects for the future of work from two main perspectives: how work is changing and how to prepare for work in the future. An evidence-based assessment of these topics offers some critical perspectives that challenge old assumptions and opens up emerging trends and possibilities for work in the future. As part of the Palgrave Studies in Digital Business & Enabling Technologies series, this book is an essential resource for academics of Business, Human Resource Management, Organisational Psychology and Industrial Relations, as well as practitioners and policy makers. Acknowledgement Book Description Contents Notes on Contributors List of Figures List of Tables Chapter 1: Introducing the Future of Work: Key Trends, Concepts, Technologies and Avenues for Future Research 1.1 Introduction 1.2 What Is the Future of Work? 1.3 Key Trends, Themes and Concepts in the Future of Work 1.4 Perspectives on the Future of Work 1.5 Conclusions and Future Avenues for Research References Chapter 2: Assessing the Impact of New Ways of Working on Individual and Organisational Well-Being 2.1 Introduction 2.2 New Ways of Working and Autonomy 2.3 New Ways of Working and Competence 2.4 New Ways of Working and Relatedness 2.5 Managing New Ways of Working Using a Self-determination Perspective 2.6 Conclusion References Chapter 3: AI, Data Analytics and the Professions 3.1 Introduction 3.2 Professions: An Overview 3.3 The Enduring Technological Revolution 3.3.1 Artificial Intelligence 3.3.2 Data Analytics 3.4 The Impact of AI and Data Analytics on the Legal and Accounting Professions 3.4.1 Legal Profession 3.4.2 Accounting Profession 3.5 Re-imagining the Future of Work of Professionals 3.5.1 Technological Disruption 3.5.2 The Professional’s Evolving Organisational Field 3.6 Challenges Ahead References Chapter 4: Gig Work, Algorithmic Technologies, and the Uncertain Future of Work 4.1 Introduction 4.2 The Rise of the Gig Economy 4.2.1 The Unique Nature of Gig Work 4.2.2 The Role of Digital Platforms 4.3 Algorithmic Technologies in Gig Work 4.3.1 Algorithms and Managerial Control 4.3.2 Algorithmic Management in Practice 4.4 Algorithms and Gig Work: Challenges, Controversies, and Uncertainties 4.4.1 Challenges for Management Practice 4.4.2 Challenges for Legislators and Policymakers 4.4.3 Uncertainties for Workers 4.5 Conclusion References Chapter 5: Smart Technology in the Workplace: Threats and Opportunities for Trusting Employers 5.1 Introduction 5.2 Employees’ Trust in Organisations and Smart Technology 5.3 Challenges for Protecting Trust in the Organisation 5.4 Opportunities for Building Trust in the Organisation References Chapter 6: Leadership in Digitised Workplaces 6.1 Introduction 6.2 Integrative Framework of Leadership in Digitised Workplaces 6.3 Implications: The Best Practice of Leadership in Digitised Workplaces 6.3.1 Leadership and Digitalisation 6.3.2 Leadership in Virtual Work 6.3.3 Leading Virtual Teams and Digital Work 6.3.4 Leadership in the Context of the Future of Work and Gig Economy 6.4 Future Research Directions of Leadership in the Context of the Future of Work 6.4.1 Virtual Work and Virtual Teamwork 6.4.2 Leader–Follower Relationships, Health and Well-being 6.4.3 Human Capital, Social Capital and Leadership of Networks 6.4.4 Leadership in the Platform-Mediated Economy 6.5 Conclusion References Chapter 7: Diversity and Inclusion 7.1 Introduction 7.2 Human Diversity and Inclusion Through a Multi-level Lens: Individual-Group and Institutional Levels 7.3 Implications for the Future of Work 7.3.1 Legal and Economic Structures 7.3.2 Work-Family Balance and Working Time 7.3.3 Reducing Bias with Technology 7.3.4 Attitudes and Culture 7.4 Conclusion References Chapter 8: Higher Education and Skills for the Future(s) of Work 8.1 Rationale and Motivation 8.2 Higher Education and Skills for the Future of Work: Current Emphasis 8.3 Higher Education and Skills of the Futures of Work: An Alternative Framing 8.3.1 Slow Thinking 8.3.2 Elevating Well-being 8.3.3 Human Transformation in the Virtual Era 8.4 Conclusion References Chapter 9: Digital Learning: A Bright New Dawn for Learning and Development 9.1 Introduction 9.2 Conceptualising Digital Learning 9.3 Digital Learning: Drivers and Challenges 9.3.1 Shorter, Faster and Cheaper Training and Learning Methods 9.3.2 Learning Pedagogy and Digital Learning 9.3.3 Learning in the Flow of Work 9.4 Conclusion: Is Digital Learning the Bright New Dawn for Learning and Development? References Chapter 10: Digital Technologies and the Future of Work: An Agent-Centred Ethical Perspective Based on Goods, Norms, and Virtues 10.1 Introduction 10.2 What Is Ethics? Exploring Ethical Approaches and Their Capability to Analyse the Impact of Digital Technologies on the Future of Work 10.3 Towards an Agent-Centred Perspective for the Ethical Analysis of Digital Technologies in the Future of Work 10.4 Conclusions and Future Research References Index The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption of new forms of working and new working arrangements largely enabled by technology. The Future of Work is a projection of how work, working, workers and the workplace will evolve in the years ahead from the perspective of different actors in society, influenced by technological, socio-economic, political, and demographic changes. This open access Pivot is a timely exploration of some of the challenges and prospects for the future of work from two main perspectives: how work is changing and how to prepare for work in the future. An evidence-based assessment of these topics offers some critical perspectives that challenge old assumptions and opens up emerging trends and possibilities for work in the future. As part of the Palgrave Studies in Digital Business & Enabling Technologies series, this book is an essential resource for academics of Business, Human Resource Management, Organisational Psychology and Industrial Relations, as well as practitioners and policy makers This multi-disciplinary series will provide a comprehensive and coherent account of cloud computing, social media, mobile, big data, and other enabling technologies that are transforming how society operates and how people interact with each other. Each publication in the series will focus on a discrete but critical topic within business and computer science, covering existing research alongside cutting edge ideas. Volumes will be written by field experts on topics such as cloud migration, measuring the business value of the cloud, trust and data protection, fintech, and the Internet of Things. Each book has global reach and is relevant to faculty, researchers and students in digital business and computer science with an interest in the decisions and enabling technologies shaping society. More information about this series at