Research Roundup
Research Roundup
Section Editor: Aakash Bipin Gandhi, BPharm, PhD, Methodologist Expert, RWD, Sanofi, Cambridge, MA, USA
The post pandemic future of work.
Malhotra A. J Manag. 2021;47(5):1091-1102.
Summary
The article by Malhotra summarizes the challenges faced by individuals and organizations in relation to the post-pandemic future of work. Additionally, the article also sheds light on the potential characteristics of the future of work and opportunities for future research that can help resolve challenges associated with these characteristics.
Relevance
The authors state that characteristics of the future of work in the postpandemic era may consist of the following elements. First, work may be mainly virtual in nature. This can create challenges for companies in terms of how they build, maintain, and sustain a desired level of organizational culture. This can be challenging when employees may not be working collaboratively in the same physical setting. Second, the future of work may require employees to work in highly matrixed organizations. This could be challenging for employees to navigate given they may need to alter between multiple reporting lines and go through multiple performance reviews. Third, the authors hypothesize that future organizations may need to hire “gig” or “freelance” workers for certain specialized tasks. Gig workers usually have the flexibility to work from any place at any time. In future organizations, this working arrangement may cause gig workers to be overworked to an extent that their job responsibilities begin to intrude on their work-family boundaries. Overall, this article aims to highlight characteristics and challenges associated with the future of work to encourage research on these topics and generate potential solutions.
Employment 5.0: the work of the future and the future of work.
Kolade O, Owoseni A. Technol Soc. 2022;71:102086.
Summary
The authors present a systematic review that describes the positive impact that digital transformation aims to bring to the future of work. Importantly, after considering existing theoretical and analytical perspectives, the article summarizes key factors that will impact the future of work from skills/creativity-related requirements to discussions around the potential for autonomous workers. Additionally, the article also describes how the future of work may be impacted by changing political and institutional processes and proposes associated directions for future research and potential interventions.
The post pandemic future of work.
Malhotra A. J Manag. 2021;47(5):1091-1102.
Summary
The article by Malhotra summarizes the challenges faced by individuals and organizations in relation to the post-pandemic future of work. Additionally, the article also sheds light on the potential characteristics of the future of work and opportunities for future research that can help resolve challenges associated with these characteristics.
Relevance
The authors state that characteristics of the future of work in the postpandemic era may consist of the following elements. First, work may be mainly virtual in nature. This can create challenges for companies in terms of how they build, maintain, and sustain a desired level of organizational culture. This can be challenging when employees may not be working collaboratively in the same physical setting. Second, the future of work may require employees to work in highly matrixed organizations. This could be challenging for employees to navigate given they may need to alter between multiple reporting lines and go through multiple performance reviews. Third, the authors hypothesize that future organizations may need to hire “gig” or “freelance” workers for certain specialized tasks. Gig workers usually have the flexibility to work from any place at any time. In future organizations, this working arrangement may cause gig workers to be overworked to an extent that their job responsibilities begin to intrude on their work-family boundaries. Overall, this article aims to highlight characteristics and challenges associated with the future of work to encourage research on these topics and generate potential solutions.
Employment 5.0: the work of the future and the future of work.
Kolade O, Owoseni A. Technol Soc. 2022;71:102086.
Summary
The authors present a systematic review that describes the positive impact that digital transformation aims to bring to the future of work. Importantly, after considering existing theoretical and analytical perspectives, the article summarizes key factors that will impact the future of work from skills/creativity-related requirements to discussions around the potential for autonomous workers. Additionally, the article also describes how the future of work may be impacted by changing political and institutional processes and proposes associated directions for future research and potential interventions.
Relevance
In terms of directions for future research, the authors state that both developed and developing countries will be highly dependent on gig economies in the future. Hence, these countries should focus on developing novel models of workforce contracting that are suited to a gig economy setting. Further, policy makers and stakeholders in these countries should focus on implementing evidence-based interventions to overcome inequities introduced due to the process of digital transformation. These interventions may be implemented in the form of educational programs through academic institutions or by providing hands-on training and support to employees, autonomous workers, and business owners. In conclusion, the authors state that continued political organization and activism can help generate novel industries and markets which, in turn, can create employment opportunities for autonomous workers seeking to make informed decisions regarding employment suited to their skill sets.
Artificial intelligence and the future of work: a functional-identity perspective.
Selenko E, Bankins S, Shoss M, Warburton J, Restubog SLD.
Curr Dir Psychol Sci. 2022;31(3):272-279.
Summary
The article by Selenko, et al discusses the potential impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on worker experiences. The authors propose a framework for the application of AI to an organizational setting and discuss how this may impact how people identify with work-related issues among other individual and societal outcomes.
Relevance
AI or associated processes may be beneficial for employees as it can help save time and effort with existing tasks. Conversely, it can also result in psychological harm for workers as it may eliminate certain tasks which no longer require manual or person-assisted labor. In this article, the authors state that the degree to which AI can either be beneficial or detrimental to a worker’s identity is tied to the functional deployment of the technology. This means that it is important to understand whether the implementation of AI complements, replaces, or generates new tasks for existing workers. In conclusion, the authors state that the evolution of AI would require workers, organizations, and society to develop and implement certain frameworks to efficiently adopt and implement AI to aid and support beneficial growth.
Note from the Section Editor: Views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in this section are my own and not those of any organization, committee, group, or individual that I am affiliated with.
In terms of directions for future research, the authors state that both developed and developing countries will be highly dependent on gig economies in the future. Hence, these countries should focus on developing novel models of workforce contracting that are suited to a gig economy setting. Further, policy makers and stakeholders in these countries should focus on implementing evidence-based interventions to overcome inequities introduced due to the process of digital transformation. These interventions may be implemented in the form of educational programs through academic institutions or by providing hands-on training and support to employees, autonomous workers, and business owners. In conclusion, the authors state that continued political organization and activism can help generate novel industries and markets which, in turn, can create employment opportunities for autonomous workers seeking to make informed decisions regarding employment suited to their skill sets.
Artificial intelligence and the future of work: a functional-identity perspective.
Selenko E, Bankins S, Shoss M, Warburton J, Restubog SLD.
Curr Dir Psychol Sci. 2022;31(3):272-279.
Summary
The article by Selenko, et al discusses the potential impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on worker experiences. The authors propose a framework for the application of AI to an organizational setting and discuss how this may impact how people identify with work-related issues among other individual and societal outcomes.
Relevance
AI or associated processes may be beneficial for employees as it can help save time and effort with existing tasks. Conversely, it can also result in psychological harm for workers as it may eliminate certain tasks which no longer require manual or person-assisted labor. In this article, the authors state that the degree to which AI can either be beneficial or detrimental to a worker’s identity is tied to the functional deployment of the technology. This means that it is important to understand whether the implementation of AI complements, replaces, or generates new tasks for existing workers. In conclusion, the authors state that the evolution of AI would require workers, organizations, and society to develop and implement certain frameworks to efficiently adopt and implement AI to aid and support beneficial growth.
Note from the Section Editor: Views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in this section are my own and not those of any organization, committee, group, or individual that I am affiliated with.
