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

Abstract

PurposeTo explore the alternative futures of work and the changing nature of the organization.Design/methodology/approachAlong with a long‐term macrohistorical approach, two futures methods are used: emerging issues analysis and scenarios.FindingsFour 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/valueNovel approach in linking macrohistory to emerging issues to scenarios. Challenges litany approaches to work and the organization and links with deeper worldviews.