1.4 Tackling the Challenge of Creating Meaningful Work

The core issue at hand lies in our approach to remunerating work. It's imperative to shift away from compensating solely for working hours and instead move toward rewarding meaningful activities that contribute value to society and enhance our overall quality of life. The significance of conventional working hours will diminish as a result, helping mitigate the displacement of paid activities by intelligent machines.

The crux of the problem resides in our conception of work. Remember that we define work as any activity essential for the survival of our species and the advancement of human development and well-being. The pursuit of subsistence serves as the primary impetus for work.

Historically, work has been defined as activities for which individuals receive compensation based on their execution. Similarly, working time denotes the hours for which employees are compensated by their employers. Consequently, only those activities regarded as work are those deemed necessary for the production of goods and services, thereby generating economic value for the employer and warranting payment. Most individuals engage in work out of necessity, as they require income to support their own lives and the well-being of their families. However, the meaningfulness and purpose of work have eroded over time, resulting in a substantial portion of the working population feeling discontented and unsatisfied.1

The essence of work draws its meaning from seven fundamental factors.2 Innovative approaches to work can be harnessed to amplify these factors, fostering a bloom rather than a gloom in new work endeavors. Meaning is derived from the following:

• Identity: Who am I? Fresh approaches to work can help individuals define a broader sense of self with a more substantial impact on others.

• Purpose: Where am I going? New work paradigms aid individuals in discovering genuine purpose within their work.

• Relationships: Who do I work with? Modern work methods facilitate connections with individuals beyond one's immediate social circle.

• Work Environment: How can we create a positive work environment? Emerging work models enable individuals to operate in diverse work settings, where work converges with their surroundings instead of necessitating commutes.

• Challenges: What challenges pique my interest? Novel work arrangements permit employees to concentrate on meaningful tasks that resonate with their values.

• Learning: How can I continue learning through work? The evolving landscape of work encourages a growth mindset and continual learning.

• Delight: How can I find joy in my work? Fresh work paradigms incorporate elements of humor, appreciation of excellence, appreciation of beauty, mindfulness, and enjoyment in the workplace experience.

Tackling the Challenge of Harnessing New Technologies

Numerous factors exert an influence on the realm of work, with technology standing out as a major catalyst for change and transformation. It is crucial to consider a wide array of emerging technologies, not limited solely to information and communication technology (ICT) and artificial intelligence (AI), which currently dominate the landscape. We must also explore the potential of biotech, gentech, nanotech, cleantech, alternative energy, health technologies, neuroscience, robotics, drones, 3D printing, new materials, quantum technology, outer space tech, and new transportation technologies, among others. Additionally, combinations of these technologies, such as BING (Biotech, Infotech, Nanotech & Genetics) and NBIC (Nanotechnology, Biotechnology, Information Technology, and Cognitive Science), hold promise for reshaping our future.

Here are a couple of illustrative examples highlighting how the positive utilization of emerging technologies can enhance our survival and well-being:

• Artificial Intelligence (AI): AI encompasses the capacity of digital computers or computer-controlled robots to perform tasks typically associated with intelligent beings. AI is now permeating everyday life, making inroads in academia, business, government, and the military. According to a recent report from Accenture, analysts Mark Purdy and Paul Daugherty assert that AI is emerging as a novel factor of production capable of catalyzing profitability.3

• Applications of AI: AI techniques find application in diverse domains, including optical character recognition, handwriting recognition, speech recognition, face recognition, artificial creativity, computer vision, virtual reality, image processing, game theory, strategic planning, natural language processing, translation, chatterbots, nonlinear control, and robotics.

• China's AI Advancements: China has made substantial investments in AI and is poised to reap significant economic benefits by 2030. AI is set to accelerate global GDP growth by enhancing productivity and boosting consumption.4 Notably, the rise of QR codes has played a pivotal role in China's transition to a cashless society.

• Photonics Advancements: Recent advances in photonics have facilitated precise manipulation and detection of light properties, leading to substantial enhancements in various technologies, including remote sensing, medical diagnostics, and communications. Photonics also enables the precise direction of high-energy beams with minimal energy loss.

• The Fourth Industrial Revolution: Characterized by breakthroughs in fields like robotics, AI, nanotechnology, quantum computing, biotechnology, the Internet of Things, 3D printing, and autonomous vehicles, the Fourth Industrial Revolution signals the dissolution of barriers between humans and machines.5

• Self-Driving Vehicles: Autonomous vehicles extend beyond just cars and encompass ships, airplanes, and drones, revolutionizing transportation.

• Cloud Computing: The cloud allows users to access applications, information, and data online or via mobile devices, with multi-cloud emerging as the future of cloud computing.

• Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS): CPS examples encompass the smart grid, autonomous vehicle systems, medical monitoring, process control systems, robotics systems, and avionics with automatic pilots. These systems blend physical and digital components to enable new capabilities.

In this evolving technological landscape, work is likely to be deconstructed into discrete components, emphasizing the importance of organizations that can integrate individual competency domains. Forthcoming research findings indicate that organization capability has four times the impact on business performance compared to individual competence.6 In the new world of work, the structure and dynamics of organizations will continue to play a pivotal role. Exploring how these new-age organizations are designed to accomplish work promises to be a fascinating journey.