Case | HBS Case Collection | May 2018 (Revised October 2019)

Managing the Future of Work

by William R. Kerr, Allison Ciechanover and Jeff Huizinga

Abstract

By 2019, leaders from the public and private sector had become increasingly anxious about how advanced technologies and aging global populations could affect labor markets, workplaces, and workers’ lives. Some analysts forecasted that hundreds of millions of workers would have their jobs threatened by automation. Questions about how relevant stakeholders (e.g., workers, firms, NGOs) should respond to those threats created a new field of study called the “Future of Work.” Comparing current forecasts to historical episodes of workers getting automated, many commentators wondered “will this time be different?” Despite so much uncertainty on the topic, many leaders concluded that they would need to collaborate across sectors to address many different challenges, such as rapid technological changes and evolving labor markets.

Keywords: Employment; Technological Innovation; Organizational Change and Adaptation; Change Management; Problems and Challenges; Opportunities;

Language: English Format: Print 32 pages EducatorsPurchase

Citation:

Kerr, William R., Allison Ciechanover, and Jeff Huizinga. "Managing the Future of Work." Harvard Business School Case 818-128, May 2018. (Revised October 2019.)

Related Work

  1. Teaching Note | HBS Case Collection | October 2019

    Managing the Future of Work

    William R. Kerr and Carl Kreitzberg

    This teaching note has been prepared to assist instructors with teaching HBS Case Study 818-128 "Managing the Future of Work.' This case has been designed to introduce leaders from various sectors to the Future of Work, and to give them the analytical tools and background information necessary to manage their own challenges. This case is intended to be equally effective at facilitating group discussions and for serving as a standalone briefing document. If being used by an instructor, the case can prepare students for discussions, workshops, or homework assignments that require them to brainstorm solutions to potential challenges in the Future of Work.

    Keywords: future of work; Employment; Technological Innovation; Organizational Change and Adaptation; Change Management; Problems and Challenges; Opportunities;

    Citation:

    Kerr, William R., and Carl Kreitzberg. "Managing the Future of Work." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 820-028, October 2019.  View Details
    CiteView DetailsPurchase Related

  2. Case | HBS Case Collection | May 2018 (Revised October 2019)

    Managing the Future of Work

    William R. Kerr, Allison Ciechanover and Jeff Huizinga

    By 2019, leaders from the public and private sector had become increasingly anxious about how advanced technologies and aging global populations could affect labor markets, workplaces, and workers’ lives. Some analysts forecasted that hundreds of millions of workers would have their jobs threatened by automation. Questions about how relevant stakeholders (e.g., workers, firms, NGOs) should respond to those threats created a new field of study called the “Future of Work.” Comparing current forecasts to historical episodes of workers getting automated, many commentators wondered “will this time be different?” Despite so much uncertainty on the topic, many leaders concluded that they would need to collaborate across sectors to address many different challenges, such as rapid technological changes and evolving labor markets.

    Keywords: Employment; Technological Innovation; Organizational Change and Adaptation; Change Management; Problems and Challenges; Opportunities;

    Citation:

    Kerr, William R., Allison Ciechanover, and Jeff Huizinga. "Managing the Future of Work." Harvard Business School Case 818-128, May 2018. (Revised October 2019.)  View Details
    CiteView DetailsEducatorsPurchase Related

About the Author

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William R. Kerr
Dimitri V. D'Arbeloff - MBA Class of 1955 Professor of Business Administration
Unit Head, Entrepreneurial Management
Entrepreneurial Management

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