Changing Nature of Work

Changing Nature of Work

Changing Nature of Work

Introduction

Do we believe what we see or is it that we see what we believe? This is a philosophical question that identifies two essential elements in learning: beliefs and sensitivity. Our beliefs and assumptions about the world start to form at an early age and become part of our cognitive structures. Individuals develop cognitive structures as interpretative frameworks in which information is assimilated and organized. Sensitivity relates to the way we see and feel our environment for clues and cues. We gather information through our senses. However, this is not always objective as it can be shaped by our cognitive structures. Also, new experiences and information can reshape our beliefs over time. Therefore, it seems that we can believe what we see and see what we believe.

One of the most powerful forces affecting the changing nature of work and the work force is demographics — the changing distribution of the work force along a number of important dimensions. Here we can only briefly highlight the most important demographically- related changes that will be occurring during the next decade; but we urge all readers of this report to dig more deeply into the trends and patterns that will be relevant to their own organizations.(Pynes, 1997)

This paper identifies some of the current trends and changes that are apparent in today's business environment and illustrates how they need to be viewed as part of an organization's context. The assertion in this paper is that leaders must be sensitive to the trends and changes going on around them and they must be creative in understanding the relationships they have with their organisations. Trends and changes are integral to a contextual account of organisational behavior.

The paper examines demography, identity and technology and shows that these three trends influence the business environment at the global level. Unlike technology, and to a lesser degree demography, identity is not identified in other literature concerning the global business environment. The discussion on identity is, therefore, an important contribution to the current literature.

Demography

Anthropologists are fascinated with lost civilizations. Christians are engrossed in the events surrounding the year zero AD. Sociologists are trapped in the present in their attempts to understand the complexities of a world that appears to be continuously on the edge of chaos. (Pullar, 1997)

This century alone has witnessed unprecedented growth and development. Despite being rocked by two world wars and a number of significant economic tremors, we have achieved much. We have sent men to the moon, developed replacement body parts, designed commercial airliners that can travel in excess of one thousand kilometres an hour, and developed computer technologies that allow us to have instantaneous conversations with friends and associates around the world by Internet.

Identity

The second major factor that is having a significant impact on the business environment is identity. Identity relates to the central bonding attributes of different communities and cultures, large and small. From an organisational perspective, an organisation can be viewed ...