The changing nature of work in the age of e‐business

Abstract

Purpose

This paper reviews recent discussions in the information technology (IT) and management literatures in order to consider their implications and to make a series of predictions about organizational life in the coming e‐business era.

Design/methodology/approach

A wide variety of recent discussions, ranging from comments by political/governmental figures to scholarly reports in the academic literature, are reviewed to consider their implications for the structure and shape of jobs and the job market.

Findings

The review provides evidence that developments in IT suggest that significant levels of job loss will occur in routine jobs, coupled with a pronounced movement towards a job market of flexible, fluid groups of highly‐skilled, entrepreneurial, consultant‐like employees.

Practical implications

Should this transition take place, there will be little place in the coming workforce for low‐skilled employees and a significant decrease in the overall size of the workforce. The jobs which remain will be those, which by their very nature, are creative and cannot be automated. Managers, governmental policy makers and the workforce in general will need to consider these implications.

Originality/value

Discussion and debate of the prospects need to begin immediately. This paper represents an effort to begin this process.

Citation

Landry, B.J.L., Mahesh, S. and Hartman, S. (2005), "The changing nature of work in the age of e‐business", Journal of Organizational Change Management, Vol. 18 No. 2, pp. 132-144. https://doi.org/10.1108/09534810510589561