| Britain in business: the world of work in 2018 |
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| | role to play in the
consultancy sector's
future business
landscape. However, CEOs
in the sector will be
more concerned by
changes to current
business models, trade
blocs and the UK's
ability to compete on a
global scale. Some key
predictions include:
● business
markets: trade blocs,
within and across
markets, will experience
more competition and
conflict. According to
the consultancy sector
executives surveyed,
global corporations will
exert more influence
than governments (80%)
and surveillance of work
will increase on all
levels (93%). The data
also suggests that the
marketplace will be
heavily influenced by
new players from Brazil,
Russia, India and China.
● supply and
demand: business models
will change their
nature, becoming more
open to external
influences. Most
respondents in the
sector (57%) suggest
customer participation
in business decisions
will increase. Two
thirds (63%) predict
that environmental
concerns and regulation
will create products | |
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| | with longer lifecycles.
● business
structures:
organisations will alter
in character, reflecting
changes in society. For
example, 69% in
consultancy believe
"teams will be more
multi-generational", and
39% say "increased
numbers of senior women
will have changed
management styles".
● 17 scenarios:
predictions range from
terrorists attacking the
internet, bringing work
to a halt, through to a
world dominated by
digitally controlled
employees. With this in
mind, the study calls
for a focus on
"intellectual property
banks" to balance
requirements for
openness with business
protection and argues
that "brain enhancement
technology" must be
monitored to avoid
misuse.
● virtual
reality: only a small
proportion in the sector
think that holograms
(29%), robots (25%) or
implanted bio-chips
(12%) will be used to
drive business
efficiency. However 85%
argue that "virtual
businesses" will be | |
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| | commonplace and 94% say
the nature of work in
2018 will lead to
increased "virtual
contact".
● projected skills
need: organisations
across the sector will
still need many of the
skills required today,
but the ability to drive
change will be prized.
The research shows that
73% believe project
management skills will
be necessary for all,
with 68% agreeing that
"innovation and
creativity will be key
to most tasks".
● home is where
the heart (of business)
is: the study predicts
that the "work needs" of
employees will change as
they operate across
wider geographical
areas: 72% of executives
in the sector expect
working from home will
be commonplace to reduce
the carbon footprint;
70% suggest work-life
balance will be the key
to job choice.
Mary Chapman, chief
executive at the
Chartered Management
Institute, says:
"Looking ahead 10 years,
it is clear that the
successful organisations
will be those who can do
more than embrace change | |
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| | – they will anticipate,
identify and drive it.
Of course we cannot
determine the future,
but that does not mean
we shouldn't forecast
and prepare for it to
ensure that
organisations and teams
are effective, capable
and competitive."
The report goes on to
identify "humanness" as
a key factor for future
organisational success.
It suggests that
positions and job titles
might be removed if they
hinder collaboration.
Looking at the
"private needs of
people", the study also
shows that changing
demographics will compel
organisations to offer
more tailored lifestyle
benefits to employees.
Chapman adds: "A
greater degree of
emotional intelligence
will be required by
managers and leaders so
they can understand how
people work and their
likely reaction to
change. They will also
need to shift from
today's input-driven
approach to a focus on
output, achievement and
a better integration
between work and
personal lives."
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| | A business-world under
cyber attack, the United
States withdrawing from
the world economy and
employee behaviour
controlled by implanted
micro-chips are all
possible scenarios for
business in 2018,
according to a recent
study. Called
Management Futures,
the study identifies 17
possible scenarios
facing organisations
across the consultancy
sector in the next
decade. It analyses
current trends, past
experience and the views
of economists, an
academic and business
leaders to predict what
the world of work will
look like in 2018.
Combined with a
survey of over 1,000
senior executives, the
study will be used to
help business leaders in
the sector understand
what needs to be done,
today, to prepare for
tomorrow.
The findings imply
that holograms, robots
and "intelligent"
computers all have a | |
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