The Future of Work

The future of work

I. What is Work?

Work-by definition of Oxford dictionary-means the “activity involving mental or physical effort done in order to achieve a result”. This is a very broad concept. However within the scope of this report, the definition of work will be narrowed only within the extent of economy studies. Work, thus shall be the “economically value adding activities involving mental or physical effort done in order to produce service or goods with the purpose of making profit.”

Different works are done in different environments; require different tools and certain talents to carry out work-specified activities. As an illustration, the work of a farmer is quite different from that of a professor. To be more focused, this report will only address four dimensions of work: the organizational structure, the talent required carrying out the work, the tools to support the talent, and the activates to carry out the work.

In order to investigate the possibilities of the future of work, this report will first study the changes and impact that already occurred to our working life, study what changed our work and how they managed to change it, to extract the principles that led to the change. Then this report will look into current development trends and examine whether these developments will change our work in a similar fashion, whether old principles can explain postmodern models or they will bring more radical and revolutionary effects.

II. Past and present: an illustration

(Clark’s story was based on the semi-autobiographical book written by Michael Lewis, Liar’s Poker. And Kent’s story is based on information mainly from Optiver’s website. These stories are only for illustration purpose. )

(S&P trading pit 1987)

(S&P trading pit 1987)

Clark, worked as a bond trader at Chicago back in the 80s for Salomon Brothers, he worked in the trading pits where nearly most of large trades happened within. In his words, trading pit back...