Infotech and the Twenty-First Century Workforce

As highlighted in prior issues, the embedded networked intelligence, smart machines, and robotics aimed at services as well as manufacturing will transform the world of work, making much of it unrecognizable by 2050. We argue that great opportunities will be created in the face of great disruption. What form are those disruptions and opportunities likely to take? What sorts of trade-offs will be involved? How can workers, managers, and investors make the most of this situation? We take a look at some of the most interesting possibilities.