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WiTF! - Working in the Future

Jean-Luc Moriceau

Duration: 5 weeks (self-paced).

A certificate is awarded upon successful completion.

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What's inside

Syllabus

Introduction

The Retrospective and Prospective of Work

This module focuses on understanding the broader context and the evolving nature of work. We will explore the historical background to gain insight into how today's workplace has developed over time. The module features a timeline that utilizes Kondratieff waves to illustrate the history of work and the various factors that have influenced its evolution. Additionally, it provides an overview of current developments and trends that are shaping the future of work. We will examine how digitalization, changing demographics, and globalization, among other factors, are impacting the nature of work today.

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Career center

Learners who complete WiTF! - Working in the Future will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Future of Work Researcher

A Future of Work Researcher investigates emerging trends, technologies, and societal shifts that will redefine how, where, and why people work. This academic or corporate role involves extensive analysis, conceptualization, and prediction. "WiTF! - Working in the Future" is perfectly aligned for an aspiring Future of Work Researcher. The course provides a comprehensive exploration of "the past, present, and future of work," examining "historical developments, current trends such as automation and digital labor, and future scenarios of evolving work models." It delves into "theoretical discussions" and "real-world case studies," offering a rich understanding of the field. Specifically, the modules on "The Retrospective and Prospective of Work," "How Work Is Changing," and "Narratives about the future of work" are foundational. Professionals in this field often pursue an advanced degree, and this course helps build a robust conceptual framework for advanced study and practice.

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Strategic Foresight Analyst

A Strategic Foresight Analyst specializes in identifying and interpreting long-term trends, potential disruptions, and alternative future scenarios to inform strategic decision-making for organizations or governments. This role involves structured methodologies for examining future possibilities. "WiTF! - Working in the Future" is perfectly suited for an aspiring Strategic Foresight Analyst. The course is built around exploring "the past, present, and future of work," with direct modules on "The Retrospective and Prospective of Work" and "Narratives about the future of work." It explicitly examines "future scenarios of evolving work models" and "four potential scenarios" for the future. By analyzing "social, economic, and technological forces shaping the world of work," learners gain the tools necessary to develop robust future insights. This course helps you to master the conceptual frameworks and analytical approaches vital for effective foresight practice. This role often requires an advanced degree.

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Management Consultant

A Management Consultant advises organizations on various aspects of their business, including strategy, operations, technology, and organizational design, to solve complex problems and improve performance. This requires a broad and deep understanding of business environments and future trends. "WiTF! - Working in the Future" is exceptionally beneficial for a Management Consultant. The course's comprehensive exploration of "the past, present, and future of work" and examination of "social, economic, and technological forces shaping the world of work" provide a critical lens through which to analyze client challenges. Understanding "current trends such as automation and digital labor," the specifics of "Industry 4.0," and various "future scenarios of evolving work models" allows a consultant to offer cutting-edge advice on strategy, workforce planning, and technological integration. This course helps build a strategic perspective, crucial for guiding diverse clients through transformative periods. Top firms often expect an advanced degree.

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Technology Adoption Consultant

A Technology Adoption Consultant guides businesses through the process of integrating new technologies into their operations, ensuring smooth transitions and maximizing benefits. This role often focuses on improving efficiency, productivity, and employee engagement with new digital tools and systems. The course "WiTF! - Working in the Future" provides an exceptional foundation for a Technology Adoption Consultant, particularly through its dedicated module on "Working and the Fourth Industrial Revolution." This section specifically introduces "Industry 4.0," presents the "technologies involved," and discusses their "impacts on work processes." Understanding the "socio-economic impacts of digital technologies," as discussed by Nathalie Greenan, is vital for anticipating challenges and designing effective adoption strategies. This course helps learners comprehend the deep systemic shifts digital technologies bring, assisting them in advising clients on not just implementing technology, but transforming work itself.

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Change Management Specialist

A Change Management Specialist guides individuals, teams, and organizations through significant transitions, ensuring that changes are implemented smoothly and successfully. This work often involves developing communication strategies, training programs, and support structures during periods of transformation. "WiTF! - Working in the Future" offers an exceptional theoretical and practical foundation for a Change Management Specialist. The course's focus on "workplace transformations," including "historical developments, current trends such as automation and digital labor, and future scenarios of evolving work models," directly addresses the types of changes professionals in this role manage. Understanding "how work is changing" and the "drivers and directions of change," including the specific impacts of "Industry 4.0," helps in anticipating challenges and resistance. Taking this course helps build a comprehensive understanding of the forces driving change, enabling you to design more effective and empathetic change initiatives.

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Workforce Planning Analyst

A Workforce Planning Analyst plays a crucial role in anticipating an organization's future talent needs and developing strategies to meet them. This involves analyzing current workforce data, identifying skill gaps, and forecasting future demands influenced by market trends. This course, "WiTF! - Working in the Future," directly supports success in this field by providing an in-depth exploration of the "historical developments, current trends such as automation and digital labor, and future scenarios of evolving work models." Understanding these dynamics, particularly the "drivers and directions of change" and the impact of "digitalization, changing demographics, and globalization," is essential for a Workforce Planning Analyst to develop resilient and forward-looking workforce strategies. For aspiring professionals in this area, taking this course helps build a foundation in recognizing and analyzing the forces that shape future work, enabling them to make informed recommendations for talent acquisition, development, and retention. The course’s focus on critically reflecting on implications of these changes also helps in developing a strategic mindset for long term planning.

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Business Transformation Leader

A Business Transformation Leader orchestrates fundamental changes across an organization to improve performance, adapt to market shifts, and achieve strategic objectives. This involves rethinking operating models, processes, and technologies, often with significant impact on human capital. "WiTF! - Working in the Future" provides a highly relevant foundation for a Business Transformation Leader. The course encompasses "the past, present, and future of work," examining "historical developments, current trends such as automation and digital labor, and future scenarios of evolving work models." Understanding the "social, economic, and technological forces shaping the world of work" is critical for designing impactful transformation strategies. The deep dive into "Industry 4.0" technologies and their "impacts on work processes" provides specific insights into technological transformation. This course helps you to anticipate and navigate the complexities of evolving business environments.

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Future Skills Development Manager

A Future Skills Development Manager identifies the competencies and capabilities that workforces will need in the future and designs programs to cultivate them. This role is essential for ensuring organizational resilience and individual career readiness in a rapidly changing labor market. "WiTF! - Working in the Future" offers a highly pertinent foundation for a Future Skills Development Manager. The course meticulously explores "current developments and trends that are shaping the future of work" and "future scenarios of evolving work models." Understanding "how work is changing" and the "drivers and directions of change," particularly concerning "digitalization, changing demographics, and globalization," provides direct insights into future skill demands. The focus on "Industry 4.0" and its implications on work processes is crucial for anticipating specialist skill needs. By taking this course, you can develop a robust understanding of the landscape of future work, becoming adept at foresight-driven skill development.

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Organizational Development Specialist

An Organizational Development Specialist helps organizations improve their effectiveness and overall health through planned interventions and change processes. This role often involves enhancing organizational culture, structure, and processes to adapt to new challenges and opportunities. "WiTF! - Working in the Future" can be particularly helpful for an Organizational Development Specialist, as it directly examines the "social, economic, and technological forces shaping the world of work" and their "implications." The course's exploration of "workplace transformations," including "evolving work models" and the impact of "digital technologies" and "Industry 4.0," provides a comprehensive understanding of the environmental factors driving organizational change. By understanding "narratives about the future of work," learners can better anticipate resistance and design more effective strategies for fostering adaptability and innovation within organizations. This course helps prepare you to guide organizations through complex transformations.

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Public Policy Analyst Labor Technology

A Public Policy Analyst Labor Technology specializes in examining how technological advancements impact labor markets and workers, developing recommendations for government policies and regulations. This role requires a deep understanding of societal implications alongside technological capabilities. "WiTF! - Working in the Future" can be profoundly helpful for a Public Policy Analyst Labor Technology. The course critically reflects on the "social, economic, and technological forces shaping the world of work" and their "implications." Modules discussing "current trends such as automation and digital labor," the "impacts on work processes" from Industry 4.0, and the "Democratize Work Manifesto" principles provide essential context for policy formulation. Understanding "financialization" challenges and different "narratives about the future of work" helps in crafting balanced and forward-thinking policies that address complex societal issues arising from work transformations. This role often benefits from an advanced degree.

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Industrial-Organizational Psychologist

An Industrial Organizational Psychologist applies psychological principles and research methods to optimize human well-being and performance in the workplace. This includes addressing issues of organizational structure, employee motivation, human-technology interaction, and the impact of change on workers. "WiTF! - Working in the Future" can be very helpful for an Industrial Organizational Psychologist. The course examines how "digitalization," "automation," and "Industry 4.0" are "impacting the nature of work today" and their "impacts on work processes." Critically reflecting on the "socio-economic impacts of digital technologies," as featured in expert interviews, provides direct relevance for understanding worker experience and organizational health. This course helps build a foundational understanding of the macro-level forces driving workplace change, which is essential for designing effective interventions and research in a continuously evolving work environment. This role typically requires an advanced degree.

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Human Resources Strategist

A Human Resources Strategist designs and implements HR policies and initiatives that align with an organization's long term goals, focusing on talent, culture, and workforce structure. This role requires a keen eye on future trends impacting the nature of employment and employee engagement. "WiTF! - Working in the Future" offers a robust framework for success as a Human Resources Strategist. The course's examination of "current trends such as automation and digital labor," alongside "future scenarios of evolving work models," provides crucial insights into the challenges and opportunities facing the modern workforce. Discussions around "how work is changing" and the "drivers and directions of change" are directly applicable to developing proactive HR strategies for talent acquisition, development, and retention. Taking this course helps you to understand the broader context of work evolution, equipping you to design progressive HR frameworks that prepare organizations and their people for the future.

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Innovation Manager

An Innovation Manager champions new ideas and processes within an organization, fostering a culture of creativity and developing strategies for adopting novel solutions. This role often involves scouting new technologies, improving work methodologies, and driving strategic growth. "WiTF! - Working in the Future" may be useful for an Innovation Manager by providing a broad understanding of the evolving landscape of work. The course's exploration of "current trends such as automation and digital labor," "future scenarios of evolving work models," and specifically "Industry 4.0" can spark ideas for new service offerings, internal process improvements, or novel approaches to collaboration. By analyzing "the drivers and directions of change," learners can better identify emerging opportunities for innovation. This course helps to inform an Innovation Manager's strategic thinking by highlighting the forces that will shape the future of business and work.

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Data Ethicist Workplace Artificial Intelligence

A Data Ethicist Workplace Artificial Intelligence focuses on the ethical implications and responsible deployment of artificial intelligence and data-driven technologies within employment contexts. This role ensures fairness, privacy, and accountability in AI systems affecting workers and work processes. "WiTF! - Working in the Future" may be helpful for a Data Ethicist Workplace Artificial Intelligence by contextualizing the rapid growth of "automation and digital labor." The course critically reflects on the "implications" of "social, economic, and technological forces shaping the world of work." While not a technical ethics course, understanding the "impacts on work processes" from "Industry 4.0" and the "socio-economic impacts of digital technologies" provides a vital macro-level view of the challenges. This foundational knowledge helps in identifying ethical blind spots and advocating for human-centered design in future work technologies. This highly specialized role often requires an advanced degree.

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User Experience Researcher Future of Work Tools

A User Experience Researcher Future of Work Tools investigates how users interact with platforms, software, and hardware designed for professional environments, particularly those leveraging new technologies. This involves understanding user needs, behaviors, and pain points to inform product development. "WiTF! - Working in the Future" may be useful for a User Experience Researcher Future of Work Tools, providing essential context for the technologies and shifts they study. The course covers "current trends such as automation and digital labor" and the integration of "digital technologies into manufacturing" through "Industry 4.0." Understanding the "impacts on work processes" and the "socio-economic impacts of digital technologies" helps a researcher to frame user problems within the broader evolution of work. This course helps build a macro-level understanding of how technology is reshaping work, which is crucial for empathetic and effective user research in this specialized domain.

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Reading list

We've selected 50 books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in WiTF! - Working in the Future.