Digital Innovation and the Future of Work

The concept of digitalization captures the widespread adoption of digital technologies in our lives, in the structure and functioning of organizations and in the transformation of our economy and society. Digital technologies for data processing and communication underly high-impact innovations including the Internet of Things, wireless multimedia, artificial intelligence, big data, enterprise platforms, social networks and blockchain. These digital innovations not only bring new opportunities for prosperity and wellbeing but also affect our behaviors, activities, and daily lives. They enable and shape new forms of production and new working practices in sectors such as manufacturing, healthcare, logistics and supply chains, energy, and public and business services. Digital innovations are not purely technological but form part of comprehensive systemic innovations of a sociotechnical and networked nature, requiring the alignment of technology, processes, organizations, and humans. Examples are platform-based work, customer driven value creating networks, and urban public service systems. Building on widespread networking, algorithmic decisions and sharing of personal data, these innovations raise intensive societal and ethical debates regarding key issues such as data sovereignty and privacy intrusion, business models based on data surveillance and negative externalization, quality of work and jobs, and market dominance versus regulation. In this context, this book focuses on the implications of digitalization for the domain of work. The book studies the changing nature of work as well as new forms of digitally enabled organizations, work practices and cooperation. The book sheds light on the technological, economic, and political forces shaping the new world of work and on the prospects for human-centric and responsible innovations.

Hans Schaffers, Matti Vartiainen, Jacques Bus

Preface, List of Contributors, List of Figures, List of Tables, List of Abbreviations, 1. Introduction, 2. The Future of Work in the Sixth Wave, 3. Emerging Technologies and Working Life, 4. On Humans, Artificial Intelligence, and Oracles, 5. Inclusively Designed Artificial Intelligence, 6. Working with Big Data and AI: Toward Balanced and Responsible Working Practices, 7. Working with Digital Technologies: Complexity, Acceleration, and Paradoxical Effects, 8. Game-changing Technologies: Impact on Job Quality, Employment, and Social Dialogue, 9. The Diversity of Platform Work-Variations in Employment and Working Conditions, 10. Workplace Innovation and Industry 4.0: Creating Synergies between Human and Digital Potential, 11. Competencies in Digital Work, 12. Dominant Technology and Organization: Impact of Digital Technology on Skills, 13. Digitalization and Management of Innovation: The Role of Technology, Environment, and Governance, 14. Open and Cooperative Infrastructures for Commons-Based Economies, Index, About the Editors