Handy begins the talk discussing his previous work and how the idea of labor has been changing into something very different in the modern era. He proceeds to talk about the growth of three largely technological trends that will have an impact on the way work is executed in society. To begin, he points to the tendency of tools to replace machines, which means work can now be organized around the individual, therefore encouraging and/or necessitating changes in the organization of the factory or office. He goes on to note the second trend, replacing trains with terminals, new visual display units that maximize communication efficiency in a space, which will result in the breaking up of the central head office. Last, Handy states that these new developments will be increasingly linked to the development of fees being paid for work, rather than wages, and that if more and more self-contained tasks get created, it is going to be easier to pay fees to more individuals and more groups. He proceeds to highlight the possible effects of these changes, including organizations becoming more like federal states in which the center attempts to coordinate a number of independent and different bodies, leading to more contractual work for increasingly temporary employees, and a gradual end to guaranteed lifetime employment. Handy then notes that these developments will contribute to the erosion of the three 47’s tradition, and that the future has the three 37’s trend to look forward to. Moreover, with improvements in higher education, Handy anticipates a generally later entry of young adults into full working life.
Handy, Charles B Hutchings, Gordon Industrial Revolution British Telecom Rank Xerox (Firm) Job security Employment (Economic theory) Employees Fees, Professional Wages Federalism Federalism - theory & application Education Glasgow Plymouth
Source
Talk by Charles Handy on how technology has brought about changes in the organization and execution of work, February 4, 1987; Charles Handy Papers; Box 18, Folder 18; 17 pages
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