The impact of emerging technologies on work: a review of the evidence and implications for the human resource function

Emma Parry,Valentina Battista

doi:10.12688/emeraldopenres.12907.1

Abstract

Popular media suggests that technological advancement will continue to have a dramatic effect on work, but it is difficult to distinguish between the hype surrounding this and the actual potential impacts. This study examines what the evidence is in relation to the impact of emerging technologies on work and the role of the human resource (HR) function in helping employees and organisations to navigate these changes. Evidence suggests that the latest technologies, such as artificial intelligence and robotics, are being employed by organisations to automate simple and repetitive tasks as well as to make complex decisions quickly and more accurately via predictive algorithms. In addition, emerging technologies are increasingly being used to support the implementation of more flexible working practices such as virtual work and gig work. However, this will present a number of challenges for HR professionals, who will need to help employees to update their skills to compete in the future world of work, and to find ways to address the possible negative effects of increased connectivity and precarious working arrangements on employee wellbeing.

Highlights

Over the last few years, we have seen a vast amount of attention paid to the impact of technological development on work, sometimes referred to as the changing world of work, by popular media and consultants
This literature review did build on an earlier literature review funded by the Defence Human Capability Science and Technology Centre (DHCSTC)
Technological advancement is often associated with other changes within the world of work that might be facilitated by the technology itself, like for example, the disintegration of the traditional employment relationship to be replaced by gig economy work; an increased emphasis on flexibility and agility at work; and a new generation of employees with vastly different attitudes to the previous workforce

Summary

Introduction

Over the last few years, we have seen a vast amount of attention paid to the impact of technological development on work, sometimes referred to as the changing world of work, by popular media and consultants. Newspaper headlines such as “Robots will take our jobs. Some commentators suggest that advances in technology will lead to changes in the workplace as dramatic as the collapse of the traditional employment relationship, the widespread use of artificial reality instead of travel and the replacement of humans with artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics. Amongst all of the propaganda surrounding the impact of technological advancement on the future of work, it remains unclear what the actual evidence base is in relation to this and what the role of the human resource (HR) function will be in supporting the organisation and its employees in navigating these changes

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