by The research & scanning for the “Future of Knowledge Work” led to the identification of more than 120 trends that were in turn synthesized into 17 drivers. The drivers are organized by how they flow out of the domain map. Let’s continue with those emerging from “models.”
Competing with Complexity. The intricacies of navigating the modern global system have never been more daunting. Resource scarcity and market homogenization, to name just two, are trends generating greater complexity and uncertainty in today’s knowledge-based economy.
Value Capture. The more open nature of the knowledge economy poses challenges to traditional business models. The ability to share information quickly, easily, and widely makes it increasingly difficult to protect intellectual property (IP), and consumer expectations for what should be “free” continue to escalate.
Workforce of One. With knowledge workers leaving corporate employment to stake out their own claims as free agents, and companies increasingly farming out knowledge work to outside agencies, both domestic and abroad, new project-based models for workflow management are emerging.
Outsourcing to Consumers. Companies are increasingly outsourcing portions of the value chain—from R&D and content development to marketing and advertising—to consumers, gaining benefits along the way (cost, loyalty, increased personalization of products, etc.). In some cases, companies are entering what look more like partnerships with their consumers than simple producer–consumer relationships.
Sharing. Sharing is becoming a more important aspect of business—and personal—life in the digital age. It is now possible to eschew ownership of physical assets (offices, hard drives, cars, etc.), yet still gain necessary access to these things through collaborative consumption, cloud services, open innovation, and other novel arrangements. Andy Hines
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