The research & scanning for the “Future of Knowledge 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 “workers.”
4. Generational Shifts. Boomers are moving toward and into retirement or encore careers, while Gen Xers and millennials fill the ranks of US business, bringing with them different expectations, goals, and work styles more closely associated with being digital natives. By 2020, the next generation (Gen Z, born after 1999) will be poised to enter the knowledge workforce—bringing their new perspectives with them.
5. Rise of the Emerging-Market Knowledge Workforce. New middle classes are emerging around the world—from China to Brazil to South Africa—and these workers are hungry for the opportunities long enjoyed by their counterparts in the more developed world.
9. Blurring Life Boundaries. The proliferation of smartphones, tablet computers, laptops, and always-on connections means colleagues and family are never out of reach—making it ever more difficult to escape intrusions of work into family life (and vice versa).
8. Setting Limits. Work/life blur, debt, heightened job competitiveness, and time pressure are causing increased stress. This is causing some people to seek greater balance and embrace simplicity and balance. The idea of “digital detox” has come into vogue, even among some key members of the tech community. Andy Hines
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