Creating the Future of Work
Imaginaries in an Era of Digitalization
Published on 18. March 2025
Book
Hardback
138 pages
978-1-0353-2447-7 (ISBN)
Description
This timely book explores the ways in which the future of work and associated digital technologies are imagined in contemporary society. Drawing on a wealth of original research, the book features detailed case studies that link broad sociological concepts to everyday practice.
Building on the view that ideas about the future matter, the authors examine four imaginaries, namely work as rational, work as human-machine collaboration, work as freedom and work as self-improvement. They discuss how these imaginaries of work and technology risk shaping unwanted futures, and outline different scenarios that reflect an ideal future working world.
Creating the Future of Work is an indispensable resource for academics and students of business and management, organisation studies, employment relations, and the sociology of work and organisations. Researchers, policymakers and business professionals interested in creating a positive working environment and in deploying constructive technology will also find this book to be of great importance.
Building on the view that ideas about the future matter, the authors examine four imaginaries, namely work as rational, work as human-machine collaboration, work as freedom and work as self-improvement. They discuss how these imaginaries of work and technology risk shaping unwanted futures, and outline different scenarios that reflect an ideal future working world.
Creating the Future of Work is an indispensable resource for academics and students of business and management, organisation studies, employment relations, and the sociology of work and organisations. Researchers, policymakers and business professionals interested in creating a positive working environment and in deploying constructive technology will also find this book to be of great importance.
Reviews / Votes
'A seminal and groundbreaking study, Creating the Future of Work: Imaginaries in an Era of Digitalization is co-authored by the team of: Anette Hallin, Christoffer Andersson, Lucia Crevani, Caroline Ingvarsson, Chris Ivory, Inti Lammi, Eva Lindell and Anna Uhlin (Malardalen University, Sweden). Informed and informative, thoughtful and thought-provoking, exceptionally well organized and thoroughly "reader friendly" in presentation, unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and college/university library collections.' -- Jack Mason, Midwest Book Review 'Creating the Future of Work explores how cultural imaginaries shape our expectations and practices of futuring in sometimes unexpected ways. Essential for researchers, students, and consultants, it explores digitalisation's impact on work organization and guides towards a more human-centered, sustainable future.' -- Chris Land, Anglia Ruskin University, UK 'This innovative book takes a unique place in the current debate on digitalization and the future of work and technology. It is of great importance to understand which imaginaries exist in contemporary society because these imaginaries will shape how the world will look like tomorrow. It is a gripping read!' -- Silvia Gherardi, University of Trento, ItalyMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
Cheltenham
United Kingdom
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Dimensions
Height: 216 mm
Width: 138 mm
ISBN-13
978-1-0353-2447-7 (9781035324477)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
Anette Hallin, Christoffer Andersson, Lucia Crevani, Caroline Ingvarsson, Chris Ivory, Inti Lammi, Eva Lindell and Anna Uhlin, Maelardalen University, Sweden
Content
Contents
Preface
1 Imaginaries and the study of the future
2 Work and imaginaries of rationality
3 Work and imaginaries of collaboration between humans and machines
4 Work and imaginaries of freedom
5 Work and imaginaries of self-improvement
6 The politics of imaginaries
Index
Preface
1 Imaginaries and the study of the future
2 Work and imaginaries of rationality
3 Work and imaginaries of collaboration between humans and machines
4 Work and imaginaries of freedom
5 Work and imaginaries of self-improvement
6 The politics of imaginaries
Index