The Future of Work in Asia and Beyond: A Technological Revolution or Evolution? (Routledge Studies in Innovation, Organizations and Technology)

The Future of Work in Asia and Beyond presents the findings and associated implications arising from a collaborative research study conducted on the potential impact of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR – or Industry 4.0) on the labour markets, occupations and associated future workforce competencies and skills across ten countries.

The 4IR concerns the digital transformation in society and business – an interface between technologies in the physical, digital and biological disciplines. The book explores many related issues: the nature of the 4IR, as well as demographic, generational and socio-cultural issues, economic and political perspectives, public and private sector similarities and differences, business strategy and managerial implications, human resource management/planning strategies, policies and practices, industry innovations, ‘best practice’ cases and comparative country studies. Chapters are based on a framework which combines labour market and multiple stakeholder theories. Issues are explored through the perceptions of organisational managers based in Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mauritius, Nepal, Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand to provide an analysis of organisational, industry and government preparedness for the 4IR.

This book is recommended reading for anyone wanting to gain an understanding of the 4IR and a range of related challenges and issues, as well as suggested strategies for governments, education and industry that are necessary to address them.

Alan R. Nankervis is an adjunct professor of human resource management at Curtin and RMIT universities, Australia. He has more than thirty years’ teaching and research experience at universities in Australia, Canada, China, Singapore, Thailand and the UK, and is the author or co-author of more than 150 publications.

Julia Connell is Assistant Dean, Research Training, Faculty of Business and Law, University of Newcastle, Australia. Her research interests include: employment related topics, vulnerable workers/precarious jobs, change/people development, organisational effectiveness and issues related to higher education.

John Burgess is Professor of Human Resource Management at RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia. His research interests include the HRM practices of multinational enterprises; the gig economy and labour regulation; and transitional labour markets.