http://hbr.org/2011/07/the-big-idea-the-...tion/ar/pr

In the words of one of my favourite authors:

Quote:Specialization is for insects.

-Robert A. Heinlein

In my view, Robert is spot on. Humanity is not a hive of insects. This would be a living hell for those who like to think, who like to be challenged by their jobs, who need the stimulation. It will only benefit those people who are content to be drones.

I can easily imagine the former being pushed to the point where they crack up, rebel or riot. The monotony of a hyperspecialised job will drive them crazy.

Musk

(04-15-2012 5:16 PM)MuskCloud Wrote:  In the words of one of my favourite authors:


In my view, Robert is spot on. Humanity is not a hive of insects. This would be a living hell for those who like to think, who like to be challenged by their jobs, who need the stimulation. It will only benefit those people who are content to be drones.

I can easily imagine the former being pushed to the point where they crack up, rebel or riot. The monotony of a hyperspecialised job will drive them crazy.

Musk

The outlook is a bit unclear to me. It's much better to be a drone than a Chinese or Indian peasant, and even for the middle classes in many somewhat prosperous nations a relatively boring job to you or me might be better than the alternatives. As an entrepreneur it also definitely makes sense to take advantage of the division of labour where tasks can be broken down. Of course increasing automation does open up new possibilities - look at how cloud computing is freeing up CTOs to focus on business needs beyond just keeping infrastructure up and running.

(04-15-2012 5:41 PM)Pheroquirk Wrote:  The outlook is a bit unclear to me. It's much better to be a drone than a Chinese or Indian peasant, and even for the middle classes in many somewhat prosperous nations a relatively boring job to you or me might be better than the alternatives. As an entrepreneur it also definitely makes sense to take advantage of the division of labour where tasks can be broken down. Of course increasing automation does open up new possibilities - look at how cloud computing is freeing up CTOs to focus on business needs beyond just keeping infrastructure up and running.

Bingo!

One of my good friends is an accountant for the company I use to work for at the Shanghai branch. Her parents were peasant farmers who slaved nonstop along with other family members and even neighbors to put her through schooling becuase she was very smart. She has an MBA from one of the top universities in china. Yet she only makes 17,234.00 yearly.

The accountants from the America branch of my company for someone with an MBA in accounting pay rate starts at 89,000.00 yet the accountants at my office always complained about their lack of pay.

My friend on the other hand wakes up everyday happy about life and the way her career is heading. Different sides of the fence I guess.

The world will still need plumbers, lawyers, painters.
Western society will eventually be service based economies, the shift is underway but so many people will be displaced in the process with not much chance of ever being re-integrated.

Quote:Western society will eventually be service based economies, the shift is underway but so many people will be displaced in the process with not much chance of ever being re-integrated.

This is a good description of the past few decades. Is it a good description of the next few? Michigan experienced a tremendous recovery off the low, as did all the rust belt states. If you can drive a truck, you can make a fortune in N Dakota in the shale oil industry. On the other hand if you work for the government, or in finance, or in real estate the situation is not quite ideal.