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Globalization, advances in technology, shifts in the composition of the workforce and intense competition among businesses are reshaping how people work and interact at work. In fact, the rapid changes in genetics, artificial intelligence, digital technology, robotics, nanotechnology, three-dimensional printing, biotechnology, smart systems and electrical grids make some think that a Fourth Industrial Revolution, which will transform society and the work that it does, has arrived (World Economic 2016). Computers, mobile devices and internet connectivity have made work accessible from virtually every place on earth, no longer requiring many workers to commute to a place of employment while at the same time making them available to clients and their bosses 24/7. Companies are deconstructing jobs into their component responsibilities to better match jobs with employee capabilities and enhance effectiveness and efficiencies. Finally, intense competition is placing increased pressure on companies for ongoing innovation and cost control.
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Author Posting. © WorldatWork 2017. This article is posted here by permission of WorldatWork for personal use, not for redistribution. The article was published in the WorldatWork Journal, vol. 26, no. 1, 2017, https://www.worldatwork.org/resources/