Last week I presented at the Transport Development and Solutions Alliance (TDSA) biennial conference where I shared my experience and views on the future of Australia’s workforce. The conference was entitled NFPs – Survive or Perish: What’s Driving Your Future? This topic seems to reflect an easily observable trend across all sectors; organisations are looking for ways to adapt to the economic, political and social environment and, more importantly, think beyond survival and focus on competition and growth.
My presentation focussed on exploring how business leaders can compete by adopting new attitudes and concepts of what the future workforce could look like. I argued that the traditional paradigm was mainly based on legal guidelines. I proposed that leaders should expand their notion of ‘workforce’ by focusing on an essential question: Who is contributing to the production of value?
When outlined like this, we can recognise that an organisation’s workforce is not exclusively made up of employees. The simple infographic below is my attempt to visually represent how the two paradigms differ.
Roadmender is dedicated to the subject of collaboration. I am convinced that no amount of sustainable collaboration will be sufficient unless there is a degree of innovation, which ultimately will depend on how well enterprises understand each component of value production, including their workforce. I invite you to participate by sharing your views in respect to the workforce as an integral factor in partnerships and collaboration. We will further explore ‘workforce’ in the context of collaboration, in an upcoming guest blog by a specialist in the recruitment industry.
Categories: CSR Ideas, Uncategorized
ROADMENDER 
Exceptional post but I was wanting to know if you could write a litte more on this subject?
I’d be very grateful if you could elaborate a little bit more. Thank you!
Many thanks for taking time to read the post.
One of the key themes here is the idea that competitive enterprises can choose how they conceptualise an entity such as a commercial organisation.
Organisations are now more like ‘fluid platforms’, a new kind of a marketplace, where entrepreneurially minded employees seek to satisfy not just their economic needs but, increasingly, their need for ‘intensive purpose’ and meaning.
People glean value by surfing these fluid platforms and, if or when satisfied, invest back. In practice this means those who get what they looking for from these organisations, that function as platforms rather than pure legal entities, will reinvest their efforts by, among other things, being more committed to the organisation, promoting the organisation and its product/services etc., and seeking to make connections with similar entities.
Leadership in any enterprise that does not recognise the very simple fact that every person, regardless of the nature of their employment contract, is actually part of system of production within the organisation, will ignore major associated opportunities. It is illusionary to think that a full time employee will bring additional value by going beyond what is normally expected in the course of doing their job, while a short term contractor, technically not a member of ‘staff’, will not do the same. This is even more obvious if we consider the increasing role of part time and casual workers who, quite feasibly, may work for competing enterprises.
Part of the reason for this blind spot is the still prevalent belief that part time and casual workers do not normally hold senior positions and are therefore not hierarchically strong. Yet employers often ignore the increasing trend that tells us that many entrepreneurially minded employees have rich and vibrant networks, as well as the capacity to add value beyond their contracted period of work.
Conceptualising an organisation as a ‘cultural phenomenon’ rather than as a predominantly legal entity, creates opportunities for leadership and management of an enterprise to provide meaning and purpose that is based on subtle needs.
I hope this provides further clarity on the subject which certainly is worthy of discussion.
Very Best
J
I was suggested this blog by my cousin. I’m not sure whether this post is written by him as no one else know such detailed about my trouble. You’re incredible!
Thanks!
Dear Debbra,
A few things are as exciting as being able to share ideas and knowledge. I indeed wrote that particular post and unless I specifically mention a guest blogger posts are mine. In this case I am pleased that the post was useful.
Very best
Jelenko