Creative Destruction

Creative destruction has played a role in our economy for as long as there has been commerce.  And human nature being what it is the introduction of technology and innovation has been met by two forces.   We either embrace it or fear it.    

Those who embrace change place their trust in their own creativity, ingenuity and the markets.  For those who are fearful they prefer to have someone else (government) manage the change.   

Some individuals fear that robots and technology are going to take their jobs.  Just like blacksmiths were not pleased with the introduction of the automobile - automation will create winners and losers.  The introduction of the tractor to the farm increased supply – driving down the price of agricultural goods - thus leaving purchasers with more disposable income to spend on something else.  If someone had not invented the tractor or the automobile we may never have seen the smartphone.      

The people over at the Pew Research Center conducted a survey of strategic thinkers, technologists, scholars and other education leaders inquiring about the future of the workplace.   

70% said they envisioned new educational and training programs that would quickly and flexibly identify new skills that were needed in the marketplace and adapt over and over again to provide training in whatever is needed.  Rather than attempting to anticipate what the job market will need they would be able to seek out training facilities that are connected with global businesses that would feed them real-time data on their employment needs.   Some of the respondents imagined that these training facilities will replace our old-school - and slow to adapt - system colleges and universities. 

A number of the respondents suggested that we should focus upon differentiating those human talents that machines and automation are unsuited to duplicating.  These are talents such as abstract thinking, creativity, complex communication, collaborative activities and the ability to thrive in creative environments.  Additional ‘softer’ social and emotional intelligence skill sets include the capacity to manage public relations, networking and marketing.  

If you take the time to think about it innovation isn't the end of the world and it doesn’t have to be a zero-sum game.  

Embrace the chaos..