Invited by Iain and Jo at ASM Technologies, a UK technology integrator, to keynote its first European Summit at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London.
Matthew GriffinFounder, President and Futurist, 311 Institute
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Iain and Jo at ASM Technologies, a UK technology integrator, asked Matthew to be the keynote at the company's first ever European Summit, held at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. The audience was a mix of executives from some of the UK's largest technology companies and distributors.
The session covered the impact of technology on the future of work and society, along with some of the trends at the top of people's minds at the time, such as the Metaverse.
"Global productivity is stagnating, in spite of technological advances."Matthew Griffin, London, September 2022
Matthew opened with the productivity conundrum the world faces: global productivity is stagnating in spite of technological advances. He explained the reasoning behind several four day week experiments, as companies try to drop old work norms and find new ways to lift productivity.
He then set out the differences, for better and worse, between the automated, autonomous and augmented technologies that are rewriting and disrupting work. Using examples such as construction and neurosurgery, he showed how even the most demanding and skilled jobs are being decentralised, as converging technologies let people work in new ways from anywhere, even home.
The audience left with a clear picture of how where we work, how we work, and who and what we work with are all changing at once.
311 Intelligence
What this means for your leadership team
Productivity is the real problem.
The keynote began with a stark point: global productivity is stagnating despite technological advances. Leaders should not assume that buying more technology lifts output on its own. The Global Productivity trend is marked Act now, so this is a present issue for boards.
Working time is being tested.
Four day week experiments show firms trying to drop old work norms. Our Shorter Working Weeks trend describes a move from trials towards funded policies that cut working hours. It is marked Explore, so teams should learn from pilots before they commit.
Place and partners are changing.
Converging technologies let people work in new ways from anywhere, even home, and that now reaches construction and neurosurgery. Our Work from Anywhere trend notes that most employers still tie staff to one country. Leaders must also decide who and what their people work with, as automated, autonomous and augmented tools differ.
Three questions for your next leadership meeting
Where is our productivity stalling despite recent technology spending?
Which of our roles could be done well from anywhere?
Which tasks suit automated, autonomous or augmented tools, and which do not?
The trends and technologies behind this session
From the 311 Starburst, the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit’s map of the technologies and trends shaping the next 50 years.
It means work is changing in three ways at once: where people work, how they work, and who or what they work with. Organisations should treat productivity, working time and location as one connected question, not three separate projects.
How does the Global Productivity trend relate to this session?
The session opened with stagnating global productivity despite technological advances. Our Global Productivity trend says weak growth persists and is marked Act now. The link is direct: leaders need proof that new tools raise output.
How do Shorter Working Weeks relate to this session?
Matthew explained the reasoning behind several four day week experiments. Our Shorter Working Weeks trend shows governments and firms moving from trials to funded policies that cut working hours. It is marked Explore.
How can 311 brief our leadership team on this?
311 offers a private executive briefing or leadership workshop, tailored to your sector. It is delivered in person first.
Bring this to your leadership teamA private executive briefing or leadership workshop, tailored to your sector. In person first, anywhere in the world.
Analysis by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit, from Matthew Griffin’s session and 311 data.
If Matthew gave this session today
One heavy AI user directs about 18 people's work.
311 Institute's Future of Work report finds a heavy AI user already directs the work of about 18 people for $180 a month. It takes the productivity question this session raised and measures what one person can now make and direct.
