Is the "liquid" workforce the new normal?

2016-01-26T22:42:25-05:00

I read this posting by Accenture Technology: https://www.accenture.com/us-en/insight-liquid-workforce-planning?c=tech_tchvs16lkd_10000017&n=smc_0116

Workforce Planning – Accenture Technology Vision

The emergence of a flexible, adaptive and responsive workforce is changing how business operates. Discover the Liquid Workforce in our Tech Vision 2016.

Response by PO2 Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 26 at 2016 10:59 PM

2016-01-26T22:59:14-05:00

I'm not seeing anything cutting edge in this article... am I just missing it?? So, they want flexible, adaptive and responsive workers... is that really new to digital?? Or new to Corporate America?

Response by Cpl Mario DiPasquale made Jan 26 at 2016 11:23 PM

2016-01-26T23:23:25-05:00

I have had this belief for a while. Agile, Lean, Six Sigma, 5S, and all those mindsets are the future.
Agile employees will be more desirable than a Subject Matter Expert. Why hire five employees who have each mastered one skill when you can hire three that that has a solid foundation in several skills and can work with eachother to collaborate and get those same things accomplished with less overhead and wasted time.

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 27 at 2016 10:32 AM

2016-01-27T10:32:33-05:00

CPO Tim Dickey I found this article interesting, thanks for posting. As mentioned in the thread already - I don't think the concept of a flexible workforce is new, but I think this article highlights the fact that corporations may be redefining what flexible means.

The first part I found interesting was the de-emphasis on specialist and the increased emphasis on a flexible and adaptive workforce, and the mention of "software gobbling" up processes. I've read some articles, and this is a similar idea, about the pace of software development. The danger in focusing on specialist is that by the time they become a specialist the software or digital strategy they were using has been upgraded. Therefore, is what corporations need are people who can quickly learn the current best practice, not get upset about changing a processes every other year, and accept that continual learning and evolution is necessary to keep up with technological development.

The part that I am skeptical about is having a workforce that is scattered about with the exception of the executives. I've worked on projects in teams, I've worked on projects scattered, and I've worked a combination and by far the most efficient way is having everyone in one place to enhance communication. So much can be misinterpreted in text and people half pay attention in conference calls. I question the ability of an organization to operate efficiently with a scattered work force and no continuity because of a high % of free lancers.