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1. The Future of Work
Promises and Threats
Presentation for the Informal
Group of policy strategists
Netherlands Public Administration
Victor van Rij
Senior advisor foresight
January 13th 2009 , The Hague

2. The promises Amazing Possibilities of
Digitalisation,
Mode 2 workers, web 2.0 …. 3.0, 4.0
etc
Abundant availability of information ,
easy collaboration on distance
crossing all borders, contact with all
ABC NEWS
http://www.youtube.com/watch? The ease of working and meeting
v=ZmfXksLir1g virtually anywhere and everywhere
Virtual simulations
Michael Welsh
http://www.youtube.com/watch? Empowerment of “Digital” people,
v=NLlGopyXT_g autonomy
Mechanic eyes (sensors), RFID’s
,everywhere (soon) mechanical
actors everywhere, real time
measuring
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3. The promises The Threats
Abundant availability of information , Overload of information (not
easy collaboration on distance verifiable information) the 24/7
crossing all borders, contact with all syndrome –no social life
Loss of control (some borders had
good reasons)
The ease of working and meeting
virtually anywhere and everywhere Loss of contact with reality, your
home base
Virtual simulations
Empowerment of “Digital” people, “Digital poor” people cannot cope
autonomy
The speed of change /generation
differences/transition after transition
Mechanic eyes (sensors) everywhere Control out of control (new
(soon) mechanical actors Taylorism)
everywhere, real time measuring
New systemic vulnerabilities
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4. Weak signals for OVERLOAD?
FRANCE TELECOM 28 Suicides in 18 months
in a company of roughly 100.000
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a signal or just statistics

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7. The Threats
Overload of information (not STRESS
verifiable information) the 24/7
syndrome –no social life http://www.metacafe.com/watch/15
52749/stress_and_job_go_out/
Loss of contact with reality
OR WORSE
FRANCE TELECOM
Loss of control (some borders had
good reasons) http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=6RduTtLwOjQ&feature=related
“Digital poor” people cannot cope
The speed of change /generation
differences/transition after transition
Control out of control (new
Taylorism)
New systemic vulnerabilities
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8. A dangerous
combination
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9. Some public sector worries regarding future of work
Overload and stress the 24/7 idea, New Taylorism!?
Adaptation and flexibility : how far can we go? Digital
skills/competencies? The change of (social) environment of the work place ?
Increasing speed of change? Risk of Alienation? Keeping generations
in? Keeping in pace with the Private world?
“Autonomy and open source” vs “loyalty of public servant / security”
Mode 2 how will the money flow?? Powerful core? What accountability for
the remaining flex public officers?
“Transparency” vs “Privacy”
The role of public governance in future and in particular in the digital
world
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10. Vanuit 'Het Nieuwe Werken' kijken naar
1. Helderheid toekomstige rol overheid , welke doelen, middelen en gebieden
2. Het Nieuwe werken
ICT Management in relatie tot het overig management
Continue verkenning van toekomstige ICT mogelijkheden, we zien nu het topje!
Implementatie: het “leren” benutten van steeds weer nieuwere tools, experimenten??
Hoe hou je iedere generatie in de boot? Hoe maak je het leuk?
En nieuwe organisatie van werk ? De “mode 2” ambtenaar !!! De rol van het management ?
Werktijden regeling?? Behoud ambtelijke loyaliteit? Veiligheid? Negatieve effecten van het
nieuwe werken?
Hoe worden de doelen werkzaamheden bepaald? Prestatie of productmanagement? Wat
wordt de mate van vrijheid? Wat wordt de vorm en mate van controle?
Medezeggenschap en monitoren welzijn- en gezondheidseffecten cruciaal!!!!!
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11. Slot
Laten we voorkomen dat we van
“het oude werken, de dingen, die voorbijgaan”
niet terecht komen in het
“ het nieuwe werken dat ons nooit meer rust geeft”
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12. Mode 2 in Science (Gibbons, Nowotny et al)
Mode 1 : work is organised along the lines of the institutions and disciplines
Mode 2 : work is organised along lines of spontaneous formation , creation
and recreation of networks amongst people from very different institutions
Question: Can we apply this model for public administration?
University Scientists should be autonomous for their profession. What about
public officers??
Accountability is mainly achieved through scientific productivity, what will be
the accountability for more or less autonomous operating public officers??
Who and how will the targets be set out, how about controls, checks and
balances?
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