Sample Business Studies Paper on The Future Workplace

• Assignment Overview

In this assignment, you will write a 5-10 page paper describing the social, technological, and ethical issues that will shape the future of the U.S. workplace.

 

• What You Need to Know

 

The Future Workplace

Hancock, B., Lazaroff-Puck, K., & Rutherford, S. (2020). Getting practical about the future of work. McKinsey Quarterly, 1, 1–8.

• • You will use this article in this week’s discussion. In it, the author discusses prospective changes in the workplace that will affect the work force, along with the importance of employers planning proactively.

Lund, S., Madgavkar, A., Manyika, J., & Smit, S. (2020). What’s next for remote work: An analysis of 2,000 tasks, 800 jobs, and nine countries. https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/future-of-work/whats-next-for-remote-work-an-analysis-of-2000-tasks-800-jobs-and-nine-countries

• • This article argues that the impact of COVID-19 remote work has staying power for the future.

Estlund, C. (2019). Three big ideas for future of less work and three-dimensional alternative. Law and Contemporary Problems, 82(3), 1–44.

• • This resource examines three big ideas for the future of work and the pros and cons of a universal basic income (UBI), a federal job guarantee (FJG), and a reduced work week.

Center for the Future of Work. (2017). 21 jobs of the future: A guide to getting and staying employed over the next 10 years [PDF]. https://www.cognizant.com/whitepapers/21-jobs-of-the-future-a-guide-to-getting-and-staying-employed-over-the-next-10-years-codex3049.pdf

• • This resource suggests new jobs in the future workplace.

McKinsey & Company. (2021). The future of work after COVID-19. https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/future-of-work/the-future-of-work-after-covid-19

• • This resource suggests that the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the already-inevitable trend of remote work and use of artificial intelligence (AI) to perform jobs previously done by humans, concluding that more workers than previously imagined will need to be re-skilled in order to maintain current wage levels.

Assignment Instructions

THE FUTURE OF WORK

Using the provided articles and other resources, consider how work and the workplace will change in the future. Make sure to address the following:

1. Describe the social, technological, and ethical issues that will shape the future of the U.S. workplace, commenting on their impact on society and workplace productivity and providing a rationale.
   • Consider changes that may occur in the next several decades and beyond.
   • Provide a rationale for why you think these issues will shape the future.
2. Discuss the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on remote work, the use of artificial intelligence, and other workplace trends.
3. Develop an unbiased argument for or against increasing use of robots and artificial intelligence (AI) in the workplace.
   • Explain their pros, cons, and limitations, including the expected advantages to society.
   • Provide examples to support your argument.
4. Summarize the pros and cons of a universal basic income, a guaranteed federal job, and a reduced work week, and select one to recommend.
   • Select the change that you think could have the greatest positive impact.
   • Argue for use of your recommended change with recognition of its limitations.
5. Explain another change you would recommend for the future workplace that could significantly benefit humankind.
   • Use your imagination and research — the sky is the limit — but here are some examples:
     • Reduced CEO salaries.
     • Improved commuting options.
     • Green jobs.
     • Flexible work hours.
     • Greater accessibility/inclusivity.
   • Describe how your proposed change is different from today’s workplace.
   • Provide evidence and examples from scholarly research to explain how your proposed change benefits humankind, weighing the benefits against any risks or cost involved.
6. Convey purpose, in an appropriate tone and style, by incorporating supporting evidence and adhering to organizational, professional, and scholarly writing standards.

Additional Requirements

As you complete your assignment, be sure it meets the following guidelines:

• Written communication: Use error-free, doctoral-level writing with original (non-plagiarized) content, logical phrasing, and accurate word choices.
• Scholarship: Use 8–10 professionally reputable sources to support your main points and analysis. Be sure to include scholarly sources. Course readings may be included among the required sources.
• APA formatting: All resources and citations should be formatted according to current APA style and formatting guidelines.

• • Length: 5–10 typed, double-spaced pages, in addition to the cover page, illustrations, reference page, and appendix.

• Font and font size: Consistent, APA-compliant font, 12 point.
• For this assignment, you are required to follow the Standard Naming Convention requirements for any files you upload. You will find the requirements on the DBA Submissions Requirements page.

 

SCORING GUIDE

Your work will be evaluated using this criteria.

VIEW SCORING GUIDE

Competencies Measured

By successfully completing this assignment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the following course competencies and scoring guide criteria:

• Competency 1: Create rule- and value-based arguments from human resource models and theories, supported with clear and relevant evidence that convey professional tone and style.

• • Convey purpose, in an appropriate tone and style, incorporating supporting evidence and adhering to organizational, professional, and scholarly writing standards.

• Competency 2: Evaluate literature to create objective, fact-based, and unbiased arguments.

• • Develop an unbiased, supported argument for or against increasing use of robots and artificial intelligence (AI) in the workplace.

• Competency 3: Examine the legal and ethical challenges of leading the reskilling of talent pools in a highly digitized global environment.

• • Describe the social, technological, and ethical issues that will shape the future of the U.S. workplace, commenting on their impact on society and workplace productivity and providing a rationale.

• Competency 4: Appraise multiple responses to managing a human resource problem for compliance within ethical, legal, or regulatory frameworks.

• • Summarize the pros and cons of a universal basic income, a guaranteed federal job, and a reduced work week and select one to recommend.

• • Explain another change you would recommend for the future workplace that could significantly benefit humankind.

• Competency 5: Analyze an organization’s human resource management problem from the perspective of the legal and regulatory environment in which the organization operates.

• • Discuss the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on remote work, the use of artificial intelligence, and other workplace trends.