Winning in the Robotic Workplace: How to Prosper in the Automation Age

by John F. Wasik

Overview

This book will examine the history of robotics and explicate what massive automation means for the present and future of labor in all its forms, from mills and factories to the white-collars offices of suburbia and more.

While warnings of a robot world-takeover could seem dramatic, the truth is more mundane—robots have come to take our jobs. Winning in the Robotic Workplace: How to Prosper in the Automation Age will teach you the skills needed to reprogram the way you work in anticipation of this technological shift.

Author John F. Wasik believes learning to thrive in the automation age can in fact humanize the workplace once again. In Winning in the Robotic Workplace: How to Prosper in the Automation Age, you will learn to emphasize the conceptualization and pursuit of creative ideas, a practice that most robots are unequipped to perform in a meaningful way. You will learn that the successful integration of automated elements with humans is the most effective business model moving forward, and that an eagerness to collaborate demonstrates a will to succeed.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781440871672
Publisher:	ABC-CLIO, Incorporated
Publication date:	10/21/2019
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	176
File size:	1 MB

About the Author

John F. Wasik is a professional speaker and jourbanalist and author of 18 books, including Lightning Strikes: Important Lessons in Creativity from the Life and Work of Nikola Tesla.

Table of Contents

Preface ix

Acknowledgments xiii

Introduction xv

1 Tesla and the Teleautomaton: A Brief History of Automation 1

2 Automation Acceleration: Why Robots Are Coming for Your Job 9

3 The Bad News: Jobs That Will Go the Way of the Dodo 21

4 Automate This! How Integrated Innovation Wins the Day 35

5 The Social Labor Ecosystem: How Worker Collaboration Can Revolt against the Robots 47

6 The New Synergistic Creativity: How Multidisciplinary Invention Will Take Center Stage 57

7 Essential Mind Skills: What Will You Need to Know and Do 69

8 The New Integration: How Humans Will Interface with Robots 81

9 Bot Busters: What to Do to Prepare for the New Convergence 93

10 The Joyous Journey: How to Prosper in the Automation Age 105

Afterword 119

Appendix: Exercises for the Automation Age 123

Postscript 151

Notes 157

Essential Reading 169

Index 171

What People are Saying About This

Travis Briggs

“Technology has been replacing jobs for over 100 years, but the pace of change today towards increased automation is alarming. Winning in the Robotic Workplace is an essential read if you want to understand who will win and lose in this new world.”

Luke Tanen

"Chicago has an amazing breadth of innovation that is beyond compare to other parts of the country. In fact, Chicago does have the most diversified economy of any U.S. city, with no single industry employing more than 13% of workforce. As such, the innovations that rise from the Chicago region cut across all industries and sectors, demonstrating a unique array of new products, services and companies that we see each year."

Fred W Beuttler

"Rather than so many neo-luddite laments, your book promises to equip us not just to “interface” with these new AI machines, but rather to direct them to ends that we desire. The new automation is truly liberating – and thus not a threat, but an aid to human flourishing. And this book points in the direction of the right preparation – a liberal arts education that needs to be continuing and lifelong. Liberal education is best for adults, who can synthesize these new tools with past experiences, creating new and innovative ideas."

Rob Twardock

"John Wasik addresses a critical topic in today's technical landscape. Understanding the trends and evolution of advanced manufacturing in both industry and education is critical to both our economy and our society, and John does a great job of making the topic understandable and relevant."

Don Phillips

"Automation will drastically alter the workplace of the future. The number of processing jobs will shrink, but the ability to analyze, interpret, and think creatively will be even more prized. John Wasik’s insightful Winning in the Robotic Workplace will help you get on the winning side of this powerful trend."