Automation, Work and The Achievement Gap

Automation, Work and The Achievement Gap

Automation

• Automation uses machines to perform work-related tasks.
• Two forms of workplace automation can occur in two forms:
  • Total displacement refers to when machines completely replace human workers
  • Collaborative Displacement integrates machines alongside human which changes how we work
    • Supervisory collaboration where machines direct human activity
    • Maintenance collaboration where machines require humans to repair & keep them maintained
    • Order following collaborations where humans follow machine direction

Work and Meaningful work

• Work is a skillful performance of tasks for economic reward.
• Work has a nested structure because of specializations
• Job refers to the defined role which is associated with work tasks within a workplace
• Jobs can change over time as needed

Meaningful Work

• Meaningful work requires thought, skill, and creativity
• It requires subjective fulfillment + objective values
• Objective values include: valuable output, autonomy, self-esteem and recognition
• Two minimum conditions for meaningful work:
  • The overall output must be valuable & seen as valuable.
  • Individual sub-tasks completed by the worker must be valuable & seen as valuable.

Discussion on Meaningful Work

• It is possible to work as a financial trader within a workplace specializing in illegal arms trades that are not engaging in meaninful work
• Although similar tasks occur, they are not engaged in meaningful work
• This is due to the workplace lacking value because it is harmful

Achievement

• An outcome brought about by coordinated activity and efforts of an agent or agents
• Achievement is crucial for a meaningful life and shows positive responsibility
• It is typically associated with positive or neutral outcomes

Achievement Factors

• Assessing achievements requires these factors:
  • The outcome
  • The nature of causal contribution
  • The cost of the agent's commitment: time, effort, attention, stress, etc.
  • The voluntariness of the agent's actions and its surrounding complications

Automation and the Achievement Gap

• Total displacement means loss of opportunities of achievement through work.
• Collaborative displacement compromises the possibility of achieving things through work.
• Discussion centers around how automation impacts the factors of achievement:
  • The value of the outputs of human work
  • The cost of human commitment
  • The connection between human workers and valuable outputs

Responses to the Threat

• Responses to the threat to achieving things at work can include:
  • Emphasizing other aspects of meaningful work like self-respect, relationships, and skill growth.
  • Finding or creating valuable roles for humans in production, such as adding a human touch.
  • Emphasizing the role of teams rather than individuals.
  • Finding meaningfulness in areas outside of work like hobbies, sports, or artistic endeavors.