Abstract
This book examines the impact of digitalisation on work, leadership and societal development, with a particular focus on how the future of work is shaped through our perceptions of it. The book raises important questions about power and consequences: who will be the winners and losers in the future world of work? It encourages the reader to reflect critically and to take a position on what kind of future is desirable, rather than passively accepting technological change.
A central premise of the book is that the future is not merely something that ‘happens’, but something that is actively shaped through people's interpretations and perceptions – so-called imaginaries. These are not based on pure fantasy, but on how we perceive and interpret existing technologies, infrastructures and societal changes. The authors argue convincingly that these imaginaries play a decisive role in how the future of work develops, as they influence which ideas gain traction in contemporary discourse and decision-making.
The book is the result of a long-term research collaboration within the Digitalized Management (DiMa) research programme, in which the authors have studied the consequences of digitalisation in both Sweden and the United Kingdom. The authors draw largely on material from their own work, while also acknowledging contributions from colleagues at the University of Brighton and Mälardalen University.
The book is based on a broad empirical foundation, drawn from studies of both industrial and service-based work environments. It addresses traditional industrial labour as well as modern knowledge-intensive activities and new forms of work, such as digital nomadism, work from anywhere and at any time. By combining examples from different sectors and contexts, the authors provide a nuanced picture of the complex effects of digitalisation.
One of the book's strengths is its accessible language and its ambition to reach a wide audience. The authors have deliberately chosen a less rigid academic style, making the content easier to engage with even for readers outside academia. At the same time, the book retains analytical sharpness and a solid scholarly foundation, making it relevant for researchers and students alike.
The book offers valuable tools for decision-makers, politicians and civil servants at all levels of public administration (PA) and politics. Being able to imagine and analyse the future labour market and of work is crucial in an era when both private and public actors are investing enormous resources in technological development, digitalisation and artificial intelligence – globally, regionally and locally.
Education programmes that shape the analysts and decision-makers of the future can use the book to their advantage in teaching. It strengthens students’ ability to understand, evaluate and critically examine the consequences that today's rapid digital development may have for tomorrow's working life.
Time is the book's greatest shortcoming. Research and publication take a long time, while much changes every year. By 2026, the book risks being perceived as dated. The future described may already have become reality – we may already have the benefit of hindsight – while new futures continue to be shaped through people's (our) interpretations and perceptions, referred to in the book as imaginaries.
In summary, Creating the Future of Work is an insightful and well-substantiated book that contributes important perspectives on the role of digitalisation in working life and PA in general. It is suitable both for academic contexts and for practitioners who wish to understand and influence the future of work.
