Re-skilling Human Resources for Construction 4.0


Book Description

This book examines the burgeoning revolution in the construction industry known as Construction 4.0, the attendant need for re-skilling human resources, and key stakeholders' roles in developing the required skills for Construction 4.0. It views the lack of 21st-century skills and skills gap in the industry as significant challenges limiting the uptake and implementation of Construction 4.0 technologies, especially in developing countries. In order to determine the skills required, this book examines the critical technologies of Construction 4.0, such as building information modelling (BIM), robotic construction, 3D printing and drones, which have transformed the construction industry, thereby creating digital, intelligent and sustainable construction solutions. Furthermore, the book considers the benefits, risks and relevant skills required to implement Construction 4.0 technologies.




The Road to Outsourcing 4.0


Book Description




Reskilling the Workforce for Technological Advancement


Book Description

The modern workforce is continually evolving, presenting an ongoing challenge to business stakeholders, from workers to administration. Technological advancements, shifting consumer preferences, and the ever-changing global economic landscape have set the stage for a resounding conundrum. How can workers, employers, and society adapt to this rapidly transforming environment? Reskilling the Workforce for Technological Advancement presents an answer in the concept of reskilling existing workforces. As highlighted in the book, reskilling offers a path to not only address the challenges faced by individuals but also to propel businesses and society forward. The first issue at hand is the need for workers to continually develop new skills and adapt to new roles in response to technological advancements. Reskilling the Workforce for Technological Advancement presents a compelling solution by outlining how reskilling can open to new career opportunities, boost earning potential, and provide the necessary tools for individuals to remain competitive.




Human Resource Management in Construction Projects


Book Description

Although construction is one of the most labour-intensive industries, people management issues are given inadequate attention. Furthermore, the focus of attention with regards to HR has been on the strategic aspects of HRM function - yet most problems and operational issues arise on projects. To help redress these problems, this book takes a broad view of HRM, examining the strategic and operational aspects of managing people within the construction sector. The book is aimed at project managers and students of project management who, until now, have been handed the responsibility for human resource management without adequate knowledge or training. The issues addressed in this book are internationally relevant, and are of fundamental concern to both students and practitioners involved in the management of construction projects. The text draws on the authors' experience of working with a range of large construction companies in improving their HRM operational activities at both strategic and operational levels, and is well illustrated with case studies of projects and organizations.




The Fourth Industrial Revolution


Book Description

World-renowned economist Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum, explains that we have an opportunity to shape the fourth industrial revolu­tion, which will fundamentally alter how we live and work. Schwab argues that this revolution is different in scale, scope and complexity from any that have come before. Characterized by a range of new technologies that are fusing the physical, digital and biological worlds, the developments are affecting all disciplines, economies, industries and governments, and even challenging ideas about what it means to be human. Artificial intelligence is already all around us, from supercomputers, drones and virtual assistants to 3D printing, DNA sequencing, smart thermostats, wear­able sensors and microchips smaller than a grain of sand. But this is just the beginning: nanomaterials 200 times stronger than steel and a million times thinner than a strand of hair and the first transplant of a 3D printed liver are already in development. Imagine “smart factories” in which global systems of manu­facturing are coordinated virtually, or implantable mobile phones made of biosynthetic materials. The fourth industrial revolution, says Schwab, is more significant, and its ramifications more profound, than in any prior period of human history. He outlines the key technologies driving this revolution and discusses the major impacts expected on government, business, civil society and individu­als. Schwab also offers bold ideas on how to harness these changes and shape a better future—one in which technology empowers people rather than replaces them; progress serves society rather than disrupts it; and in which innovators respect moral and ethical boundaries rather than cross them. We all have the opportunity to contribute to developing new frame­works that advance progress.




Reinventing Jobs


Book Description

How to Optimize Human-Machine Work Combinations Your organization has made the decision to adopt automation and artificial intelligence technologies. Now, you face difficult and stubborn questions about how to implement that decision: How, when, and where should we apply automation in our organization? Is it a stark choice between humans versus machines? How do we stay on top of these technological trends as work and automation continue to evolve? Work and human capital experts Ravin Jesuthasan and John Boudreau present leaders with a new set of tools to answer these daunting questions. Transcending the endless debate about humans being replaced by machines, Jesuthasan and Boudreau show how smart leaders instead are optimizing human-automation combinations that are not only more efficient but also generate higher returns on improved performance. Based on groundbreaking primary research, Reinventing Jobs provides an original, structured approach of four distinct steps--deconstruct, optimize, automate, and reconfigure--to help leaders reinvent how work gets bundled into jobs and create optimal human-machine combinations. Jesuthasan and Boudreau show leaders how to continuously reexamine what a job really is, and they provide the tools for identifying the pivotal performance value of tasks within jobs and how these tasks should be reconstructed into new, more optimal combinations. With numerous examples and practical advice for applying the four-step process, Reinventing Jobs gives leaders a more precise, planful, and actionable way to decide how, when, and where to apply and optimize work automation.




HRM 4.0 For Human-Centered Organizations


Book Description

Offering researchers and professionals cutting-edge research and practical guidelines to turn the challenging scenario of Industry 4.0 into a successful transformation for the HRM domain, this volume focuses on three critical insights: HRM in the 4.0 era, job design for the smart economy, and HRM tools for digital transformation.




The Sage Handbook of Human Resource Development


Book Description

The Sage Handbook of Human Resource Development offers a comprehensive exploration of the evolving landscape of HRD, serving as both an orientation to the profession and an analytical examination of HRD as a field of study and research. The handbook addresses key questions, such as the state of HRD globally, its changes over the past decade, and the foundational philosophies and values shaping research and practice in HRD. Across eight sections, the handbook covers foundational aspects, theoretical influences, learning and workforce development, talent and career development, leadership and organizational development, diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, technology-enhanced HRD, and emerging issues and future directions. Each section provides insights into diverse topics ranging from workplace learning, action learning, and employee engagement to social media, artificial intelligence, and future trends. With contributions from scholars across the globe, the handbook reflects the global nature of HRD, making it applicable to academic programs worldwide. Designed for academics, graduate students, HR leaders, executives, managers, and consultants, this handbook stands out with its diverse perspectives and insights, making it an indispensable guide for those seeking a deep understanding of the dynamic field of Human Resource Development. A.FOUNDATIONS OF THE DISCIPLINE OF HRD B.THEORETICAL INFLUENCES ON HRD C.LEARNING AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT D. TALENT AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT E. LEADERSHIP AND ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT F. DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION, AND BELONGING G. TECHNOLOGY ENHANCED HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT H. EMERGING ISSUES AND FUTURE DIRECTIONS




Reskilling America


Book Description

From Katherine Newman, award-winning author of No Shame in My Game, and sociologist Hella Winston, a sharp and irrefutable call to reenergize this nation's long-neglected system of vocational training After decades of off-shoring and downsizing that have left blue collar workers obsolete and stranded, the United States is now on the verge of an industrial renaissance. Companies like Apple, BMW, Bosch, and Volkswagen are all opening plants and committing millions of dollars to build products right here on American soil. The only problem: we don't have a skilled enough labor pool to fill these positions, which are in many cases technically demanding and require specialized skills. A decades-long series of idealistic educational policies with the expressed goal of getting every student to go to college has left a generation of potential workers out of the system. Touted as a progressive, egalitarian institution providing opportunity even to those with the greatest need, the American secondary school system has in fact deepened existing inequalities, leaving behind millions of youth, especially those who live in the de-industrialized Northeast and Midwest, without much of a future at all. We can do better, argue acclaimed sociologists Katherine Newman and Hella Winston. Taking a page from the successful experience of countries like Germany and Austria, where youth unemployment is a mere 7%, they call for a radical reevaluation of the idea of vocational training, long discredited as an instrument of tracking. The United States can prepare a new, high-performance labor force if we revamp our school system to value industry apprenticeship and rigorous technical education. By doing so, we will not only be able to meet the growing demand for skilled employees in dozens of sectors where employers decry the absence of well trained workers -- we will make the American Dream accessible to all.




The Fourth Industrial Revolution


Book Description

This book explores the core themes of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) highlighting the digital transformation that has been occurring in society and business. Representing an interface between technologies in the physical, digital and biological disciplines the book explores emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, robotics, the Internet of Things, autonomous vehicles, 3-D printing, nanotechnology, biotechnology, materials science, energy storage, and quantum computing. The findings of collaborative research studies on the potential impact of the 4IR on the labour markets, occupations, future workforce competencies and skills associated with eight industry sectors in Australia are reported. The sectors are: agriculture and mining; manufacturing and logistics; health, medical and nursing; education; retail; financial services; government services and tourism.