The Future of Professions

In the book "The Future of the Professions: How Technology Will Transform the Work of Human Experts", the authors Prof Richard Susskind of University of Oxford and Daniel Susskind discuss the replacement of technologists and professionals in a wide range of professions by automation systems and non-technology non-professionals, essentially machine operators and maintainers.

One of the dramatic developments of technology over last half-century is near total disappearance of certain jobs. However, for us engineers, it was heartening to know that those jobs that went away were not professional jobs requiring deep expertise and a broad set of capabilities. Among the lost jobs were telephone switchboard operators, lift operators and the typist pool of companies.

But as Bob Dylan sang way back in 1963, "The Times They Are a-Changin'" and advances in computer engineering, information technology and ubiquity of Internet is causing professional job categories to move towards extinction. An example is the replacement of professional assessors and risk analysts of the Japanese insurance firm Fukoku Mutual Life Insurance with IBM’s Watson Artificial Intelligence system in early 2017.

Such dramatic changes impacting professions need the careful attention of professional organizations with governments increasingly looking to create policy frameworks that are able to tackle rapidly evolving technology landscape. For the profession of engineering in Sri Lanka, that responsibility squarely rests on IESL and its Council.



Comments

  1. RGSeptember 2, 2017 at 10:15 AM

    Happy to see members of IESL engaging in some sensible dialog through social media. Use of technology is something that we need drastic improvement in todays context specially within IESL community. I can't understand the rational behind having list of candidates of IESL council election at the end of each post ? Are you expecting members to vote them ? If it is so , it is wonderful strategy of doing campaigning for set of candidates without being trapped to election regulations. Cheers for creativity !

    Whatever, I am happy if you guys keep continue this blog bringing ideas into light even after the election.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Eng Dr Chandana GamageSeptember 2, 2017 at 10:24 AM

      Thank you for the encouragement.

      This blog was initially created to publicize the member resolutions at the AGM. Many members get to know the resolutions only at the AGM and there is no opportunity for meaningful discussion and sharing of ideas.

      As the AGM is the main forum for members to influence the policy making directions of the Council, I thought that we all can benefit by having an informed discussion of the member resolutions beforehand.

      Delete

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