The HR (R)Evolution: Change the Workplace, Change the World

Many observers have suggested that capitalism is fast destroying our planet, concentrating power in a few big companies. Excessive short-termism, leveraged debt, digitisation and disruption are the new normal. We stand at a critical juncture where the two paths ahead could lead to very different futures. One route could take us back to the harshest days of the early Industrial Revolution and the Great Depression. The other could lead to a world of abundance, equality, inclusivity and prosperity for all. Which future awaits us will largely be determined by business and HR in particular.

Books on HR tend to focus on HR practices and potential interventions, but they rarely look at the profession, how it evolved and how and why those people practices were created. HR (R)Evolution: Change the Workplace, Change the World describes the ‘Seven Great Waves’ of change and explains how each wave impacted business. It explains how some companies are stuck in the past and how HR can break the deadlock if it understands what the future holds. This book is meant for senior business leaders or anyone currently working in HR who are grappling with the paradoxes of business today. It’s for leaders who recognise that people issues are the central challenge of our time. Whether we embrace the waves yet to come will determine whether we survive or regress, whether we flourish or flounder. The future is in your hands.

Acknowledgement

I would also like to acknowledge Karen McCreadie for her unrivalled editorial prowess. Karen has again been absolutely invaluable in reconciling the differences that Nick and I inevitably created at times, ensuring the narrative arc flowed in a coherent way, helping us to produce something that was complete without being overwhelming.