The Times (New Roman)
They are a Changin’

An investigation of five future workplace trends

AUTHOR STEVE BANNISTER

Article 1 in a Series of 6
In this January 2007 issue, Steve Bannister provides an overview of five key trends that will affect people and businesses in the year ahead. These trends are: Global Greening, The Flow of Philanthropy, Connecting the World, Information vs. Knowledge, and The Power of Design.

There’s something about the beginning of a new year that makes us stop and think about where we are, where we have been and where we are going. It is during these times that we not only reminisce about bygone days but we also look to the future for what trends and ideas lie in store for us. We begin to wonder about how our lives at work and home may change in five, 10, or even 20 years from now.

In our fast-paced technological world, there are numerous trends taking shape and gathering momentum. Here are the highlights of five important and recent core trends that will continue their prominence in years to come. Not surprisingly, technology plays a key role.

Global greening
In response to the on-going concerns over environmental issues, such as global warming and depleting resources, some businesses and individuals have begun to take serious action. As a result, the image of the lone tree-hugging environmental evangelist has been ratcheted up a notch to include such powerful individuals as former Vice-President Al Gore and global companies such as Wal-Mart.

One main arena in which Wal-Mart has begun to take environmental action is the purchase of their food products from organic producers. The sheer volume that Wal-Mart commands cannot help but reinforce the importance of environmental concerns. Similarly, Al Gore’s mission to combat what he calls the “climate crisis” is backed by his recent film, An Inconvenient Truth, the third-highest-grossing documentary in the United States to date. Known previously as a tragic political player, Gore has redefined himself as an environmental crusader with the power to make a difference on a global scale.

The flow of philanthropy
What have the greedy Boomers from the “Me Generation” of the 80s been up to recently? Well, it seems that they have started another trend and history may very well redefine them as the “We Generation.” Of course, there have al­ways been people (from varied socioeconomic backgrounds) who have devoted their lives to giving back to society, but this particular trend is different.

These people include such players as former president Bill Clinton, Bill and Melinda Gates, and Bill’s bridge buddy, Warren Buffett (who is currently planning how to give away the bulk of his $44 billion fortune.) Gates and Buffett are supplying the cash power while Clinton has persuasive star power. This can only be the beginning.