The Changing World of Work: iPods More Popular Than Beer?

The 2006 Lifestyle & Media survey by Student Monitor shows that iPods are now considered the most popular thing on campus, outweighing beer. USA Today reported on the findings on June 6th. Following beer was Facebook.com, then drinking other types of alcohol, and in fifth place was text messaging. Most of us by now realize the generation coming up through school have a different focus on technology, but I don’t know that we realize just how pervasive this is. How this will affect the learning and working styles of a new generation of lawyers and librarians remains to be seen, but many people already in the work force are trying to get up to speed on these technologies and applications to facilitate the transition.

A newly released report by the Director-General of the International Labour Conference entitled “Changing Patterns in the World of Work” addresses, among a number of issues, how technology is impacting the workplace. Up until recently, according to the report, technology has had little impact on productivity overall on the globe; however, the affect of technology on productivity has been incremental and now that technology is all-pervasive, it is finally having the expected impact. “Economies and societies are still at an early stage in learning how to make full use of their potential” (page 6). To remain competitive and in existence, organizations need to keep up with technological innovation. [Thanks to Stephen’s Lighthouse for a link to the report.]

Hmmm…in terms of law firms, I wonder if Friday cocktails will be replaced by the Friday music swap?