University of Maryland Global Campus Work and Technology Discussion Questions

Question 1: Based on your readings for this week, how can people find gainful employment if they have to compete against technology? What are your thoughts on productivity and innovations. Do they work together, or are they in opposition to each other. Why are certain occupations declining, while others are growing over time. What do the fastest growing jobs of the future suggest about our future society? Brynjolfsson and Gordon present contrasting viewpoints on productivity in the US, but both agree that worker incomes have fallen. Looking forward, do you side with Brynjolfsson’s optimism or Gordon’s pessimism about technology’s impact on the worker and why? What do you think will happen to income and standard of living in the decades to come? Make sure to validate your discussion with information from this week’s learning resources or other sources.

https://www.ted.com/talks/robert_gordon_the_death_…

https://www.ted.com/talks/erik_brynjolfsson_the_ke…

Question 2: Using your own words, define “work-life” balance. Based on what you have read in this week’s learning resources, why is work-life balance important for individuals as well as organizations? What are some effective strategies for improving work-life balance?

At least 60 words per question.