Don KimPROJECT-TO-PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT EXPERT| Seeking opportunitiesSacramento, CA, United States
An article in The Economist seems to indicate the rise of "workers on tap"or freelances that can be accesses on demand by the ubiquity of mobile computing and cloud based employment services. I actually call these "disposable workers" and the antidote to this is to go back to an old craft of developing yourself as an independent artisan or for the likes of us, an "artisan PM".
Mohamed SobairPrincipal Solution Architecture| FreelanceRiyadh, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Totally agree with you Don!
However, work as an Artisan and avoid being a disposable worker doesnt suffice in all companies, cultures & environments.
Nevertheless, I think even developing your skills further to be an Artisan worker requires you to surround yourself with the right people at the right organization.
for example, Many companies doesnt look at your skills rather than the work you do, ultimately, your assignments needed to be accomplished whether you are skilled or not.
Another example, Some Managers, decision makers doesnt Value your Artisan or Skilled job rather than achieving Specific targets of their goal.
So The Conclusion is, I totally agree with you , being an artisan is good for the person it self at the personal level before your work is even recognized globally. but on the other hand, its not sufficient for some people & for some companies. Saving Changes...
Bernard GorePortfolio, Programme & Project Professional| NZ PoliceWellington, New Zealand
I have to take exception to that term - it sounds rather derogatory, and many of those in such a status are happy to be there and consider it a more rewarding and enjoyable one.
We don't describe other professionals or indeed workers that we may use once when we have a need as "throwaway". Saving Changes...
Don KimPROJECT-TO-PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT EXPERT| Seeking opportunitiesSacramento, CA, United States
@Bernard - While in your perspective and probably others, the idea of "disposable" may sound offensive, it was not meant in a pejorative way towards people who work in a typical full-time job, but rather to highlight how companies these days pretty much have shown to dispose of workers usually in bulk to increase their short-term profitability. Whether we like it or not, we are all disposable for the most part.
Add in the growth of outsourcing and automation in the past few decades then its apparent that becoming disposable will only increase. This cuts across all industries and professions. Yet interestingly, there has also been a resurgence of interests for artisan or one of a kind type products that are not mass produced and alike, but that have a uniqueness of style and substance.
I see were this same phenomenon could and to some extent has been occurring for the professional services that people of the project management profession reside. Some food for thought. Saving Changes...
