The document discusses convergence and divergence in innovation and work. It notes that digital and creative convergence are blurring boundaries between industries, and that new convergent technologies are emerging. However, it also discusses how workplaces, organizations, and networks remain diverse, and how manufacturing and services are both converging and diverging in some ways. It examines the ongoing transformation from Fordism to post-Fordism and highlights uncertainty about how work models will evolve.

1. The Future of Innovation & Work Ian Miles Manchester Institute of Innovation Research

2. Convergence and Divergence

11. The Ongoing, Uneven Transformation Fordism: mass production of (low cost) standardised goods for mass consumption, using assembly-line fragmentation of (high wage) work Post-Fordism: diversified markets and lifestyles, flexible specialisation and new modes of working as teams PostFordism is equally – if not more – liable to be only one of the modes of organisation in C21st. But “Fordism” only captures some much of the mid C20th norm: diversity and differentiation took new forms, rather than universal massification

12. Divergence Mass customised products from standardised “components” allowing for much on-the-fly recomposition Value-added and specialised products using detailed knowledge of situations and service pathways to solve problems and/or create experiences Fordism: mass production of (low cost) standardised goods for mass consumption, using assembly-line fragmentation of (high wage) work Post-Fordism: diversified markets and lifestyles, flexible specialisation and new modes of working as teams

13. Service (Snakes and) Ladders High-quality service jobs: proliferation of specialisms and hybrids, requiring continual learning and problem-solving, providing value-added services to more discriminating and demanding consumers McJobs: insecure, low-wage, low-skill: putting together standardised components to make mass customised products. Wal-Martism : low wages and low prices. Fordism: mass production of (low cost) standardised goods for mass consumption, using assembly-line fragmentation of (high wage) work Post-Fordism: diversified markets and lifestyles, flexible specialisation and new modes of working as teams