The (re)unification of work
Edaith is being enabled by the reunification of work. In our contemporary world where specialisation drives the development of technologies and services that underpin our quality of life, it also causes our greatest challenges for continued human progress.
Each organisation and person competing to be better at the thing, doubling down with expertise, minimising risk. Side effects include the decline of conditions needed for creativity and innovation.
Industrialisation shifted the production of goods from craftspeople to factories. This division of labour enabled the consumer society, by producing things at scale and within a world that saw no environmental limits.
From Henry Ford’s factories to the supermarket experience, there’s tens of thousands of jobs to be done for society to function. We became more and more specialised and capable at specific things. That’s how it’s been possible to build the complex products and systems we benefit from today.
However, our post-industrial society is one geared towards a new economy based on innovation. Organisations now succeed through developing and deploying knowledge. To achieve creativity, quality standards and a service orientation people need to be enabled to continuously learn, to be self-regulated, work autonomously and deliver activities outside of their core work. Both mental and physical space are needed.
I can think of at least 10 jobs that I’ve been working in for Edaith, from website development to researching, graphic design, editing, publishing etc.
Although the (re)unification of work is more difficult and prone to failure, it’s core to making progress in the new economy. Connecting, repurposing and morphing ideas and methods from different professions and perspectives are the constructive grounds that innovation emerges.
Tina Gallico 