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CHAPTER 1

The contemporary workplace

LEARNINGOUTCOMES

After studying this chapter, you should be able to: 1.1 discuss the challenges of the contemporary workplace 1.2 describe what organisations are like in the contemporary world 1.3 understand who managers are and what they do 1.4 describe the management process 1.5 understand how to learn essential managerial skills and competencies.

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OPENING CASE

The current Australian workplace A decade on from the global financial crisis, today’s managers and employees continue to face a range of contentious issues in the workplace. The 2018 Closing the Gap report emphasised continuing challenges in achieving equality and prosperity for Indigenous Australians and Torres Strait Islander peoples, including in education and employment.1 The #MeToo movement, originally exposing work- place sexual harassment in the United States film industry, quickly spread to Australian shores. Bank misconduct and parliamentary leadership spills caused widespread mistrust in our institutions.2 Environmental issues such as the responsible mining and burning of coal and the use of single-use plastic bags continue to be debated. But what influence have these scandals and debates had on the Australian workplace? What values and ideals do they reflect? Officially, bad behaviour in the workplace will not be tolerated. Australian workplaces areunder unprecedented scrutiny for abuse of power, corruption and improper practice. If stakeholder trust is compromised or organisations are found to exploit workers or pollute the environment, those in authority are likely to be held accountable, publicly and quickly. Unofficially, however, abuse of power and people continues, and the employment relationship isfraught with complexities. Hierarchy and ‘accepted order’ in organisations is also increasingly under challenge. Respect for authority is no longer a given, and standards for what constitutes ‘good manners’ and civility in the workplace are in flux. Workplace bullying is increasingly seen as totally unacceptable, yet still occurs and is frequently publicised in the media. Technology in the workplace is seen as both servant and master. We like what it can do for us but not what it does to us. Some resent its impact on our elusive work–life balance. We like aps in our technology that make routine tasks easy, but we complain about the flood of emails we have to manage every day. We are still figuring out how to work with robots. More than anything, we want a peaceful life that lets us work unhindered by racial, religious, age-based and gender-based discrimination. Gradually, but too slowly, we are addressing inequality of opportunity. We believe we are the ‘lucky country’ and the ‘land of the fair go’, but does the reality meet our expectations? Many Australians pride themselves on their sunny optimism and a ‘she’ll be right’ attitude — let’s hope they are proven right...... QUESTION How has the workplace changed in the past 20 years and what are the implications of these changes? Where are the trends likely to take us in the next 20 years?

Introduction The 21st century has brought demands for a new workplace — one in which everyone must adapt to a rapidly changing society with constantly shifting expectations and opportunities. Learning and speed are in; habit and complacency are out. Organisations are evolving, as is the nature of work itself. The global economy is sustained by innovation and technology. Even the concept of success — personal and organisational — is changing as careers take new forms and organisations transform to serve new customer expectations. Such developments affect us all, offering both unparalleled opportunity and unprecedented uncertainty. In this age of continuous challen