Work, in the simplest sense of the word, refers to any activity that requires effort or exertion. This might include writing an essay, performing a physical exercise or even playing a musical instrument. It can also refer to an individual’s role in a business, or the tasks that they undertake to fulfil their responsibilities and earn money.
In science, however, the meaning of work is more complex. Scientifically speaking, for something to be considered work it must involve a force exerting itself on an object and the object being displaced. The relative directions of the force and displacement determine whether or not the work done is positive, negative or zero.
Moreover, the work that is done can be measured by an increase in energy of an object; this energy is called mechanical energy or kinetic energy. The units used to measure the amount of work are the same as those for energy; joule (J), newton-metre, and erg are all common measures of work.
The redefining of work, therefore, requires more than just moving individuals to different parts of the business that aren’t yet subject to automation, or shifting workers from routine tasks to products that add greater value for customers. It’s about cultivating and unlocking the intrinsic motivations of employees to seek out and engage in work that is meaningful and makes a difference in the world.
While many people think of hard work when they hear the word, some things that seem to be difficult to do don’t really qualify as work from a scientific perspective. For an activity to be considered work in physics, the object must be displaced. For example, a batsman hitting a ball or a cyclist pedalling hard are examples of work, but pushing a heavy suitcase along the pavement or polishing shoes are not.
Other forms of work that are not physical or measurable are also important to the human condition, such as thinking, feeling, and seeing. These faculties, while often taking little of our conscious efforts, are in fact the results of a great deal of work, both intellectual and practical, carried out by generations of human beings.
As companies recognize the need to redefine work, they will find that the scope of their operations and management systems will need to change too. In the future, work will require cultivation of the innate capabilities of curiosity, imagination, creativity, intuition, empathy and social intelligence, in addition to leadership and managerial skills. It will also need to be more fluid, flexible and diverse. This will involve rethinking processes, work environments, management systems and compensation systems too. It is only by redefining work in this way that companies will be able to expand its value to their employees, customers and society at large. By redefining what work is, it will also be possible to create jobs that are more satisfying for people. By making work more purposeful, exciting and meaningful, it will be possible to attract more people into the workforce, reduce turnover rates and boost productivity.
