Work is a human activity that involves the application of force over a distance (or displacement) to produce change. The concept of work has been widely studied and debated, primarily because of its ties to other aspects of life such as social status, power, tradition, or wealth. The definition of work has varied widely between cultures and individuals. However, a common characteristic is the need for sustained effort and goal-oriented action. In many instances, a particular task qualifies as work only if it is completed for pay or with the intention of improving the condition of oneself or others. Examples include professional sports, volunteer activities, and governmental service. Other tasks such as personal grooming, errands and chores for family members, and playing a sport for enjoyment are not considered to be work.
In physics, work is the energy transferred via the force that causes the displacement of an object. The equation for work has three key variables – the force, the displacement, and the angle that the force is exerted at – to which are attached two sorts of energy – positive or negative. If the course of the force is aligned with the direction that the object is moving, then positive work has been done. The opposite is true for negative work, which is defined as the amount of force that is needed to move an object in the same direction as its point of application.
The SI unit for work is the joule, which is also the SI unit for energy. A little-known fact is that work does not need to be associated with motion in order to exist, as the physics of work can be applied to stationary objects as well. It is also possible to think of work as a form of energy, although that concept has a bit more abstract scope because energy is a broader term that includes potential and kinetic energy, rest mass energy, thermal energy, etc.
In the future, work could be defined as an ongoing process of identifying and solving problems/opportunities that have not yet arisen. Rather than being seen as a short-term means to fix a problem or address an inefficiency, this type of work could be viewed as the primary function of all employees. The ability to see and create new opportunities should be a significant component of a worker’s job, with the goal of generating the greatest value to both internal and external customers, partners, suppliers, and other stakeholders. In other words, the future of work is in the unseen.
