The Future of Retail: Flexible Shift Work in the 21st Century

Over the past twenty years, flexible shift workers (who make up about 1/3 of all workers) have become increasingly scheduled by algorithms. Software tells managers when and how much work to give employees. In the short-term, automated scheduling may boost profits, but in the long-run, it destroys morale--and possibly competitive advantage.

Eric Severson explained how this happened, the implications of the change, and how to find the right balance between algorithmic efficiency and human needs in the workplace of the future.  Q&A with Jose Davila '87, management consultant, organization design specialist, and global human resources executive at ArchPoint Group.