--- title: "The Future of Work in the Next Industrial Revolution: 2 Frameworks" description: Explore the convergence of Klaus Schwab's Fourth and Jeremy Rifkin's Third Industrial Revolutions. Understand their common goals for a sustainable, technology-driven future, and how these visions shape the future of work, emphasizing systemic changes and the importance of a human-centered approach. image: https://www.lds.com/hubfs/maxresdefault%20(1).webp --- [Skip to the main content.](https://www.lds.com/insights/the-future-of-work-in-the-next-industrial-revolution-2-frameworks#main-content) [![Logical Design Solutions](https://www.lds.com/hubfs/logo-lds-white%20(1)%20(7).svg "Logical Design Solutions")](https://lds.com) [![Logical Design Solutions](https://www.lds.com/hubfs/logo-lds%20(1).svg "Logical Design Solutions")](https://lds.com) - [Home](https://www.lds.com) - About Us - [Who We Are](https://www.lds.com/about-us) - [Mimi Brooks, CEO](https://www.lds.com/mimi-brooks) - [Media & Press](https://www.lds.com/media) - [Our Work](https://www.lds.com/our-work) - [Insights](https://www.lds.com/insights) - [Careers](https://www.lds.com/careers) - [Contact Us](https://www.lds.com/contact) - [Bold Agendas Podcast](https://www.boldagendaspodcast.com/) Search Toggle Menu Search Toggle Menu - [Home](https://www.lds.com) - About Us - [Who We Are](https://www.lds.com/about-us) - [Mimi Brooks, CEO](https://www.lds.com/mimi-brooks) - [Media & Press](https://www.lds.com/media) - [Our Work](https://www.lds.com/our-work) - [Insights](https://www.lds.com/insights) - [Careers](https://www.lds.com/careers) - [Contact Us](https://www.lds.com/contact) - [Bold Agendas Podcast](https://www.boldagendaspodcast.com/) - Example Link - Example Link - Example Link [Facebook](https://www.lds.com/insights/the-future-of-work-in-the-next-industrial-revolution-2-frameworks#0) [Instagram](https://www.lds.com/insights/the-future-of-work-in-the-next-industrial-revolution-2-frameworks#0) [Linkedin](https://www.lds.com/insights/the-future-of-work-in-the-next-industrial-revolution-2-frameworks#0) [X](https://www.lds.com/insights/the-future-of-work-in-the-next-industrial-revolution-2-frameworks#0) [YouTube](https://www.lds.com/insights/the-future-of-work-in-the-next-industrial-revolution-2-frameworks#0) [Medium](https://www.lds.com/insights/the-future-of-work-in-the-next-industrial-revolution-2-frameworks#0) 1 min read # The Future of Work in the Next Industrial Revolution: 2 Frameworks [![Picture of Logical Design Solutions](https://www.lds.com/hubfs/LDS%20Favicon%20Logo.svg) Logical Design Solutions](https://www.lds.com/insights/author/logical-design-solutions) : 4/20/18 3:23 PM [digital transformation](https://www.lds.com/insights/tag/digital-transformation) [future of work](https://www.lds.com/insights/tag/future-of-work) [video](https://www.lds.com/insights/tag/video)   While Klaus Schwab marks our moment today as the Fourth Industrial Revolution, Jeremy Rifkin marks it as the Third Industrial Revolution. They each describe our history and future based on different tipping points. A comparison of these perspectives brings priorities for the future of work into focus. ## Common Ideas Across Both Frameworks Regardless of how we frame our history, Schwab and Rifkin agree that we must prepare for the future sustainably and proactively. We foreground what needs to happen systemically for organizations: - **Build** new business models, ways of working, and organizational structures from a “technology backbone” - **Integrate** IoT into the enterprise and design for its impact. This effort is part of a large-scale “internalization of industry” where dynamic networks will define our infrastructures and affect how we interact - **Apply** a systems leadership where every augmented worker will be empowered and responsible in equal measure   ![](https://www.lds.com/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-1.png?width=711&height=921&name=image-png-1.png)   ## Working Towards a Post-Carbon, Human-Centered, Creative Future In light of our comparison between the Third and Fourth Industrial Revolutions, we face an unprecedented opportunity to transform the ways we think and work together. ### CHANGE OF MINDSETS - Think systems, not technologies; empowering, not determining; by design, not by default. -  Adopt a zoom-in, zoom-out strategy (zoom in to understand specific disruptive technologies, zoom out to see the impact from larger combinatorial patterns). ### CALLS TO ACTION - Be human-led and human-centered in our strategies and designs. - Build a smart connected infrastructure throughout the digital ecosystem. - Integrate digital ethics by adopting new methodologies, market mentality, and organizational culture. - Treat data like the new oil. It needs to be resourced, refined, governed, and managed properly. ---   ## Outcomes for the Future of Work ### CULTURAL - Adaptation will be agile and urgent. - A stronger sense of citizenship will enhance onboarding and behavioral change. - Silos and fragmented methodologies will give way to connected and smart systems, aligning practices and engaging workers. - In a “collaborative commons,” innovation will emerge from all levels of the enterprise. - Systems leadership will boost creativity and continuous learning. ### TECHNICAL - Speed and alignment will increase throughout the supply chain. - IoT and AI will pervade the enterprise ecosystem. - The digitally-augmented worker will be more productive and valued. - Organizational capabilities will develop exponentially in a new digital commons. - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) ### Related Topics - [future of work (52)](https://www.lds.com/insights/tag/future-of-work) - [business transformation (46)](https://www.lds.com/insights/tag/business-transformation) - [digital transformation (43)](https://www.lds.com/insights/tag/digital-transformation) - [AI (38)](https://www.lds.com/insights/tag/ai) - [strategy (32)](https://www.lds.com/insights/tag/strategy) - [augmented worker (31)](https://www.lds.com/insights/tag/augmented-worker) - [leadership (30)](https://www.lds.com/insights/tag/leadership) - [video (23)](https://www.lds.com/insights/tag/video) - [employee experience (19)](https://www.lds.com/insights/tag/employee-experience) - [innovation (17)](https://www.lds.com/insights/tag/innovation) - [white paper (14)](https://www.lds.com/insights/tag/white-paper) - [governance (7)](https://www.lds.com/insights/tag/governance) - [infographic (2)](https://www.lds.com/insights/tag/infographic) - [lds on (2)](https://www.lds.com/insights/tag/lds-on) - [podcast (1)](https://www.lds.com/insights/tag/podcast) See All [![LDS On: The Future of Work Is Beyond Hybrid](https://www.lds.com/hubfs/Future-of-Work-Beyond-Hybrid-LDS-On.png)](https://www.lds.com/insights/lds-on-the-future-of-work-is-beyond-hybrid) #### [LDS On: The Future of Work Is Beyond Hybrid](https://www.lds.com/insights/lds-on-the-future-of-work-is-beyond-hybrid) ![Picture of Logical Design Solutions](https://www.lds.com/hubfs/LDS%20Favicon%20Logo.svg) [Logical Design Solutions](https://www.lds.com/insights/author/logical-design-solutions) : 11/2/21 8:30 AM In this episode of “LDS On,” CEO Mimi Brooks discusses the reasons why our COVID-19 recovery is going well beyond facilitating hybrid home and... 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