Towards 2030: future-proofing human capital management

Purpose This paper is designed to highlight the role that HR can play in helping to shape the future of work in a world where digitisation, artificial intelligence, machine learning and robotics are increasingly the norm. This paper aims to help HR professionals to understand how foresight thinking can be used to connect weak signals that are surfacing in the present with future potential outcomes. In this way, incoming disruptions can be anticipated and addressed. Design/methodology/approach An anticipatory HR can plan for what is next. The authors analyse trends such as dematerialized work and explore the emergence of key challenges and requirements that HR will have to face. To address these issues, the authors have created methodologies, derived from the world of defence and intelligence as well as curated and crowd-sourced scenarios from the world of work. An extensive bibliography of evidence and research supports our observations and recommendations. Findings Based on research and analysis undertaken for our book, HR Futures 2030 – A Design for Future-Ready Human Resources published by Routledge, this paper presents ten traits of the future, a collection of characteristics that are highly relevant for the HR function. This paper concludes with five recommended focus areas for 2023 to help ensure that businesses stay ahead of the curve. These have been selected from 22 further characteristics explored in the book. Originality/value This paper offers a unique and thought-provoking perspective on how HR professionals can help their organisations to think beyond the current paradigm and re-imagine the world of work. How to build systemic readiness and align skills and work processes for the future.