Automation is radically transforming the American economy, with a significant impact on both companies and workers. An episode of NPR's "On-Point", featuring Andrew McAfee, co-director of the MIT Initiative on the Digital Economy, David Pinn, Vice President of Strategy for Brain Corp, which creates the software for Walmart's autonomous floor scrubbers, and Erikka Knuti, Communications Director for The United Food and Commercial Workers Union, which represents 1.3 million workers in grocery stores, retail and other industries, explored this timely and important topic. You can access the episode here: https://www.wbur.org/onpoint/2019/04/11/grocery-store-robots-walmart-automation-workers

After listening to the episode and thinking about the impact of automation and technology on the workplace, please list two implications for each of the HR Areas listed in the table below. Each implication should be written as a complete sentence. For example, "Companies may not need to hire as many low-skilled workers."

HR Area	Potential Implications?
Recruitment and Selection
Training and Development
Job Satisfaction/Employee Engagement
Career Planning and Management
Unions/Collective Bargaining/Labor Relations
Occupational Health & Safety

Lastly, please answer the following two questions, with a rough target of between 100 and 150 words total (not for each):

1. In your opinion, who is responsible for helping workers negatively impacted by automation? The company? The government? The worker? Other? What is the reasoning behind your answer?

2. According to A.G. Lafley, the former Chairman and CEO of Procter & Gamble, there are only two "ways to win" in business. Companies must pursue either a (1) Low-Cost Strategy (profit is driven by having a lower cost-structure than competitors do) or a Differentiation Strategy (the company offers products and services that are perceived to be distinctively more valuable to customers than competitors' offerings). Do you think that one of these two strategic approaches is a better "fit" for a focus on automation? What is the reasoning behind your answer?

Answer rating: 100% (QA)

HR Area Potential Implications Recruitment and Selection Companies may prioritize hiring employees with advanced technological skills to operate and m... View the full answer