The top trends from the perspective of executives

In the report "The Rise of the Social Enterprise" of 2018, consulting firm Deloitte examines the rising expectations of everyone, how leaders themselves must now act as a team, and how new technologies are rapidly reshaping the HR priorities of organizations. Top trends among executives and chief human resource officers (CHROs) in Switzerland are the connected workplace (86 percent), automation and the use of HR-relevant employee data (85 percent each).

Almost 100 respondents in Switzerland point to the need for a team-oriented, interdisciplinary approach to tackling complex issues. Eighty-three percent identify this as important or very important among the top trends. Other survey results show that executives need to get out of their silos and work more with each other. Companies where executives collaborate regularly can expect growth rates that are one-fifth higher than those whose leadership collaborates only occasionally on ad hoc initiatives or projects. Although this collaboration is necessary to move the company forward, 70 percent say their leaders do not collaborate regularly.

Economy should close the social gap

Increased transparency and heightened political awareness have focused attention on the role of business as a driver of change in society. Companies are increasingly expected to exercise their ability to do social good both externally for customers, communities and society, and internally for their employees. Companies must take a comprehensive stakeholder approach to pressing public issues to maintain their reputation and relevance beyond the organization. With increasing pressure on companies to develop solutions to critical social challenges, citizenship must be a central part of an organization's identity and mission.

The new challenges of an aging and hybrid workforce

Extended life expectancy raises questions about how long careers will last and how aging workers will impact the economy and public policy. Eighty percent of respondents in Switzerland say that a multi-generational workforce is part of their company's diversity and inclusion strategy. Despite the aging global workforce and the competitive advantages older talent offers, less than 10 percent of respondents say their companies have created targeted roles for older employees to leverage their expertise. However, the aging workforce remains an untapped resource of experience and knowledge that Swiss companies can use to their advantage.

As alternative work arrangements become more common in business, HR and business leaders are keen to better plan and optimize their own workplace ecosystems as quickly as possible. They are responding to the need to improve service, adapt more quickly and develop new capabilities. By 2020, 38 percent of Swiss companies expect to see growth in contractors, 57 percent in freelancers and 44 percent in gig workers, workers who are paid per gig.

Top trends AI, robotics and automation: employees need constant development and retraining

With the use of AI (artificial intelligence), robotics, automation or HR analytics, technologies that show no signs of slowing down, companies need to focus on creativity, social intelligence and ICT know-how as future competencies, as another Deloitte Switzerland report on key employee competencies in the digital age shows. 91 percent of Swiss respondents expect AI and cognitive technologies to have a partial or significant impact on the workforce by 2020, and already 38 percent are actively shaping jobs such as an employee engagement specialist, HR analytics director or robot recruiter around AI and robotics. While 85 percent of respondents believe this area is important, only 31 percent feel ready to tackle it.

Holistic view of job and career

Companies and employees alike are aware that the traditional career model is in a state of flux: 55 percent of Swiss respondents therefore consider building new career models and skills to be very important. But more than 57 percent have no programs in place to build the skills of the future, and only 25 percent give employees the opportunity to actively develop and explore new paths. Organizations that embrace their role as drivers of change in the social enterprise must work to develop and implement robust solutions to close the growing skills gaps.

"Automation will continue to keep us busy in the coming years. Most importantly, it will improve the size, speed and quality of work," said Myriam Denk, Head of Human Capital Consulting, Deloitte Switzerland. "But it's important to remember that as routine work is automated, new jobs will be created - jobs that are more service-oriented, analytical and social in design, and that match our essential human skills. Companies whose leadership recognizes this shift and reshapes the way these skills are used can be a step ahead in the marketplace."

The rise of the hyper-connected workplace

With a flood of new workplace communication tools complementing team-based work, more than 86 percent of companies see the productivity of employees who are more connected than average as very important. Seventy-nine percent of respondents expect employees to spend more time within collaboration platforms in the future, and 66 percent expect work-based social media tools to grow. As digital tools move from the home to the workplace, companies will need to leverage their expertise in team management, goal setting and employee development. Only then will they be able to improve their organizational, team and individual performance and foster the collaboration necessary to become a more socially focused company.

More information: www.deloitte.ch