This conclusion presents some closing thoughts on the concepts covered in the preceding chapters of this book. The book addresses the changes, that are likely to come and that will influence society, business and work. It discusses different ways of building knowledge about social and economic change. The book also discusses the special role of social science in providing valid knowledge for the future. It shows that the approach to the issues would be practical and organisational, methodological and philosophical. The innovation discourses in national debates, as well as in the European Union and international organisations, have provided arguments for increased globalisation and market-driven development. They assume that the past is a reliable guide to the future. However, the discourse has been insufficient in its handling of comprehensiveness and inter-relatedness of social and economic change. Those with a focus on technology may have neglected basic human issues; those who focus on sustainability often neglect social and political organisation.

Coping with the Future has been written in response to widespread international awareness that the future is not predictable. In political and economic terms, we are in unknown territory, with daily developments around Brexit and the Trump Presidency, and “Kodak moments” in business. On the other hand, business leaders demand certainty, which is not available. This book redefines the nature of modern business. In contrast to recent trends, it has a focus on human-centred manufacturing and on decision-making which goes beyond a focus on short-term profit. The liberal capitalism of the USA and the UK is not the only current variety of capitalism. Business is not just about managers, but requires participation and engagement by workers. Since the financial crash of 2008, there has been much talk about the need for fresh approaches to business, but little has changed. This book pulls together current research and practice and poses new questions based on case studies. There is no one simple best way, but an uncertain future can be addressed, drawing on diverse past experience and cases. The book addresses an intended audience in business and universities, including business schools, around the world. The debate takes a broader approach, involving research in the social sciences and approaches from philosophy. The world has always been unpredictable, but we have allowed ourselves to be comforted by convenient myths. It is time to wake up. 

Review of:

1. Common Sense, The Turing Test and the Quest for Real AI Hector J Levesque Cambridge MA, The MIT Press 2017 ISBN:978-0-262-03604-7

2. The Digital Mind: How Science is Redefining Humanity Arlindo Oliveira Cambridge MA, The MIT Press 2017 ISBN: 978-0-262-03603-0

3. Other Minds: The Octopus and the Evolution of Intelligent Life Peter Godfrey-Smith London, William Collins 2017 ISBN: 978-0-00-822627-5

Coping with the future is about the ability to anticipate, prepare for, and handle disruptive changes. This chapter argues that there is a big difference between coping with a future within an existing order, compared with a future facing systemic change. It also argues that in any period of systemic change one has to choose direction, and some choices turn out to be better than others. Most people would like to see changes that represent progress but not changes that create fear or conflict or reduce welfare and peaceful social interaction. Social science is concerned with studying the society we live in, and it is part of this society and reality. Science in general, and social science especially, is in a double position when it is seen as part of social development. The nature of Gestalts is different in social science compared to natural science. The chapter also presents an overview of this book.

Björn Gustavsen, with an original professional background as a lawyer and judge in his native Norway, has had a formative role in organizational development processes in Norway, Sweden, Scandinavia, and the European Union over four decades. Following in the tradition of Norwegian working life research by Trist and Thorsrud, he has provided the conceptual framework and practical case studies which have driven major national and international programs. He has learned from different experience of organizational change in, for example, the USA and Japan, but he has identified a distinctive way forward for the European Union, where he has acted as a senior adviser. In contrast to conventional Taylorist top-down management and reliance on expert consultants, his approach has been bottom-up and concept driven, with a focus on empowering workers. With a commitment to long-term sustainable processes, he has emphasized the importance of capacity building and succession planning, highlighting development organizations. His approach to partnership and coalition building has enabled collaboration across sectors, in the cause of creating collaborative advantage. He has a distinctive fluent academic writing style, but spends most of his time engaged in the design and practice of development, and editing the work of younger colleagues. He has seen the role of academic journals and edited books in the development process, so has encouraged new publications, but without seeking to dominate. He took ideas of action research and case studies and applied them to national enterprise development programs, working with the labor market parties. This has resulted in a distinctive research and development culture. © Springer International Publishing AG 2017.

This book illustrates how applied social scientists and their research are integrated with stakeholders and practitioners in a local/regional setting, and how knowledge development is a mutual concern, made in, and dependent on, ongoing dialogue. Focusing on the Agder region, the southernmost region in Norway, researchers and contributors question what impact the changing economic environment will have on applied researchers around the world. Applied research is seen as a vital part of the infrastructure for economic and social development, in the Agder region and beyond. The chapters are divided into four parts:

the spatial dimension of knowledge development;

understanding regional practice;

explaining regional practice;

influencing regional social practice.

A useful resource for both policy makers and researchers, the book helps readers reflect on the type of mutual competence building that applied social science research implies, and depends on, in a regional knowledge development process. It represents a voice on how to understand the development of the knowledge society at regional and global levels.