The Future of Work Is Through Workforce Ecosystems

Effectively managing a workforce comprising internal and external players in a way that is both aligned with an organization's strategic goals and consistent with its values is now a critical business necessity. However, legacy management practices remain organized around an increasingly outdated employee-focused view of the workforce-that it consists of a group of hired employees performing work along linear career paths to create value for their organization. The best way to conceptualize and address these shifts and related practices is through the lens of workforce ecosystems. Workforce ecosystem as a structure that consists of interdependent actors, from within the organization and beyond, working to pursue both individual and collective goals. Here, Altman et al introduce the concept of workforce ecosystems and discuss how they can help managers rethink the way they align their business and workforce strategies.