Outcomes report ESRC and DSTL workshop V0waysofbeingdigital.files.wordpress.com/2017/09/outcomes-report-esrc-and-dstl...workshop. Tables 3 and 4 lay specific topics and questions by

Automationoffutureroles:Report

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OutcomesreportfortheESRCandDSTLworkshopon“Automationoffutureroles”SimeonYates

UniversityofLiverpool

PrincipalInvestigatorESRC“Waysofbeinginadigitalage”scopingreview.

December2016


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1 IntroductionThisshortreportprovidesthekeyrecommendationsoftheESRCandDSTLAutomationofFutureRolesWorkshop.TheworkshopwascommissionedbytheESRCandDSTL,developedbytheESRCWaysofBeinginaDigitalAgescopingprojectandfacilitatedbyKnowInnovation.TheoriginalworkshopproposalcanbefoundinAnnex2.Theinvitedattendeeswereadeliberatelyinterdisciplinarymixofacademicsfromavarietyofdisciplinescoveringsocialsciences,psychology,businessstudies,humanitiesandcomputerscience.AlistofattendeescanbefoundinAnnex4.Theeventconsistedofasetoffacilitatedactivities,designedtoelicitideas,thoughtsopinions,andresearchquestionsfromtheattendingexperts.DetailsofthefacilitationplancanbefoundinAnnex3.Thecoregoalsoftheworkshopactivitieswere:

1. ToIdentifykeyresearchclustersandquestions2. Toidentifypriorityareasforresearch.

Section2.providesanoverviewofthekeyoutcomesfromtheworkshop.Section3notestherecommendationsforresearchclustersandprioritisationoftopicsdevelopedattheworkshop.Tables3and4layspecifictopicsandquestionsbyresearchcluster,‘level’andpriorityasrecommendedbytheworkshop.

2 OveralloutcomesTheworkshopidentified10researchclusters:

1. Socialandculturalattitudestoautomation2. Communityandsocialissues3. Systemdesignforbeing(in)digital/augmented/automatedwork4. Organisations,professionsandworkandautomation5. Trustandaccountabilityofautomatedsystems6. Whatishuman?–Whatistheroleofhumansinafutureautomatedsociety?7. Technologicallimitationsofautomation8. Researchmethods9. Educationandtraininginthecontextofautomatedandaugmentedworkroles10. Theory

FurtherdetailsofthesetenclustersarepresentedinAnnex1,Section1.Clusters1-8,oraspectsofthem,wereprioritisedandfurtherquestionsweredevelopedforeachpriority.Atalltimesarangeofcross-cuttingandoverlappingaspectstotheseresearchquestions/clusterswereidentifiedintheworkshop.Itwasrecognisedthatmanyoftheseclustersandquestionsareinterdependent,andanyoverarchingresearchprogrammewouldneedtoaddressthis.Sixrecommendedpriorityareaswereidentifiedbytwoteamsfromtheclusteringwork,thetimelineexerciseanddiscussionofdefinitions.DetailsofthesearepresentedinAnnex1,Section2.Theseprioritieswere:

1. Trustinautomatedsystems2. Meaningfulliferoles3. Roles,systemdesignandeconomics4. Oversightandgovernance5. Socialimpacts6. Researchmethods


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Allareasweredeemedtoneedinterdisciplinaryworking.Thereappearedtobethreelevelsofresearchfocuswithinclustersandthepriorityareas:

• Widersocialimpacts• Communityandorganisationallevelimpacts• Individualexperiencesandunderstandings

Formthiswehavedevelopedapotentialprojectmatricesbyresearchclusterandpriority(seeTable1andTable2).Table1:Projectmatrixbyresearchclusterandlevel

Widersocialimpacts

Communityandorganisationallevelimpacts

Individualexperiencesandunderstandings

Socialandculturalattitudestoautomation

Communityandsocialissues

Systemdesignforbeing(in)digital

Organisations,professionsandwork

Trustandaccountability

Whatishuman?–Whatistheroleofhumansinafuturesociety?

Technologicallimitations

Researchmethods

Table2:Priorityareasbylevel

Widersocialimpacts

Communityandorganisationallevelimpacts


Trustinautomatedsystems

Meaningfulliferoles

Roles,systemdesignandeconomics

Oversightandgovernance

Socialimpacts

ResearchMethods

2.1 DefinitionsOneoftheinitialfocioftheworkshopwasthediscussionofdefinitions.Thereweretwokeyaspectstothisdiscussion:


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1. Automationvs/alongsideAugmentation?2. Howtodistinguishbetween“Automation”and“Digital”?

Itwasnotedthat“Automation”and“Augmentation”markedpointsonaspectrumoftechnologicalinterventionsinhumanaction.Somesystemsremoveallhumaninterventionandarefully“Automated”inotherstheautomationofaspectsofataskoractivity“Augment”humanabilities.Inanycallforresearchbothaspectsneedtobeaddressed.Itwasnotedintheworkshopthatideasof“Digitisation”and“Automation”appearedtobothoverlapandsometimesbesynonymous.Importantlyitwasrecognisedthatdigitisationprovidestheopportunityforconsiderableautomationoftasksoraugmentationofhumanactors,asitopensthedataoractivitytocomputationalprocessing.ForthepurposesofthisreportthefocusisthereforeonsystemsthatAutomatetasksorAugmenthumanaction–wheredigitisationisinmanycasesanecessarybutnotsufficientconditionfortheAutomationorAugmentation.

2.2 OtherissuesItwasalsoarguedthatisaneedtoaddress,supportandunderstandresearchimpactsaround:

• Beliefsandexperiences• Developmentandimplantationofsystems• Governmentandorganisationalpolicyandstrategy• Overallsocio-economicimpacts

Theworkshopalsonotedthatanynextstepsneededtoaddress:1. Theneedforsystematicliteraturereviewsacrossmultipledisciplinestoensurethatexisting

knowledgeandfindsarewelldocumented2. Giventhebreadthofthetopictheappropriatefundingmodelsneededtobeaddressed.

Suggestionsincluded:a. Seed-cornfundsforspecificcasestudiesb. Crosscouncilinterdisciplinarysandpitsorco-ordinatedcallsc. DedicatedPGRprovision.

3. ItwasalsonotedthatthetopicraisedkeyquestionsforHumanitiesandthattheinvolvementoftheAHRCmightbeappropriate.

3 RecommendationsWehaveconstructedmoredetailedversionsofTables1and2thatintegratespecificresearchquestionsdevelopedattheworkshop(seeTables3and4below).Wearenotrecommendingthatanyfuturefundingcallshouldcoverallpossibilities.RatherthetablesprovideasetofoptionsthatESRCandDSTLcanlooktoaddress.

3.1 NotsohiddenelephantintheroomTheissueoftheimpactofAutomationonemploymentlevelsandtypes,aswellastheimpliedsocialimpactswasaconstantundercurrentthroughouttheworkshop.Thisissuealsoappearsintheprojectandprioritytable.AsFigure1indicatesThoughproductivityperworkhasincreasedconsistentlyoverthelasttwocenturies,forthefirsttimethereisabreakbetweenproductivitygrowthandprivateemployment.Thisisthefirstindicationthatchangesinthetechnologiesofproductionandproductivityarenotleadingtogrowthinnewformsofemployment.ThisbreakcoincideswiththeriseoftheInternetandgrowing


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automationofwhitecollarwork.Muchhasbeenmadeofthisinpopularworks.ThisconcernmaydrivebothpolicymakersandresearchorganisationsconcernswiththeissueofAutomation.Theworkshopdiscussionsoftentookthisasastartingpointorraisedquestionsaboutit.Oneimportantpotentialresearchinvestmentareawouldbeasystematicreviewoftheevidenceforthisbreakingofthelinkbetweenproductivityandemployment.

Figure1:Productivitygraph

3.2 ResearchandprioritytopicmatricesTables(3and4)inbelowdefinepotentialareasidentifiedbytheworkshopforresearchinvestmentstofocuson.Thesewouldbescalabledependingontheavailablefundingorchosenfundinginstruments.

• Iffundinginstrumentsweresmall,itwouldbepossibletocallforinitialscopingstudies,casestudies,oranalysesofavailabledatasetsthataddressedoneormoreofthe“boxes”.

• Forlargerfundinginstrumentsprojects,couldcutacrossroworcolumns,oracoherentsetofmatrix“boxes”.

Thematricescouldalsobeappliedtodifferentspecificcontextsandinstitutionalsettings,suchas:

• Manufacturing• Officework• Domesticwork• Healthandsocialcare• Security• Etc.


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Thetwomatricesthereforeprovideabasisfortargetedresearchcallsthataddresseitherthespecificquestionsidentifiedintheworkshoporforotherquestionsandissuesthatacademicandpolicyresearchersmayidentifywithinthatcontext.


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3.3 SpecificquestionswithinprojectmatrixbyresearchclusterandlevelTable3:Specificquestionswithinprojectmatrixbyresearchclusterandlevel

Widersocialimpacts Communityandorganisationallevelimpacts


Socialandculturalattitudestoautomation

• Doeseveryonebenefit

equallyfromautomation?

• Dodifferencesbetween

nationalculturesaffect

attitudestoautomation?

• Whatcanwelearnabout

historicdebatesand

controversiesabout

automation?

• Howtoattitudestoautomation

varybysocialclass,ageand

ethnicbackground?

• Whatcanwelearnfrom

social/culturalanxietiesabout

automationconcerning

regulationandaccessibilityof

automatedsystems?

• Howdoattitudestowards

technology/automationshapethe

developmentandimplementationof

technology(acceptance/rejection)?

Communityandsocialissues

• Isautomationgoingto

makeinequalitiesworse?

• Whichcommunitiesare

goingtobemostaffected

and/oreffected

• Addressingimpactson

places?

• Arethere

gender/age/other

impacts?

• Also–domesticvs/and

work/roles

• Understandingincontextof

socialchallenges/issues?

• Mightautomationfreeuppeople

tofocusonsocialactions?

• Whatpartsofcommunity/social

eco-systemsaredamagedby

automation?


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Systemdesignforbeing(in)digital

• Howdowedesign‘roles’inan

automatedsocietythatcan

withstandorresistcommodification

andtheprofitmotive?

• Whatethicalconsiderationsshould

be‘builtinto’systemspriorto

automation?

• Howcanwedesignwaysof

beingdigitalthatrespect

alterityanddifference?

• Whataretheeffectson

‘being’indigitalspaces?

• Whyshouldtasks(as

opposedtoroles)be

automatedinasocio-

technicalsystem?

• Whatarethebenefitsof

replacingoraugmentingor

evadingautomationof

tasks?

• Whatarethetheoretical

andpracticalcontingencies

inthemovefromoperator

tooperated?

Organisations,professionsandwork

• Howdoestechnologicalchange

impactexistingjobs,leadtothe

emergenceofnewonesandthe

disappearanceofothers?

• Howcanweincludethenon-human

inoursocialtheorizing?

• Howwilltechnology

transformorganisations,their

tasksanddecision-making

process?–implications

• Howcanonemanage

(semi-)automatedteams?

• Howdothesetechnological

changesaffectthe

boundariesbetween

professions?


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Trustandaccountability

• Whatautomatedsystemsneed

tobecertifiedinthefutureto

ensuretrueaccountabilityfor

autonomousentities?

• Whatisthe

responsibilityversus

accountabilityof

automatedsystems?

• Howdoestrustinautomated

systemsdevelop?

• Dothehuman-to-humantrust

modelstranslatetothehuman-to-

artificialintelinteractions?

Whatishuman?–Whatistheroleofhumansinafuturesociety?

• Howaredifferentgroupsof

peopleaffectedbyautomation?

E.g.thosewhosejobsare

replacedvs.thoseinteracting

withtheautomatedsystem?

• Towhatextentand

whatelementsof

workdowewantto

beautomated?

• Howwillthevalueof

humanlabourchange

inanautomated

economy?

• Whatdoesitmeantohave

meaningful/fulfillinglifeinan

automatedworld?

• Towhatextentisit

desirable/acceptabletohave

automatedsystemsmake

‘objective’/’value-free’decisions

aboutdailylives?


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Technologicallimitations

• Howdoweensurethat

futureAIisnotunknowingly

biasesinitsanalysis–ensure

systemsbehaveinan

unbiasedmanner?

• Howdowepredictthat

peoplemay‘game’the

system?

• Whatcouldpossiblygo

wrong?Howdowe

anticipatepotentialcrises?

• Whatistherelationship

betweenquantityofdata

andqualityofdecision

making?And

understanding.

• Howdoweverifyasystemthatisself-

learning

• Whatcanwelearnfromthosewho

resisttheimposition/deployment/use

ofautomatedsystems?

Researchmethods

• Whicharethemost

appropriatemethodsto

addressquestionsatthislevel?

Whicharethemostappropriate

methodstoaddressquestionsat

thislevel?

Whicharethemostappropriatemethodsto

addressquestionsatthislevel?


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3.4 SpecificquestionswithinpriorityareasbylevelTable4:Specificquestionswithinpriorityareasbylevel



Trustinautomatedsystems

• Essential–trustworthy

systems,politicsandcohesion?

• Howwilltechnologytransform

organisations,theirtasksand

decision-makingprocess?–

Implications(includingstructural

andprocesses)Whodothis

• TrustandaccountabilityAND

organisations,professionsand

work?

• Howdoestrustin

automatedsystems

develop?

Meaningfulliferoles

• Needasocialdefinitionof

automation

• Inarangeofsectors(notfocuson

manufacturing

• Whitecollar/serviceroles?

• Whatdoesitmeantohavea

meaningful/fulfillinglifein

anautomatedworld?

Roles,systemdesignandeconomics

• Howdowedesign‘roles’inan

automatedsocietythatcan

withstandorresist

commodificationandtheprofit

motive?

• Howtoreflectarangeofvaluesin

designofsystemsbothinthe

transitiontoautomationandin

systemsustainability


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Oversightandgovernance

• Whataretheappropriate

oversightmodelsforan

automatedworld?



automatedworld?



automatedworld?

Socialimpacts • Howwillautomationimpact

inequality?

• Howislifechanginginan

automatedsociety?

• Howwillautomationaffect

communityandidentity?

• Howwillautomationaffect

communityandidentity?

ResearchMethods

• Understandwhatmethodsmight

weusetoimplementautomation

systemsandunderstandtheir

adaption?




adaption?




adaption?


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Annex1:Detailsofresearchclustersandpriorityareas1 Researchclustersandquestions1.1 Socialandculturalattitudestoautomation1.1.1 Questionset1:Socialbenefitsandattitudes

• Doeseveryonebenefitequallyfromautomation?• Howtoattitudestoautomationvarybysocialclass,ageandethnicbackground?• Dodifferencesbetweennationalculturesaffectattitudestoautomation?• Whatcanwelearnabouthistoricdebatesandcontroversiesaboutautomation?• Whatcanwelearnfromsocial/culturalanxietiesaboutautomationconcerning

regulationandaccessibilityofautomatedsystems?1.1.1.1 Whatevidencewillthisgenerate?Whatcouldthisbeusedfor?

• Policyregardingeducation/skillstraining• Designinsightintoautomatedsystemsthatneedtoopposee.g.acrossnational

cultures• Informpublicdebatesaboutaccountabilityofautomation• Regulationandinvestmentdecisionsregardingautomation

1.1.1.2 Whichdisciplinesneedtobeinvolved?

• Economics• Sociology• Mediaandcommunications• Socialhistory• HCI• Design• Computerscience• Law

1.1.2 Questionset2:Technologyimplementationattitudes

• Howdoattitudestowardstechnology/automationshapethedevelopmentandimplementationoftechnology(acceptance/rejection)

1.1.2.1 Whatevidencewillgeneratethis?Whatcoulditbeusedfor?

• Informbusinesshowtechnologyismade,howitcanbemoreinclusive1.1.2.2 Whichdisciplinesneedtobeinvolved?

• Business• Informationsystems/computerscience• Sociology• Mediaandcommunications• Economics• Design


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1.2 Communityandsocialissues1.2.1 Questionset1:Macro-levelissues(Society)

• Isautomationgoingtomakeinequalitiesworse?• Whichcommunitiesaregoingtobemostaffectedand/oreffected• Addressingimpactsonplaces?• Aretheregender/age/otherimpacts?• Also–domesticvs/andwork/roles

1.2.1.1 Whatevidencewillthisgenerate?Whatcouldthisbeusedfor?

• Socialandeconomicimpacts• Dataforpolicyplanning

1.2.1.2 Whatdisciplinesneedtobeinvolved?

• Sociology• Economics• IMF/CS• Socialpolicy• Urbanregeneration

1.2.2 Questionset2:Meso-levelissues(Community)

• Understandingincontextofsocialchallenges/issues?• Mightautomationfreeuppeopletofocusonsocialactions?• Whatpartsofcommunity/socialeco-systemsaredamagedbyautomation?


• Socialpolicy• Resilientcommunities• Ideasforsocialaction

1.2.3 Questionset3:Micro-levelissues(Individualsandworkplaces)

• Understandingroles,employeeperceptionsofroleandwhatcan/shouldbeautomated?

• Understandingfromworkersperceptionsofautomatedimpacts?• Istherevariationsinperceptionsbyoccupation?• Whatremainsofvaluetothehuman/ofthehuman?

1.2.3.1 Whatevidencewillthisgenerate?Whatcoulditbeusedfor?

• Helpdesign• Policy• Consequences• P/R• Jobdesign• Workplaceconduct

1.2.3.2 Whatdisciplinesneedtobeinvolved?

• OccupationalPsychology• Sociology• Management


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• Studies• Infostudies/CS

1.3 Systemdesignforbeing(in)digital1.3.1 Questionset1

• Whyshouldtakes(asopposedtoroles)beautomatedinasocio-technicalsystem?• Whatarethebenefitsofreplacingoraugmentingorevadingautomationoftasks?• Howdowedesign‘roles’inanautomatedsocietythatcanwithstandorresist

commodificationandtheprofitmotive?• Howcanwedesignwaysofbeingdigitalthatrespectalterityanddifference?• Whatethicalconsiderationsshouldbe‘builtinto’systemspriortoautomation?• Whataretheeffectson‘being’indigitalspaces?• Whatarethetheoreticalandpracticalcontingenciesinthemovefromoperatorto

operated?1.3.1.1 Whatevidencewillthisgenerate?Whatcouldthisbeusedfor?

• Designrulesandapproaches,andtheconsequencesofsuchdesignwithsocio-technicalsystems

• Informindustrypracticebyhighlightingvisibleaswellasinvisibleautomationsofroles

• Insightintotheeffectsofautomationin/betweentasksandroles1.3.1.2 Whichdisciplinesneedtobeinvolved?

• Artificialintelligence• Designers• Informationsystems• Legal• Psychology• Managementandbusiness• Humangeography• Philosophyoftechnology• Datascience• Marketingandconsumerscience

1.4 Organisations,professionsandwork1.4.1 Questionset1

• Howwilltechnologytransformorganisations,theirtasksanddecision-makingprocess?–implications

• Howcanonemanage(semi-)automatedteams?• Howdoestechnologicalchangeimpactexistingjobs,leadtotheemergenceofnew

onesandthedisappearanceofothers?• Howdothesetechnologicalchangesaffecttheboundariesbetweenprofessions?• Howcanweincludethenon-humaninoursocialtheorizing?


• Informworkforcepolicyandplanning• Updateprofessionaljurisdiction


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• Aligneducationwith(new)jobmarketdemands• Tobetterunderstandorganisationalandteamboundariesandtheirprocesses• Updateouttheoretical‘toolkits’


• Informationalsystems• Organisational/psychology• Organisationscience• Data/computerscience• Sociology• Economy• Anthropologist• Industrialrelations• Philosophy

1.5 Trustandaccountability1.5.1 Questionset1

• Howdoestrustinautomatedsystemsdevelop?• Dothehuman-to-humantrustmodelstranslatetothehuman-to-artificialintel

interactions?• Whatautomatedsystemsneedtobecertifiedinthefuturetoensuretrue

accountabilityforautonomousentities?• Whatistheresponsibilityversusaccountabilityofautomatedsystems?


• AllowustoengineersystemswheretrustdevelopsappropriatelyEnableustodeveloplegalandgovernanceprocessesandproceduresforfutureautomatedsystems


• Law• Psychology• Sociology• Safetyengineering• Educationalists• Computerscientists• Policymakers• Regulators• Manufactures(includingsoftwareengineers)• Scienceproviders• Cluster

1.6 Whatishuman?–Whatistheroleofhumansinafuturesociety?1.6.1 Questionset1

• Howaredifferentgroupsofpeopleaffectedbyautomation?E.g.thosewhosejobsarereplacesvs.thoseinteractingwiththeautomatedsystem

• Whatdoesitmeantohavemeaningful/fulfillinglifeinanautomatedworld?


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• Towhatextentandwhatelementsofworkdowewanttobeautomated?• Howwillthevalueofhumanlabourchangeinanautomatedeconomy?• Towhatextentisitdesirable/acceptabletohaveautomatedsystemsmake

‘objective’/’value-free’decisionsaboutdailylives?1.6.1.1 Whatevidencewillthisgenerate?Whatcouldthisbeusedfor?

• Couldbeusedtoinformpolicyandgovernancearoundautomation• Facilitatepublicconversationaroundautomation• Improveefficiencyandproductivitythroughworkforceoptimism


• Philosophy• Psychology• Sociology• Politicalscience• Economics• Medicine• Managementandbusinessstudies• Anthropology

1.7 Technologicallimitations1.7.1 Questionset1

• Howdowepredictthatpeoplemay‘game’thesystem?• HowdoweensurethatfutureAIisnotunknowinglybiasesinitsanalysis–ensure

systemsbehaveinanunbiasedmanner?• Howdoweverifyasystemthatisself-learning• Whatcouldpossiblygowrong?Howdoweanticipatepotentialcrises?• Whatistherelationshipbetweenquantityofdataandqualityofdecisionmaking?

Andunderstanding.1.7.1.1 Whatevidencewillthisprovide?Whatcouldthisbeusedfor?

• Datathatcanhelpunderstandhowfair/goodoutcomesare.Feedbackloopschecksandbalancing

• Informsengineersonhowsystemscanimprove1.7.1.2 Whichdisciplinesneedtobeinvolved?

• Law• Psychology• Sociology• Safetyengineering• Educationalists• Computer/datascientists• Policy-makers• Regulators• Manufacturers• Serviceproviders


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1.8 “Refuse-nicks”1.8.1 Questionset1

• Whatcanwelearnfromthosewhoresisttheimposition/deployment/useofautomatedsystems?

1.8.1.1 Whatevidencewillthisgenerate?

• Everything1.8.1.2 Whichdisciplinesneedtobeinvolved?

• Everyone

2 Priorities2.1 Priority1:Team12.1.1 Trustinautomation

2.1.1.1 Questionsandissues

• Howdoestrustinautomatedsystemsdevelop?• Howwilltechnologytransformorganisations,theirtasksanddecision-making

process?–Implications(includingstructuralandprocesses)Whodothis?• Essential–trustworthysystems,politicsandcohesion• TrustandaccountabilityANDorganisations,professionsandwork

2.1.1.2 Anydependenceonotherthings?

• Language• Generalgovernance• Interdisciplinaryworking• Cultureandcontext

2.2 Priority1:Team22.2.1 Meaningfullife


• Whatdoesitmeantohaveameaningful/fulfillinglifeinanautomatedworld?• Inarangeofsectors(notfocusonmanufacturing)• Whitecollar/serviceroles• Needadefinitionofautomation

2.2.1.2 Whydothis?

• Needtoincludehistoricalperspectives• Getsustothinkaboutautomationinnewsectors• Needtogeneratenew/differentscenarios‘engineeringthehumanexperience’• Beyondjustwork–holisticexperienceofbeinghuman


• Multidisciplinaryapproach


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2.3 Priority2:Team12.3.1 Roles,systemdesignandeconomics


• Howdowedesign‘roles’inanautomatedsocietythatcanwithstandorresistcommodificationandtheprofitmotive?

• Howtoreflectarangeofvaluesindesignofsystemsbothinthetransitiontoautomationandinsystemsustainability

2.3.1.2 Whydothis?

• Takeupandresponsibleuse• Informscycle• Useandtakeupandattitudes• SocialandculturalattitudesANDsystemdesign


• Language• Generalgovernance• Interdisciplinary• Cultureandcontext

2.4 Priority2:Team22.4.1 Oversightandgovernance


• Whataretheappropriateoversightmodelsforanautomatedworld?2.4.1.2 Whydothis?

• Enablesustounderstandthetrustissue• Itissocietypositive• Ensuresweconsiderthehuman/techinterface• Facilitatesautomationinclusion• Balancedassessmentoftherisks• Transparencyandaccountability


• Multidisciplinaryapproach

2.5 Priority3:Team12.5.1 Socialimpacts


• Howwillautomationimpactinequality?• Howislifechanginginanautomatedsociety?• Howwillautomationaffectcommunityandidentity?

2.5.1.2 Whydothis?

• Socialandcommunityissues• Whatishuman?• Supportingautomation?


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• Supportingcreativity?• Supportingsustainability?


• Language• Generalgovernance• Interdisciplinary• Cultureandcontext

2.6 Priority3:Team22.6.1 Methods


• Understandwhatmethodsmightweusetoimplementautomationsystemsandunderstandtheiradaption?

2.6.1.2 Whydothis?

• Enablesverification• Maximisesthepotentialofautomation• Recognisethecomplexity• Enablesevaluationofautomation• Fillsmethodgaps• Learningfromnon-adaptorsor[r8fvsniks??]


• Multidisciplinaryapproach2.7 Otherrecommendations2.7.1 Systematicliteraturereview


• ASLR(systematicliteraturereview)ofautomationdiscoveringnewthemesandmemeswhichwillinformfutureresearchchallenges

2.7.1.2 Whydothis?

• Insightintocross-culturalexperiencesofautomation• Immediatelyrelevanttomultidisciplinarydebates• Providesarangeofhistoricalperspectives


• Databases• Rangeofmethods(archives,surveys,narrativeanalysis,coding)• Specialistadvicethroughouttheprojects

2.7.2 Funding


• Considersmallscaleresponsivefunding• Callsthatcangettothefieldquicklyandreportquickly• Mayneedabbreviatedreviewprocesstoensuredatatobecapturednowonkey

issuesthatarerapidlychanging


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2.7.2.2 Whydothis?

• Providesfoundationforiterativeresearchdesign• Captureoffastmovingtrends• Helpsshapelargerfundingcalls

2.7.3 Humanities–forAHRC?


• (Digital)heritageandautomation–• Whatis/arethechangingroles(s)ofculturalheritageinfast-automatingsocieties?• Whatworktasksandtypesofexperiencewillbeautomatedin5/10/15yearstime?

2.7.3.2 Whydothis?

• Globalterrorismisdestroyingphysicalsitesofuniqueculturalandspiritualsignificanceatanunprecedentedrate

• Automation/digitalisation/systemsofpreservationandcommunicationoftasksassociatedwithheritagearethereforeurgentlyrequired

2.7.3.3 What’sitspriority?

• Essentialforhumanitieswell-beingandethnic/culturalidentity2.7.3.4 Anydependenceonotherthings?

• PoliticalgovernancePublicmobilisation


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Annex2:WorkshopProposalAutomationoffuturerolesscopingworkshop:ProposalSimeonYates:PIESRCBeingDigitalproject

July2016

1 IntroductionTheproposedtopicisverybroadandcomplex.Therehasbeenvariedandextensivediscussionofthisissueacrossmultipledisciplinesformuchofthelasthalf-century.Fromthemoreutopianvisionsofan"endtowork"(Gorz,1985),todetailedmorecriticalstudiesoftheimpactonorganisations(Zuboff,1988)throughtomorecontemporaryaccountsandpredictions(Anderson&Rainie,2010).Otherworkhashadamoresocio-economicfocusontheimplicationsforemploymentandinequality(Davidson,2013;McIntosh,2013)throughtothedevelopmentofspecifictechnologies(e.g.insocialcare,Broekens,et.al.,2009).Itisalsoanareafraughtwithchallenges,notleastunderstandingtheunintendedconsequencesoftechnologychangeandtheneedtothinkbeyondcurrentsocialassumptions(SeeAppendix).Thekeyquestionsalsorequireinterdisciplinaryandmultidisciplinaryworking.Wethereforesuggestthatthegoaloftheworkshopshouldbetoidentifythemainconceptsandrelevantresultsfromresearch,todevelopatypologyofresearch,knowledgegapsandquestions.Thiswouldprovideabasisforfurtherresearchanddiscussion.

3 Focus3.1 Aim

• Toassessthepotentialimplicationofcontinued'automation'ofhumantasks,rolesandjobs.• Toassessmajorchallengesandknowledgegapsanddiscusshowresearchcouldhelpin

addressingthose.3.2 Objectives

• Toidentifyandassessprioracademicandstakeholderpredictionsoftheimpactofnewtechnologiesonhumantasks,rolesandjobs.

• Toidentifyandassessmethodologiesbywhichimpactsandeffectscanbeassessed,inparticularon:

o tasks,roles,andjobs.o human,knowledge,skillsandattributes.o organisationalstructuresandcultures.o organisationaldevelopment.o workforcetraining,recruitment,engagementandmotivation.o decisionmakinginorganisations


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4 ParticipantsTheworkshopistobringtogetheracademicexperts(variousdisciplinarybackgrounds)andpractitioners(representingvariousindustriesandsectors).Thiswillincludebothdirectandopeninvites.Abalancedmixofbetween40and50inviteeswillbeselected.

• Academicswillbeinvitedfromthefollowingdisciplines:o Sociology–especiallysociologyoftechnologyo Economics–especiallyeconomicsoftechnologicalchangeo Psychology–especiallyorganisationaltechnologyo Informationsystems–especiallybusinessinformationsystemso Computerscience–especiallyroboticsandautomationo Datascience–especiallyartificialintelligenceandmachinelearningo Engineering–especially‘human-in-the-loop’engineeringsolutionso Visualarts–especiallyinteractivedesignanddigitalhumanitieso Philosophy–especiallyethicaltechnologyinnovation

• PractitionerswillbeinvitedfromarangeofindustriesandgovernmentdepartmentsOpenacademicinviteswillbedistributedviaappropriateacademicnetworks,professionalbodiesandemaillists.OpenindustryinviteswillbedistributedviatheDigitalLeadersnetwork,whichalsoincludesanumberofindustriallyengagedacademicresearchers.

5 Potentialdiscussiontopics5.1 DefinitionsUnlessthereisatightdefinitionof'automation'tobeprovidedbyESRCorDSTLweexpecttheworkshoptofirstfocusonthescopeofthefollowingdiscussions:

• Definitionsof'automation'andrelevanttechnologies,suchas:o Robots-inmanufacture,socialcare?o Business-processsystems,analytics?o Everydaylife–memoryandfinding(Siri,GPS)?o Medicine–expertsystems?

5.2 ResearchgapsorquestionsIdentifyingthepressingresearchquestions:

• Academic–wherearethegapsincurrentdisciplinaryandmulti-disciplinaryorinter-disciplinarywork?

• Practitioner–whichquestionsaremostpressingforindustry,policyorpractice?5.3 ResearchmethodsWhichmethodsorapproachesarebesttoaddressandassessthekeyquestionsidentifiedabove:

• Howtoassessmultiple,complexandoften'non-linear'impacts?• Howtobestunderstandanddocumenttheunintendedconsequencesoftechnological

change?• Whichdataandmethodsofanalysiswillbestaddressthequestionsidentifiedbythe

workshop?• Whichinterdisciplinaryormultidisciplinarymixisneededtoaddressspecificquestions?


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6 Format6.1 WorkshoplengthGiventhecomplexityofthetopicatwo-dayworkshopwouldbepreferable.Thoughthismaybelimitedbybudget,timingandattendeeavailability.Ashortnoticeeventwouldneedsbeonedaytoallowseniorcolleaguestomaketravelplans.Atwo-dayeventwouldbebetterifnon-UKcolleagueswouldliketoattend.

6.2 StructureWeproposefollowingabroadly'un-conference'formatofregularlychangingworkinggroupswithprofessionalfacilitationsupport.Theeventwouldnotthereforeincludepresentations,butratherfocusedcollaborativeactivitiestoelicitideasandinformationrelevanttothetopicsunderdiscussion.Wewouldagreeadesignfortheeventwiththefacilitationteamthatwillhopefullydeliverrobustoutcomeswhilstalsoallowingtheparticipantsroomtoguideanddirecttheflowoftheevent.AproposedstrucugreinpresentedinTable1.Time Day1 Lead Day2 Lead

Morning Introductions ESRCBeingDigitalTeam

Researchquestionandgapsworkinggroups

Facilitators

Morning Collectiveengagementactivities

Facilitators Feedbackonquestionandgaps

Facilitators

Morning Scopingofconceptsworkinggroups

Facilitators Methodsworkinggroups Facilitators

Lunch Lunchbreak Lunchbreak

Afternoon Feedbackonscoping Facilitators Feedbackonmethods Facilitators

Afternoon Conceptsandquestionsworkinggroups

Facilitators Opensession/Nextstepworkinggroups

Facilitators

Afternoon Feedbackonconceptsandquestions

Facilitators Feedbackonppensession/Nextstep

Facilitators

Eveningmeal

Eveningmeal Reviewofworkshopandclose

ESRCBeingDigitalTeam

Evening Eveningspeaker ESRCBeingDigitalTeam

6.3 FacilitationWewouldwanttomakeuseofKnowInnovation(http://knowinnovation.com)asthefacilitationteam.WehaveworkedwiththisteamonanumberofprioroccasionsandtheyalsohaveatrackrecordofworkingwithEPSRCandtheESRC.6.4 OnlineworkspaceTheteamwillprovideasharedonlineworkspaceforpreandposteventactivitiesusing"WellSorted"(http://www.well-sorted.org)tosupportpre-workshopactivities.


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6.5 CapturingoutputsDuringtheworkshopallthepapermaterialsfromactivitieswillbecollectedandarchived.Otherpotentialroutestocapturingdatainclude:

• photographingandaudio-videorecordingsofkeyelementsoftheday• dedicatednotetakers/scribes• twitterhandleandhashtag

Foramorecreativeactivitytheteamwillengagean"artist/cartoonistinresidence"fortheworkshopwhowillseektovisuallycapturediscussionsandideas.


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7 Outcomes7.1 ReportTheprojectteamwillusethedataandmaterialsrecordedbytheworkshoptoprovidethefollowing:

• adetailedreportfortheESRC(10,000words).• ashortreportfornon-academicpartnersandstakeholders(5,000words)

Dependingontheagreedgoalsoftheworkshopthereportwillprovidedetailof:• identifiedresearchgapsandissues• researchmethodsrecommendations• researchpolicyrecommendations• potentialimmediatenextactions

7.2 Otherpotentialoutputs7.2.1 Editedbook

Giventhatthiseventwillbearareopportunitytobringtogetherbothacademicsandpractitioners;capturingthisdebateinapublishedformatwouldbenefitbothcommunities.Thediscussionscouldprovidebothmaterialsforcontentoridentifykeyareastobereviewed.TheESRCBeingDigitalteambelievethatanumberofpublishersbothUKandinternationalwouldbeinterestedinsuchavolume(Intellect,UniversityofCaliforniaPress).7.2.2 Website

Awebsitereportingontheworkshopcouldbedevelopedfromthecollectedmaterials.

8 NextstepsAssumingtheproposalisacceptabletotheESRCandDSTL:

• Engagefacilitators• Setupplanningmeetingwithteam,facilitators,ESRCandDSTL

9 CostsItems

2Dayworkshop 100%(FEC) 80%(FEC)

Organisingteam-PIX1 4200.95 3360.76

Co-Ix2Disciplinesupport 7264.72 7264.72

PDRAx2 3767.38 3013.904

EstatesandIndirect(Notrequested)

Facilitators(KnowInnovation) 6000 4800

Refreshmentsandcatering 3210 2568

OrganizingteamandBeingDigitalSteeringGroupT&S 8000 6400

Artist 1300 1040

Stationaryandmaterials 400 320


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Reportpreparationandprinting 2853 2282.4

Total(excludingestateandindirectcosts) 36996.05 29596.84

10 Appendix:ThechallengeoffuturologyOverestimatingtheimpactofatechnology(plastic)andunderestimatingsocialchange(feminismandchangingdomesticroles).

11 ReferencesAnderson,J.,&Rainie,L.(2010).FutureoftheinternetIV-expertsandstakeholdersdiscusspredictionsaboutthefutureoftheinternet.Pewinternet&Americanlifeproject.Broekens,J.,Heerink,M.,&Rosendal,H.(2009).Assistivesocialrobotsinelderlycare:areview.Gerontechnology,8(2),94-103.Davidson,P.(2013).Incomeinequalityandhollowingoutthemiddleclass.JournalofPostKeynesianEconomics,36(2),381-384.Gorz,A.(1985).Pathstoparadise:ontheliberationfromwork.PlutoPress.McIntosh,S.(2013).Hollowingoutandthefutureofthelabourmarket.BISResearchPaper,(134).Zuboff,S.(1988).Intheageofthesmartmachine:Thefutureofworkandpower.Basicbooks.


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Annex3:Workshopplan

Automation of Future Roles Scoping Workshop, 7/8th November 2016 University of Liverpool London Campus, Finsbury Square DRAFT FACILITATION AGENDA - NOT FOR PUBLICATION Aims:

1. To assess the potential implication of continued of human tasks, roles and jobs. 2. To assess major challenges and knowledge gaps and discuss how research could help in addressing those.

Required Outputs/Outcomes: The project team will use the data and materials recorded by the workshop to provide the following:

● a detailed report for the ESRC (10,000 words). ● a short report for non-academic partners and stakeholders (5,000 words)

Target outputs for this workshop: 1. identified research gaps and issues 2. research policy recommendations

○ Research areas (to address current gaps) ○ Identified evidence base to inform policy

3. research methods recommendations Participants:

● Invited participants - mixture of disciplines, academia and industry; 70 invited ● Project team members - 15, expect 2 or 3 to attend ● ESRC/DSTL stakeholders (8) ● Expect 35-40 on the day in total

Facilitators: David Lomas, Caragh Dewis Day 1


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Time Mins Activity Notes Lead/Mate

rials

08:30 60 KI Team Arrive Materials on tables Seating Plan Soapbox Flipchart Coloured lanyards for participants vs stakeholders Evidence, Gaps and Research Questions flips

09:30 30 Participant arrival / registration and coffee

and pastries (as lunch quite late) 10am start to work on 1st day, 9.30am on 2nd, finish 4pm on 2nd day.

10:00 10 Welcome from ESRC/DSTL Thanks for coming

10:10 10 Facilitator Welcome Set tone Introduce soapboxes

10:20 20 Who’s in the room? Everyone completes a profile poster Discuss on tables Posters then collected and displayed around room

Four quadrants e.g. Who am I? What do I bring to this event? (experience, knowledge, connections) In my view the biggest challenges in this area are… My greatest hope from today is...

10:40 15 Setting the context ● Scope / scale of challenge ● Specific objectives for this workshop

Someone from DSTL / ESRC to set the overall context and objectives. Important for the group to hear “from the horse’s mouth” what they want from the day - so we can hook back onto it DSTL/ESRC to agree how tightly/loosely to define scope

10:55 20 What do we mean by automation of roles? (Mixed tables?)


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● What does this look like in different

contexts? (e.g. business, healthcare, manufacturing)

● Anything we would consider out of our scope?

Table discussion - capture on mind map

11:15 20 Feedback from groups and plenary

reflection Headline from each group If ESRC/DSTL have not set a scope then we will use the output of this feedback to define it.

11:35 20 BREAK - coffee and nibbles Move tables

11:55 30 PESTLE To get people thinking about what the world might be like - potential impacts

Need to agree time horizon that we are looking at. Work in small groups, one letter of PESTLE each. Include getting people to think about the evidence base for their predictions Could use Simeon’s press headlines as stimulus here.

12:25 30 Evidence - what do we know, where are

the gaps? What do we know already? Where are the gaps?

Table discussion. Capture evidence on post its (one per post it) Capture gaps on post its (one per post it) Plus any research questions that emerge

12:55 15 Feedback - start to build ‘evidence and

gaps’ walls Post-its notes added to ‘walls

13:10 45 LUNCH Buffet style lunch Time to look at profile posters and ‘evidence and gaps’ wall

13:55 15 Welcome Back Soapboxes


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Position the afternoon

14:10 30 Active Listening In pre-planned trios, mix of disciplines and academia/industry to give varying perspectives In my opinion the biggest challenge in understanding the impact and effects of the automation of roles is….?? Each person speaks uninterrupted for 5 mins Second person listens Third person notes down ‘things we know’ (evidence), ‘things we don’t know’ (research gaps) and potential ‘research questions’ on post-its Brief review of post-its at end of each rotation

14:40 15 Add to Evidence and Research Questions

walls

14:55 25 Review Walls Then clustering

Initial sense check - there may be things people think are gaps that other participants know are actually being addressed Clustering - How best to do this?Silent clustering then plenary review?

15:20 20 BREAK (could be a working break) Review clusters with stakeholders - do we want to ask for any sense of priority?

15:40 30 Stewarding the Research Questions Sourced from evidence gaps or clusters of research questions One cluster per group How could (interdisciplinary) research help address these challenges and gaps?

Group discussion to develop research questions from the clusters Output is one-page poster

● Key research questions / sub questions / links to evidence

Template for 1-page poster


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16:10 30 Show and Tell Timing depends on how many clusters there are!

16:40 20 Plenary Reflection ● What do we think to what we have

got? ● Anything we think we have missed? ● Any sense of priority or

dependencies?

Could include a prioritisation activity here? Or use as additional discussion/feedback time if needed.

17:00 10 Wrap-up Day One, link to Day Two

17:10 50 Drinks and networking Facilitators to meet with project Team members and stakeholders Review day one and agree plan for day two Allows for us to adapt as appropriate

18:00 90 Dinner and Speaker

19:30 Close


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Day 2

Time mins Activity Notes

09.00 30

Facilitator check-in with project team and stakeholders Agree plan for Day Two

If we didn’t manage to do this at end of Day One

09:30 15 Welcome back Reflections from Day One, insights from dinner conversations etc. Soapbox reminder Position Day Two

Day one was about identifying the research questions Day Two is about how to approach that research

09:45 10 Introduce the ‘meta questions’ and World Cafe Looking at the set of research questions we identified yesterday and in the context of the automation of roles:

1. How to assess multiple, complex and often non-linear impacts?

2. How to best understand and document the unintended consequences of technological change?

3. Which data and methods of analysis will best address the questions identified by the workshop?

4. What is and where do you get the best evidence to support policy?

Going to have four stations around the room (or using breakout rooms?), one for each question One person will stay at each station all morning - continuity Everyone else will be in four groups that will rotate around the four questions Group discussion to be captured on a mind map Each group adds to the mind map so that it builds up over the morning (Last group may also distil and prepare for feedback) Assign ‘table coordinators’ who will stay with the question from DSTL/ESRC stakeholders. Two per table. DSTL/ESRC to allocate themselves in pairs to each question and be prepared to do 1-2 minute intro to the question for each round of people and then capture conversation onto flipchart


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09:55 30 Rotation One

10:25 30 Rotation Two

10:55 15 BREAK

11:10 30 Rotation Three

11:40 30 Rotation Four

12:10 40 World Cafe feedback Feedback and plenary questions / consolidation across the 4 questions

Include time to distill into one-flipchart sheet output per meta question? Or this could be round 4?

12:50 60 LUNCH Meet with stakeholders to refine recommendation planning session - how best to structure?

13:50 45 Development of Recommendations From what we have learnt over the last two days, what are the key take home messages that will help the ESRC/DSTL? (Remind of the target outcomes and overall aim of workshop) Template: What is the recommendation (Verb … - e.g. Create a XYZ)) What’s its priority (Essential, Important, Nice to have?) Are there any dependencies on other things?

Split into groups to do this? How many will depend on participant numbers.

● Prioritised research agenda - can we split this?

● Research approaches and methods - can we split this into 2?

● Research policy - ○ Research ○ Evidence base for policy

development

14:35 40 Share draft recommendations for feedback Builds and concerns

15:15 30 Refine Recommendations for ESRC / DSTL


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15:45 15 Wrap up of event

16:00 CLOSE


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Annex4:AttendeesFirstName Surname Email

Rogerl Maull [email protected]

Fiona Butcher [email protected]

Ben Roberts [email protected]

Elizabeth Edgar [email protected]

Barry Smith [email protected]

John Vines [email protected]

Donald Hislop [email protected]

Bridgette Wessels [email protected]

Richard Harper [email protected]

Monica Whitty [email protected]

Crispin Coombs [email protected]

Simeon Yates [email protected]

Chris Noyce [email protected]

Tjorven Sievers [email protected]

Kate Purcell [email protected]

Patrick Crogan [email protected]

John Robertson [email protected]

Christopher Carlton [email protected]

Wilson Wong [email protected]

Peter Elias [email protected]

Stella Martorana [email protected]

Vicki Crossley [email protected]

Gretta Corporaal [email protected]

GillianSymon Symon [email protected]

Colin Corbridge [email protected]

Leslie willcocks [email protected]

Nikos Pronios [email protected]

Julian Padget [email protected]

Louise Dennis [email protected]

Catriona Smith [email protected]

Andi Smart [email protected]

Daniel Bloembergen [email protected]

Documents

Outcomes report ESRC and DSTL workshop V0waysofbeingdigital.files.wordpress.com/2017/09/outcomes-report-esrc-and-dstl...workshop. Tables 3 and 4 lay specific topics and questions by