Case Study: Learning Machine – Blockchain-verified Transcripts Our policy-makers need social innovations to Chris Jagers, CEO of Learning Machine, has been working fully embrace the idea of flexibility and social with the MIT Media Lab to use blockchain technology to protection – ‘flexicurity’ – by giving all workers enable individual students to hold and share their verified the same rights and benefits, regardless of official records with others in a safe, tamper-proof manner. what contract they have. This approach allows students to “act as their own lifelong registrar”, holding records not only for traditional education, 49 but also for corporate training and alternative schools. Alain Dehaze – CEO, Adecco Group44 While public discourse has focused on minimum guaranteed Flexicurity is vital for workers and employers alike, enabling wages, other benefits to consider include health insurance, agility and access to vastly expanded pools of talent. unemployment insurance and pensions. In addition to Companies have their own part to play in helping employees traditional benefits, stakeholders will need to consider navigate a non-linear career path. To do this, businesses alternatives for filling skills gaps, with easily accessible training need to shift their focus towards radical reskilling – especially and learning opportunities. A small number of governments when it comes to helping steer workers through periods of have introduced individual learning accounts, which give digital disruption. Some business leaders have even raised employees the financial assistance to invest in their own the idea of a “carbon tax” model whereby companies that are 45 more effective at skilling workers would lower their required continuous training, independent of employers. contribution to state-administered unemployment benefits. Flexicurity provides highly skilled workers with the portability to meet professional needs, a safety net for those low-skilled Case Study: The Portable Benefits for Independent workers most vulnerable to market disruption, and freedom Workers Pilot Program Act (Proposed) for employers to use the best available talent. In 2017, US Senator Mark Warner and US Representative Consumer Data Principles Suzan DelBene proposed legislation to pilot, test and evaluate portable benefit programmes. Eligible models include a variety Lastly, there is a significant opportunity – and risk – of benefits such as healthcare, training and educational associated with consumer data. Recent reports have framed assistance, workers compensation and retirement savings. data as the “new oil” – the most valuable resource in the Senator Warner is the co-chairperson of the Aspen Institute’s world. This idea should be expanded to include data as the Future of Work Initiative, whose 2016 paper highlighted “new soil” – the basis on which consumer and market value existing programmes that could serve as models: multi- can grow. employer benefit plans in construction and entertainment, pooled workers’ compensation in New York livery, and health Given that the fundamental driver towards future operating 46 insurance in San Francisco. models is a reorganization to address consumer needs, copious amounts of personal data are required to establish Finally, there are some less obvious enablers of a fluid career. consumer intimacy. This ongoing data collection gives rise As employment velocity increases, networks become more to concerns about the privacy and security of personal important. Deviating from a formal career path impedes information and how companies are using it. Recent surveys workers’ ability to communicate skills and accomplishments find that 57% of consumers are concerned with how to new employers. Workers will increasingly be in situations 50 businesses use their information, with 41% of consumers where they are an unknown quantity; as learning increasingly stating they need companies to have greater transparency if shifts beyond traditional credentials such as the four-year 51 they are to have confidence in their products/services. university degree, a traditional curriculum vitae will no longer communicate the majority of an individual’s capabilities – nor Consumer data is critical for technology to function. It serves will there be a universal taxonomy and language to describe as the primary input and building block for technologies such 47 competencies. Fortunately, both industry disruptors and as artificial intelligence and connected devices. Industry and emerging technologies are targeting these challenges. society need to collaborate to establish and protect consumer trust, while increasing the value created for consumers. To do so requires alignment on the following principles: Case Study: Portfolium – Enabling Digital Portfolios – Communicating consumer data collection and usage procedures in a simple, understandable way As employers increasingly value competencies that extend – Outlining consumer data ownership and acceptable beyond the standard skills and experience reported on a sharing practices traditional curriculum vitae, Portfolium provides individuals with the opportunity to build their own digital portfolio, – Agreeing on data monetization protocols capturing and curating examples of their academic and – Understanding the necessary infrastructure and activities extracurricular work. Portfolium also serves as a social required to support consumer data security. network, linking potential workers with academic institutions and employers.48 22 Operating Models for the Future of Consumption