WEEK 3

https://www.iotforall.com/iot-skills

Generation IoT Goes to Work: A New Look at Work Roles

We know that with IoT, many existing roles will have to evolve.

Maciej Kranz October 23, 2017

Image
Credit: HausDesign Pro, Illustration by IFA

New technologies and new processes are at the heart of any Internet of Things (IoT) deployment.
They lead to new business models, new organizational structures, and—inevitably—new work roles.
But rarely does this transformation happen as quickly and completely as it did at Campofrio Food
Group, a multinational meat processor.

Three years ago, the company turned tragedy into an opportunity to transform its technology,
culture, and business processes at their 17-year-old flagship factory in Burgos, Spain. After the factory
burned to the ground, Campofrio rebuilt it as a connected factory, powered by the Internet of Things.

The changes in work roles were immediate.

“We transformed from an old-fashioned hierarchy where everyone had a siloed job to a more
interactive culture where everyone is urged to step up and help shape the direction of the business,”
Javier Alvarez, CIO, of Campofrio, told me. “In exchange for retaining jobs in a new state-of-the-art
facility, we asked our employees to take advantage of training, and refresh and stretch their talents.”

Generation IoT sees opportunities instead of threats

While many people see IoT, artificial intelligence (AI), and automation as a threat to existing workers,
companies like Campofrio demonstrate that by embracing changes in technology and culture, they
can improve both business processes and employees’ work lives.

Campofrio encouraged employees to change their one-job-for-life mentality and reinvent themselves,
helping them acquire new skills and collaborate on all levels, including participation in decision-
making.

This kind of transformation is taking place across industries and up and down organizational
structures. I recently visited a lettuce processing plant in Salinas, California, the capital of the “Lettuce
Valley” just one hour south of “Silicon Valley.”

Yet again, as producers automate packaging lines, people working on these lines don’t simply lose
their jobs. They have opportunities to train to upgrade their skills (and pay) in areas such as quality
control and inventory management.

Think of the activities associated with IoT—cloud and fog computing, analytics, predictive
maintenance, remote monitoring and control, remote asset management, and also augmented
reality, 3D printing, drones, and more. Implementing these capabilities will require qualified workers
with a wider range of skills—from collaboration and communication to data and process design.

Like at Campofrio, many of these “Generation IoT” workers will be existing employees, particularly
those who embrace change and can learn new skills for IoT.

One of the first things you’ll notice about your IoT-enabled business is the increase in data flowing to
and around the operation. You’ll need people who can make this data useful and turn it into business
relevant outcomes.

The volume and speed of data generated by IoT will require skill sets far beyond those of a traditional
database administrator. You’ll need people who know your business processes and your product
environment, people who can create the rules and policies that will guide the analytics and other
intelligent processes behind IoT.

IoT will also create a demand for specialized data scientists, programmers, applications developers
and coders who can build and operate the horizontal and vertical analytics applications you’ll need to
make the best use of your data. These roles may be in your own organization or in one of the many
partners in your IoT ecosystem.

A new role for visionaries

One interesting and maybe a bit unexpected new role will be “IoT visionary.” This person will follow
IoT innovations in the market and think about what might be possible in their organization. The IoT
visionary need not be a scientist or an engineer. He or she won’t need to invent or build IoT.

What this visionary really needs to be is inquisitive, thoughtful, and something of a maverick, in order
to look at the business and its processes in new, possibly unconventional ways. This person will also
need strong collaboration, communication, and change-management skills—because when
everything is digitized, anything can change. You’ll need someone who can help your organization
envision, evangelize, and manage those changes.

A new twist on old roles

We know that with IoT, many existing roles will have to evolve. Perhaps the CIO will also become the
chief IoT officer, and the role of plant control engineers will certainly change in the face of IoT-
enabled automation. Supply chain management will take on a completely new meaning as IoT and
blockchain start to automate and secure digital processes.

IoT will have a major impact on your IT staff, starting with the networking department. Existing IT
networking experts will need to learn new skills to accommodate fog computing and other IoT-centric
architectures. IT people are already skilled in network architecture and design, network availability,
network performance, network analytics and much more. What’s new is partnership with the
Operational Technology or Business Technology teams.

They’ll need to work together to design and implement all of these technologies across much more
challenging production and operational environments, in addition to traditional enterprise IT
environments and the cloud—as well as integrating legacy systems with new IoT capabilities.

Let me also highlight the need for security, privacy and compliance experts. Security issues are
perhaps the single greatest barrier to IoT adoption. With evolving IoT security challenges, you’ll need
to up your game in developing an ongoing, comprehensive, architectural approach to risk assessment
and mitigation.

Chasing Gen IoT

With all these new IoT skill sets and roles, finding the right workers will be the challenge. As the IoT-
based economy drives trillions of dollars in economic growth, there will be a worldwide scramble for
people with these types of skills:

 Can handle IoT-based business processes

 Are data- and networking-aware

 Are comfortable with agile operations supported by data-driven decisions and business
processes

 Are attuned to the API-, mobile-, and data-driven economy that was already emerging even
before IoT began building the momentum we’re witnessing today

 Have essential “soft” skills or emotional intelligence. They can:

o Work across the organizational boundaries

o Build and effectively execute within diverse virtual team environments

o Influence agile thinkers to embrace new approaches rather than resist them

Competition for these workers is already fierce, and it will only grow more intense going forward. The
industrial segments, including manufacturing, are seeking the same type of workers as Silicon Valley.
In my next article, I’ll explore some of the things you can do to attract and retain the Gen-IoT workers
you’ll need to compete and grow in the IoT economy.

WARM UP QUESTIONS

1. What comes to mind when you hear the term "Internet of Things (IoT)"? Do you have any
personal experiences or examples of IoT in your daily life?

2. Have you ever heard of a situation where a company turned a tragedy into an opportunity
for transformation? If so, can you briefly describe it?

3. How do you think new technologies, such as IoT, can impact not only a company's
operations but also its organizational culture and work roles?

4. Do you believe that embracing new technologies like IoT can lead to improved work lives
for employees? Why or why not?
 5. What soft skills do you think are important for employees who need to adapt to
technological changes and shifts in their work roles?

VOCABULARY

collaboration challenges comprehensive acquire innovation

integration transformation disruptive implementation

embrace automation evolving

1. The company's commitment to _____________ in product design allowed it to stay

competitive in the market and continually introduce groundbreaking products that captured
the attention of consumers.

2. The successful _____________ of the new software system streamlined our daily operations,
making them more efficient and enabling us to better serve our customers with improved
processes and faster response times.

3. Effective _____________ among team members, characterized by open communication,

shared ideas, and mutual support, is essential for the success of complex projects that
require diverse skills and expertise.

4. _____________, with its ability to perform repetitive tasks with precision and speed, has
significantly reduced the time needed for routine tasks, freeing up employees to focus on
more creative and strategic aspects of their work.

5. A _____________ review of the project's progress, including a detailed examination of

milestones achieved and challenges faced, revealed areas for improvement and provided
valuable insights for future projects.

6. Some employees may resist change, but it's important to address their concerns and
encourage their _____________ of new technologies that can enhance their productivity,
simplify their tasks, and create new opportunities for growth within the organization.
7. The world of technology is constantly _____________, with new developments and trends
emerging regularly, requiring professionals to stay updated with the latest technologies and
methodologies to remain competitive in their fields.

8. _____________ technologies, characterized by their ability to revolutionize traditional

industries and business models, have reshaped the competitive landscape, forcing companies
to adapt quickly to stay relevant and thrive.

9. The seamless _____________ of IoT devices into our workflow has increased efficiency,
allowing us to monitor and manage our operations with greater precision and real-time data.

10. Employees should actively seek opportunities to _____________ new skills through training
and professional development programs to remain competitive in their careers and
contribute effectively to the organization's success.

11. Overcoming _____________ related to IoT adoption is a natural part of adapting to IoT-
related changes in the workplace, as employees and organizations learn to navigate the
complexities and opportunities that IoT presents.

12. The company's _____________ from a small startup to an industry leader was remarkable,
driven by a strategic vision and a commitment to continuous improvement that allowed it to
outpace competitors and capture significant market share.