Over the last fifteen years there has been many changes in the way we work and in the way that we are managed. These changes can be attributed to many factors but primarily they have been due to three main contributing factors. These factors are:.
1. Social .
2. The Australian economy.
3. Technology.
The last fifteen years has seen many changes in technology, the Australian economy and Australian society. These forces have not working independently of each other with one or more of the forces having an effect on the other.
The combined force of these three factors has had a profound impact on the strategic management of people in today's workforce.
Social Change and People Management.
Throughout the post war period the Australian economy has continued to grow strongly, despite occasional fluctuations. Immigration, economic reform, trade policies and the push toward a global economy have shaped growth in the Australian economy. Technology has provided the platform for this change, particularly in the management of people.
The large increases in immigration the post World War II era have continued to increase impacting on people management.
The more diverse Australian Society can be, then the more broader the range and opportunities available to Australian organisations in a increasing global society.
Over the last fifteen years immigration has continued to increase, with the trend moving from a largely European/Anglo base to that of a South Eastern and Asian base. ABS statistics show that from 1947 to 1997 immigration from English speaking countries such as the UK, New Zealand, South Africa, Canada and the US, had dropped from 81% to only 39%. While on the other hand immigration from the Asian countries had increased from 15.2% in 1977, peaking at 50.6% in 1991-92 and was 37.4% in 1996-97. .
These immigration trends bring about workplace issues that have always been present, but never really addressed.