The current global epidemic is changing our daily routine and work life, authorities are scrambled in containing this epic pandemic. However, as we learnt “after a storm comes calm”, then again, this will come to an end leaving an enormous impact on our lives than ever before.
This incident reminds us that the world we live in is liable to change rapidly and unpredictably, especially for the worse despite human capabilities. Once again it is proven, “the earth does not belong to humans but, humans belong to the earth”. However, it is not the first time humans have faced a pandemic like this magnitude but, for most people today, this could be the first time.
Ironically, the deadly 1918 Spanish flu that swept the world by killing approximately 50 million across the globe which was then reported that one fifth of the world population were exposed and attacked by this deadly virus making a horrid and a deep scar in the modern world as an explosively fatal disease.
If we analyze the current trend where the epidemic is taking control over most countries that have diverse industrial and service sectors, advanced technological infrastructure and most significantly countries with a mature economy. Interestingly, some low/middle income and communalist countries fighting and containing the situation notably pretty well despite limited resources, advance technology and sophisticated systems. For good, the impact of this epidemic have managed to bring people closer to the reality and reminded us that we are vulnerable, even a 70–90 nm in particle size can wipe us out in less than 14 days though we live in a smart world regardless of the country, social level, race, ethnicity, religion, gender, income and wealth.
Today, after 102 years later in an era where digitalization is the common language across geographies, ambitious competition to explore what’s beyond human capabilities and technology advancements that are growing at an exponential phase making new entrance in to cyber physical systems, Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things (IoT), 3D printing, deep learning and the list goes on and on. In such an era why didn’t we see this coming or a plan in place to face an infectious outbreak like this in the 21st century?
A mind boggling question that every soul in this world is anxiously asking authorities and themselves. Is it that we were too busy exploring things beyond human capabilities and given less attention to sustain our existence in this world? Have we overestimated our current human capabilities and neglected the basics in the midst of our battle in the digital space?
Then again, the tacit truth is that, there’s a higher possibility of a socioeconomic hit on developing countries could cause a severe impact on social equilibrium in light of employments, education, food and health as an aftermath of this epidemic. Therefore, it is a must that all must understand, ready to embrace the reality and start making sustainable longer term plans before this pandemic paralyze and disproportionately devastate our economy and the wellbeing. In order to do so, we must understand as a fact that the life will not be the same after this pandemic. There’ll be “social disruptions” on top of technological and ecological disruptions. Instead new ways of working we must restore the basic and explore “new ways of living” post this epidemic.
Many experts predicts that the world will go under a severe economic depression at least for next couple of years, more people might lose jobs or will be on a watch list, because most organizations specially in the manufacturing industry. Consumer buying patterns will significantly disrupted and people will only buy the bear minimum and only the necessities, this is to safe guard their living during the period of uncertainty. This will cause a ripple effect across industries starting from SMEs can even go up to large conglomerates. Therefore, it is empirical that business leaders and entrepreneurs to take a stock of all our natural and intellectual resources and device a mechanism to turn those resources to things that are essential for our survival for next couple of years until we get back to normalcy. Also, there’ll be a drastic shift in people’s minds towards better and healthier lifestyles in relation to both physical and mental wellbeing, more faith and new seriousness towards expert opinions, People will force to reassess their existence, conduct, ethics and values thereby attempt to rediscover a better version of themselves.
Family first culture - People will
start appreciating family time than ever before after realizing that money or wealth or power can’t get you a life or not even a funeral ceremony. Whether you are multimillionaire but for last few months you couldn’t move out from the house at your own discretion due to lockdown, quarantine or curfew.
People will force think that money is just a piece of printed paper there to help us to sought out bear minimum for our day to day survival but it cannot bring you to peace.
There’ll be gradual shift in the minds of people towards spiritual awakening, try to make clear demarcations in light of Needs and Wants, people expend time to live in the moment and enjoy life while they can, become mindful, search inner peaceful to achieve contentment in life. Further, people will start appreciating time, make an effort to use it wisely, spend quality time families and loved ones than ever before, become closer and empathetic towards one another and willing to invest one’s freedom for the betterment for wellbeing of the society, people will learn to share more, and live a moderate life to fullest.
We’ve realized what is likely to be vulnerable; what is likely to be bored and aimless; what is likely to being made to stay at home despite of any individual rights; what is like to being taught the basic hygiene principles like washing hands etc in the 21st century.
And most interestingly it is proved to most of us that we can work from home and that is possible. We’ve experienced and learnt enough for a lifetime. Hence, the shift in people’s mind would not be another fantasy. However, there can be social tensions over profound dread and uncertainty which will fade away in its own pace also as a result of attitudinal changes and self-discipline in people, making room for new world to flourish where social distance, personal space, social responsibility, public life and most importantly the internet will soon enlist as basic human rights.
Work life integration - The greatest
doubt in the 21st century has been cleared and the digital transformation transpired globally successfully. Entire world of work shifted to a common work pattern and started working from home. This shift will create an office room in every household or virtually instead offices in town. Innovation will go an upper notch disrupting the entire service sector especially in the technological space competing to create virtual organizations or service platforms. Use of advance technology than ever before to stay ahead the curve. This trend will force Ind 4.0 to expire and will accelerate the “next new normal” into the world of work. The 5th industrial revolution will arise than anticipated, where humans and machines will corporate and work together to provide personalize services to cater global demands in the new virtual space. This is an era where human intelligence and cognitive computing/AI work in harmony to co create the new engine, for the world to recover fast and put plans in place for next decades in terms of economic development, technological innovations.
Thereby device a holistic and forward-looking mechanisms to predict, prevent and protect our societies from emerging infectious disease threats taking into account what has happened in the outbreak.
Human machine collaboration - Most
production and manufacturing organization will invest more to automate the manufacturing process better and depend on data driven manufacturing process and restrict the use of human capabilities only at design stages.
Most production facilities involve more intelligent devices, and systems creating smart networks throughout the value chain that can autonomously control each steps in the production process with high-speed accuracy. Leaving the monotonous, repetitive tasks to the robots will create a huge demand for human skills specially on the creative side and humans must constantly acquire new skills and evolve with the technology advancements to remain competitive in the new normal and always keep in mind that the IND 6.0 is on the rise as well. This might be a turning point in human evolution where many would embark on self-explorations and rigorously take self-initiatives to stay competitive because by now the value of knowledge has become increasingly clear.
COVID-19 pandemic has elicited organizations to look at work, travel and socialize in a transformational mindset that didn’t appear in December 2019. We are forced to accept that the survival of all species and health of all life on this planet is inter connected and we cannot deviate or cannot ignore the basics of our survival despite being the intelligent animal in the eco system. We as humans have caused an irreversible damage to this world influenced by human activities such as deforestation and we’ve made this world a toxic place to live. However for good, this epidemic has successfully managed to reduce the carbon emissions drastically and improve the quality of air significantly.
By far the epidemic will manage to save this world from millions of greenhouse gases that could continue to cause profound implications in the name of global warming.
This epidemic will give an improved world for our survival claiming thousands of lives as of now. When the pandemic eventually subsides every survivor has a role play as a global citizen that is to uphold this environmental change and do our part and become socially responsible to reduce carbon and pollutant emissions from our societies.
Let us start small; when organizations start promoting working from home there will be less consumption of plastic-packaged convenience food and drink, use online as the mode of trade, purchase and exchange will reduce the commute and transportation. Let’s think green before we act and support authorities and become socially responsible to make our environment greener day by day.
So what’s really beyond Covid 19… “an improved world built on millions of sacrifices”, so let’s maintain it as a tribute to their sacrifices.
This was compiled by Deshan Wijesinghe, MSc in Business Psychology
Corporate Trainer/Storyteller/Public speaker. He can be contacted on
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