The difference between today and 50 years ago is that much of the learning is being taken over by machines. “People used to be valued for knowing a trade. Then came the industrial revolution and those skills became devalued. Machines took over physical labor and most people either did simple, repetitive tasks or managed those who did.” (Satell, 2013) This indicates that technology is taking over our culture and affects the skills that are now needed by certain industries. For example, in the past, the construction industry was primarily manual labor that demanded physical strength from the workers. However, in today 's world, physical strength is not an important attribute for the worker because of the ability of machines to perform the labor. Therefore, the skills have evolved from physical strength to the intellectual ability to run heavy machinery.
Today, with the many advancing technologies that are being brought into this world, being educated is one of the most important attribute a person can have by expanding their knowledge and diversifying their skills. Adam Smith believed “every individual is continually exerting himself to find out the most advantageous employment for whatever capital he can command. The study of his one advantage naturally, or rather necessarily, leads him to prefer that employment which is most advantageous to the society” (Boardman, 2013, p. 124). Smith is basically implying that individuals look for employment that will result in the greatest net benefit for themselves. This could be related to being a learned person. In today 's world, education is valued and there 's a correlation
References: Boardman, C. M., & Sandomir, A. N. (2013). Foundations of business thought. Boston: Pearson. Huan-Chang, C. (1938). Laissez-faire policy from the economic principles of Confucius and his school. In C. Boardman, A. Sandomir & H. Sondak (Eds.), Foundations of business thought (1st ed., p. 124). Boston: Pearson. Plato. (n.d.). From the republic. In C. Boardman, A. Sandomir & H. Sondak (Eds.), Foundations of business thought (1st ed., p. 110). Boston: Pearson. Satell, G. (2013, June 08). How technology is changing the way organizations learn. Retrieved from http://www.forbes.com/sites/gregsatell/2013/06/08/how-technology-is-changing-the-way-organizations-learn/ Thoreau, H. D. (n.d.). Reading from Walden. In C. Boardman, A. Sandomir & H. Sondak (Eds.), Foundations of business thought (1st ed., p. 7). Boston: Pearson.