The Future Of The Professions Chapter 1 Analysis
In the book, The Future of the Professions, authors Richard and Daniel Susskind discuss how advances in modern technology have affected various professions. (R.Susskind and D.Susskind, 2015) In Chapter 1, the reader is introduced to four central questions: are there more affordable and accessible ways to organize professions and their work, can non-professionals do the work of professionals, how much do we trust professionals and is the grand bargain working? (Susskind 2015, pg.32) In the following paragraphs, I will state my opinion on each question.
First, yes I agree there are more affordable and accessible ways of organizing professions and their work. The work of professionals has been overpriced for far too long. Seeking professional advice can be costly and often unattainable by the poor and middle class. People are left to fend for themselves and make do with the knowledge and skills they possess. An example would be the medical profession. Even with …show more content…
health insurance, the cost of medical procedures is so great that many people choose not to have them regardless of the benefit to their health. Those who can’t afford health insurance at all are even more susceptible to this problem. (Susskind et al, 2015) Second, yes non-professionals can do some of the work handled by professionals such as research and basic duties. In many professions, it is already being done. Some examples are paralegals, nurses, and vet assistants. Paralegals research and do the legwork for lawyers on cases that are going to trial. Nurses talk to patients and record their symptoms as well as perform basic examinations before the patient ever sees the doctor. Vet assistants, like nurses, speak with the caregiver, take and record all vital signs and perform a basic exam leaving the more in-depth examination to the vet. (Susskind et al, 2015)
Third, no I don’t believe all professionals can be trusted to delegate their lesser job functions to non-professionals or admit their services could be handled in a more efficient manner.
While I hope most professionals are trustworthy and want to help people, it’s a fact that some are solely for the money, power, and prestige that goes along with their chosen profession. By association, doctors and lawyers are often depicted as being snobbish about their expertise and hoarding their knowledge from other people, especially lay people. (Susskind et al, 2015)
Fourth, no the grand bargain is not working. Perhaps in the past but now that technology has become so advanced, the foundation of the grand bargain is antiquated. Change is inevitable and people, both professional and non-professional, must adapt. However, not all change is good and I believe technology should ultimately enhance a profession not replace it. Human interaction will always be needed no matter how far advanced we become. (Susskind et al,
2015)
First, yes I agree there are more affordable and accessible ways of organizing professions and their work. The work of professionals has been overpriced for far too long. Seeking professional advice can be costly and often unattainable by the poor and middle class. People are left to fend for themselves and make do with the knowledge and skills they possess. An example would be the medical profession. Even with …show more content…
health insurance, the cost of medical procedures is so great that many people choose not to have them regardless of the benefit to their health. Those who can’t afford health insurance at all are even more susceptible to this problem. (Susskind et al, 2015) Second, yes non-professionals can do some of the work handled by professionals such as research and basic duties. In many professions, it is already being done. Some examples are paralegals, nurses, and vet assistants. Paralegals research and do the legwork for lawyers on cases that are going to trial. Nurses talk to patients and record their symptoms as well as perform basic examinations before the patient ever sees the doctor. Vet assistants, like nurses, speak with the caregiver, take and record all vital signs and perform a basic exam leaving the more in-depth examination to the vet. (Susskind et al, 2015)
Third, no I don’t believe all professionals can be trusted to delegate their lesser job functions to non-professionals or admit their services could be handled in a more efficient manner.
While I hope most professionals are trustworthy and want to help people, it’s a fact that some are solely for the money, power, and prestige that goes along with their chosen profession. By association, doctors and lawyers are often depicted as being snobbish about their expertise and hoarding their knowledge from other people, especially lay people. (Susskind et al, 2015)
Fourth, no the grand bargain is not working. Perhaps in the past but now that technology has become so advanced, the foundation of the grand bargain is antiquated. Change is inevitable and people, both professional and non-professional, must adapt. However, not all change is good and I believe technology should ultimately enhance a profession not replace it. Human interaction will always be needed no matter how far advanced we become. (Susskind et al,
2015)