Chunking makes our brains more efficient. The more you can chunk something, the faster and easier you can process it. Wayne Gretzky had chunked hockey like no one before or since. Talented people have supremely chunked whatever they become talented at doing.
Keven Maney – Columnist & Designer
Project work is popular because it can be taskified, specifically chunked, managed, and controlled into small units. Why? Project management is great for mitigating schedule (time) risk, cost (money) risk, and quality (satisfied customers) risk.
VUCAN projects and programs are chopped up into mini projects and even tasks. This happened in software development, engineering, construction, automotive design, and manufacturing. For example, an automobile can be chunked into assembly, sub-assembly, component, and part projects. Then, software can be integrated into each level of the automobile. Each level of the automotive hierarchy can be project managed.
This is the basis of lean startups. Agile project management is based on the idea that work in a startup can be broken down into smaller chunks and even these chunks can be broken down into sub chunks. Each chunk is project managed so that the larger project can be finished on time, on budget, and within scope.
Much in the same way, complex process work (inner ring) can be broken down into components. For example, software development may have architects, designers, coders, QC testers, and project managers.
What does this projectized future hold for VUCANs? Workers completing the work order are self-managing professionals and among the best in their fields. They do the work economically, effectively, and efficiently. Their output in performance may even be better than the specialized worker. And in a global and virtual work world, they can do this work almost anywhere in the world.
Work Lesson Earned: Here’s the work challenge. Bite-sized work can be parceled out to low-paid workers throughout the world. They can bid for the work, but can be a race to the bottom since work goes to the low bidder. Who will be the winners and losers is the VUCA economy? Many of the winners will be tech savvy VUCANs who want to learn new topics just-in-time. The losers may be lower-level workers who require a minimum wage just to sustain themselves.