STEAL THIS IDEA
BY MARTY NEUMEIER
The Robot Curve
Ever wonder why your skills are constantly out of date? Why your company is always falling behind competitors? Why so many jobs and projects are being outsourced? The Robot Curve is a simple model of innovation that shows how new processes, businesses, and technologies continuously destroy old ones as they create new opportunities for wealth. Where are you on the curve?
LIQUIDAGENCY.COM | SOURCE: METASKILLS BY MARTY NEUMEIER
The Robot Curve is a constant waterfall of obsolescence and opportunity. At the top of the curve is creative work. Creative work is original or even unique, so the value and cost are relatively high.
LIQUIDAGENCY.COM | SOURCE: METASKILLS BY MARTY NEUMEIER
LIQUIDAGENCY.COM | SOURCE: METASKILLS BY MARTY NEUMEIER
CREATIVEWORK
THE ROBOT CURVE
UNIQUE
IMAGINATIVE
NON-ROUTINE
AUTONOMOUS
One step down is skilled work, including the work of professionals. Skilled work is creative work that has become so well understood that it can be codified and taught. The value and cost are somewhat lower, but still profitable for the providers.
LIQUIDAGENCY.COM | SOURCE: METASKILLS BY MARTY NEUMEIER
LIQUIDAGENCY.COM | SOURCE: METASKILLS BY MARTY NEUMEIER
CREATIVEWORK
SKILLED WORK
THE ROBOT CURVE
UNIQUE
IMAGINATIVE
NON-ROUTINE
AUTONOMOUSSTANDARDIZED
TALENT-DRIVEN
PROFESSIONAL
DIRECTED
As skilled work becomes standardized, or as technology can transform it, skilled work becomes rote work. Rote work is a program, process, or operation that can be outsourced or handed over to unskilled workers with a minimum of training. The cost and value are low quite low.
LIQUIDAGENCY.COM | SOURCE: METASKILLS BY MARTY NEUMEIER
LIQUIDAGENCY.COM | SOURCE: METASKILLS BY MARTY NEUMEIER
CREATIVEWORK
SKILLED WORK
ROTE WORK
THE ROBOT CURVE
UNIQUE
IMAGINATIVE
NON-ROUTINE
AUTONOMOUSSTANDARDIZED
TALENT-DRIVEN
PROFESSIONAL
DIRECTED
INTERCHANGEABLE
ROUTINIZED
OUTSOURCEABLE
MANAGED
Finally, skilled work turns into robotic work, allocated to machines, software, or actual robots. The cost and value plummet to the bottom, creating wealth for those who design and manage it. Eventually the work is made obsolete by newer processes, businesses, or technologies.
LIQUIDAGENCY.COM | SOURCE: METASKILLS BY MARTY NEUMEIER
LIQUIDAGENCY.COM | SOURCE: METASKILLS BY MARTY NEUMEIER
CREATIVEWORK
SKILLED WORK
ROTE WORK
ROBOTIC WORK
THE ROBOT CURVE
UNIQUE
IMAGINATIVE
NON-ROUTINE
AUTONOMOUSSTANDARDIZED
TALENT-DRIVEN
PROFESSIONAL
DIRECTED
INTERCHANGEABLE
ROUTINIZED
OUTSOURCEABLE
MANAGED
ALGORITHMIC
COMPUTERIZED
EFFICIENT
PURCHASED
How do you optimize for the Robot Curve? Two ways: 1) By keeping your skills or products moving toward the top of the curve, or 2) by designing or managing skills or products at the bottom of the curve.
LIQUIDAGENCY.COM | SOURCE: METASKILLS BY MARTY NEUMEIER
Find more Marty Neumeier ideas to steal at liquidagency.com/blog
LIQUIDAGENCY.COM | SOURCE: METASKILLS BY MARTY NEUMEIER