Mark Dodgson

Professor of Innovation Studies, UQ School of Business – University of Queensland

Guest speaker

Play more!

What will work look like in the future?

There are many – from Stephen Hawking to Elon Musk – who fear that AI and automation will bring massive social disruption, with extensive deskilling and unemployment. The search is on for ways of working alongside these technologies that are productive and meaningful.

In this presentation, Mark Dodgson will explore how important ‘play’ is in creating exciting and purposeful work. Such play isn’t frivolous, but serious. It is through play that we experiment and learn whilst expressing freedom in our work and having fun at the same time. Mark will discuss cases of highly successful ‘playful entrepreneurs’; people who provide lessons on how to adapt and thrive in uncertain and ambiguous circumstances. The implication for individuals and organisations is simple: play more!

About Mark Dodgson

Mark Dodgson is a researcher, an author and an adviser to companies and governments on innovation. He is Professor of Innovation Studies at the University of Queensland Business School, Brisbane, and is a Visiting Professor at Imperial College London. Mark has been a Board member of two multi-billion dollar companies and five startups. At present, Mark is a Director of Behaviour Innovation Pty Ltd and Playfulwork Ltd. He has advised numerous companies and governments throughout Europe, Asia and North and South America, and has researched and taught innovation in over sixty countries.

Mark has written or edited sixteen books and over 100 academic articles and book chapters on innovation. His latest books are The Playful Entrepreneur: How to Adapt and Thrive in Uncertain Times (Yale University Press, 2018), and Innovation: A Very Short Introduction (Oxford University Press, 2018, 2nd Edition), both written with David Gann.