J
Johnson Wong Voon Ping Corresponding Author
Published: 22/10/2026
Share:

Redesigning Work to Preserve Capability: A Practice Brief on Workplace Learning in Technology-Enabled Job Redesign

Keywords:workplace learningjob redesignorganisational capabilityagentic AIautomation

Technology-enabled work redesign can improve efficiency while unintentionally removing the work through which employees build judgement and procedural fluency. This article examines that risk through Singapore's Model AI Governance Framework for Agentic AI, recent evidence on AI-exposed work, and an anonymised Singapore SME consulting case involving automation of manual operations and finance data-entry activities. The case shows why technology adoption should be coupled with task analysis, role redesign and employee transition support. Building on the case and evidence, the brief introduces the CARE Model for capability-preserving work redesign: identify capability-critical tasks, make explicit allocation decisions between people and technology, retain or replace developmental exposure, and evaluate retained capability. The model positions workplace learning as part of automation and job-redesign architecture rather than a training response added after work has been removed.

Scroll to read the preview. Download for the complete document.

Bainbridge, L. (1983). Ironies of automation. Automatica, 19(6), 775-779. https://doi.org/10.1016/0005-1098(83)90046-8
Beane, M. (2019). Shadow learning: Building robotic surgical skill when approved means fail. Administrative Science Quarterly, 64(1), 87-123. https://doi.org/10.1177/0001839217751692
Billett, S. (2001). Learning through work: Workplace affordances and individual engagement. Journal of Workplace Learning, 13(5), 209-214. https://doi.org/10.1108/EUM0000000005548
Brynjolfsson, E., Chandar, B., & Chen, R. (2026). Canaries in the coal mine? Six facts about the recent employment effects of artificial intelligence (revised August 2026). Stanford Digital Economy Lab. https://digitaleconomy.stanford.edu/publication/canaries-in-the-coal-mine-six-facts-about-the-recent-employment-effects-of-artificial-intelligence/
Brynjolfsson, E., Li, D., & Raymond, L. R. (2025). Generative AI at work. The Quarterly Journal of Economics, 140(2), 889-942. https://doi.org/10.1093/qje/qjae044
Endsley, M. R., & Kiris, E. O. (1995). The out-of-the-loop performance problem and level of control in automation. Human Factors, 37(2), 381-394. https://doi.org/10.1518/001872095779064555
Eraut, M. (2004). Informal learning in the workplace. Studies in Continuing Education, 26(2), 247-273. https://doi.org/10.1080/158037042000225245
Infocomm Media Development Authority. (2026). Model AI governance framework for agentic AI (Version 1.5). Government of Singapore. https://www.imda.gov.sg/-/media/imda/files/about/emerging-tech-and-research/artificial-intelligence/mgf-for-agentic-ai.pdf
Lave, J., & Wenger, E. (1991). Situated learning: Legitimate peripheral participation. Cambridge University Press.
Parasuraman, R., & Manzey, D. H. (2010). Complacency and bias in human use of automation: An attentional integration. Human Factors, 52(3), 381-410. https://doi.org/10.1177/0018720810376055
Parker, S. K., & Grote, G. (2022). Automation, algorithms, and beyond: Why work design matters more than ever in a digital world. Applied Psychology, 71(4), 1171-1204. https://doi.org/10.1111/apps.12241
Skills and Workforce Development Agency. (2026). SkillsFuture Workforce Development Grant Job Redesign Plus. https://www.swda.gov.sg/home/employers-industry-partners/workforce-skills-development/wdg-jr
World Economic Forum. (2025). The future of jobs report 2025. https://www.weforum.org/publications/the-future-of-jobs-report-2025/
J
Johnson Wong Voon Ping Corresponding Author

Affiliation

J&M Integrals Pte Ltd


Organization

J&M Integrals Pte Ltd

Country

Singapore

1
Downloads
28
Views

Metrics are updated in real time as the article is accessed and downloaded.

Comments

Leave a Comment

Share this Article

Back to Publications
Scroll to Top