Impact of automation and artificial intelligence on the future of work: a strategic perspectiveImpact of automation and artificial intelligence on the future of work: a strategic perspective Μεταπτυχιακή Διατριβή Master Thesis 2025-07-242025enThis dissertation is organized into four core chapters, followed by references and appendices. Each chapter is structured to progressively build the theoretical foundation, outline the methodological approach, analyze the empirical data, and synthesize conclusions relevant to the strategic impact of automation and artificial intelligence (AI) on the future of work. Chapter 1: Literature Review This chapter presents a comprehensive review of the academic literature and theoretical frameworks underpinning the study. It begins by examining the evolution and classification of AI and automation technologies and explores their application across strategic business functions. It further addresses labor market transformations, ethical and regulatory challenges, and sector-specific impacts of technological adoption. The review culminates with a discussion of the strategic imperatives for organizations navigating the AI-driven future of work. Chapter 2: Research Methodology This chapter outlines the philosophical and methodological foundations of the research. It details the study's positivist paradigm, quantitative approach, and cross-sectional, explanatory design. The chapter also presents the process of questionnaire development and pretesting, describes the data collection procedures, elaborates on sampling strategies, and explains the statistical methods used for data analysis. Reliability and validity assessments, as well as ethical considerations, are also addressed comprehensively. Chapter 3: Results and Findings This chapter presents the empirical results derived from the quantitative data. It begins with a demographic profile of the respondents and then presents findings across five thematic dimensions: AI and automation in security and ethics, organizational sustainability, social and ethical impacts, strategic integration, and implications for human resources and the future of work. Data are analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, and the results are interpreted in relation to the research objectives. Chapter 4: Summary and Conclusion The final chapter summarizes the main conclusions of the study and discusses their managerial, theoretical, and policy implications. It also reflects on the limitations of the research and proposes directions for future studies, particularly in the context of strategic workforce planning and AI implementation. The dissertation concludes with a bibliographic reference list and an appendix section, which includes the full research questionnaire and its thematic sections. Keywords: Automation, Artificial Intelligence, Future of Work, Strategic Management, Ethics, Human Resources, Economic Development, Reskilling, Upskilling Master’s Thesis submitted in the context of the Master’s Degree in Technology and Innovation Management (MTIM) of the Interdepartmental Postgraduate Program of the School of Production Engineering and Management in collaboration with the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering.http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/Πολυτεχνείο Κρήτης::Σχολή Μηχανικών Παραγωγής και ΔιοίκησηςKali_Sofia_MSc_2025.pdfChania [Greece]Library of TUC2025-07-24application/pdf1.3 MBfree Σοφία Κάλη Sofia Kali Moustakis Vasilis Μουστακης Βασιλης Tsafarakis Stelios Τσαφαρακης Στελιος Zopounidis Konstantinos Ζοπουνιδης Κωνσταντινος Πολυτεχνείο Κρήτης Technical University of Crete AI Automation Strategic perspective Master in Technology & Innovation Management