Knowledge worker

Knowledge worker, a term coined by Peter Drucker in 1959, is one who works primarily with information or one who develops and uses knowledge in the workplace.

Management of knowledge workers

Knowledge workers are believed to produce more when empowered to make the most of their deepest skills; they can often work on many projects at the same time; they know how to allocate their time; and they can multiply the results of their efforts through soft factors such as emotional intelligence and trust (Francis Fukuyama, Manuel Castells). Organizations designed around the knowledge worker (instead of just machine capital) are thought to integrate the best of hierarchy, self-organization and networking rather than the worst. Each dictates a different communications and rewards system, and requires activation of knowledge-sharing and action learning. A basic pattern rule of human systems is that when you mix them you will get the worst of each unless you contextually and carefully attend to connecting the best.

Knowledge network of knowledge workers

Knowledge workers should be able to work in a favorite environment called knowledge network. Popper (1963) states there is always an increasing need for knowledge to growth and progress continually, whether tacit (Polanyi, 1976) or explicit. Knowledge grows like organisms, with data serving as foods to be assimilated rather than merely stored (Weiss, 1960). All knowledge workers, particularly R&D project managers, need to easy access, and be able, to search external knowledge bases as well as internally embedded organizational knowledge.

Toffler (1990) observed that a typical knowledge workers (i.e. all R&D scientists and engineers as well as technology managers in the age of knowledge economy and knowledge society, must have some system (processes or methodology at their disposal to create, process and enhance their own technological knowledge and in some cases also manage those of other co-workers.