Who isn't a knowledge worker?
Jeremy Aarons of Dubbings and Diversions asks a familiar question, Who isn't a knowledge worker?
The point I’m making is that although we may seem to have a strong intuitive idea of what knowledge work consists of, it really isn’t clear what sort of work isn’t knowledge work. Maybe this isn’t a serious problem, but I think that it at least shows that our intuitions about knowledge work are actually not all that clear.
For example, ponder this question: Are robots knowledge workers or not?[he also has done some research on Who is a knowledge worker?]
Depending on how you want to define knowledge work, just about anything has knowledge components embedded in it. Even traditional "manual" labor has some knowledge components, though we usually think of things like assembly line and repetitive work as being none-too-deep.
How important is this distinction, I wonder? I am thinking that it is important to highlight the function the person performs. I'll be high-knowledge roles perform rote tasks that aren't so k-intensive. It is when one is doing knowledge work that they need the support: from their management, their environment, and even from themselves.
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Even thought I previously announced that my blog experiment has failed, it seems that I’m getting back into it. Of course, making connections, being read, and getting feedback has helped enourmously, which is why I must thank Jack Vinson for giv... Read More
Love this, from Jeremy Aarons [via Jack]"Ponder this question: Are robots knowledge workers or not?"I'd say yes. They do knowledge work, albeit at a slightly process-oriented level.... Read More
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Hi there Jack - it is nice to know that someone is reading my blog (and has followed it to the new domain). You have certainly touched on my main point, that the question of whether someone is a knowledge worker or not is not really important. And you are correct: just about anything has knowledge components embedded in it. I guess what I'm saying is that instead of being preoccupied with 'managing' knowledge per se, our focus should be on what aspects of someone's job/task/activity/work can be improved through appropriate support. Importantly, some of this support may be directed to aspects that are NOT knowledge work.
I'll try reflect more about this in my next blog post at http://jpaarons.net