Knowledge Worker Infographic
Knowledge Workers
“knowledge worker,” defines these individuals as “high level employees who apply theoretical and analytical knowledge, acquired through formal education, to develop new products or services”.
Peter Drucker, 1995 book Managing in a Time of Great Change,
Knowledge workers are those who acquire, manipulate, interpret, and apply information in order to perform multidisciplinary, complex and unpredictable work. They analyze information and apply expertise in a variety of areas to solve problems, generate ideas, or create new products and services.
KNOWLEDGE WORKER CHARACTERISTICS
These persons must be able to find, access, recall, and apply information, interact well with others, and possess the ability and motivation to acquire and improve these skills.
Possessing Factual and Theoretical Knowledge.
Knowledge workers are conversant with specific factual and theoretical information.
Finding and Accessing Information.
Knowledge workers must therefore know how to independently identify and find such material.
Ability to Apply Information.
Knowledge workers use information to answer questions, solve problems, complete writing assignments, and generate ideas.
Communication Skills.
Knowledge work is characterized by close contact with customers, supervisors, subordinates, and teammates.
Motivation.
Knowledge workers must become and remain interested in finding information, memorizing that information, and applying it to their work.
Intellectual Capabilities.
Knowledge workers must have the intellectual capabilities to acquire the skills
The information society requires a highly qualified work-force.
The fact that traditional blue-collar workers cannot acquire easily the knowledge and skills needed to become knowledge workers will create a shortage of these types of workers.
HIRING AND RETAINING THE KNOWLEDGE WORKER
In order to hire and retain knowledge workers, employers may offer higher salaries, attractive work environments, and continuing educational opportunities.
IMPROVING KNOWLEDGE WORKER PRODUCTIVITY
THE WORKPLACE
Work-place arrangements range from traditional physical office space occupied by employees between the hours of 9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. each workday to virtual office space which can exist just about anywhere.
















