Free Business Dissertations - 'the Workforce Of Modern Britain Is Primarily Composed Of Knowledge Workers'
'The workforce of modern Britain is primarily composed of knowledge workers'
All organisations are under increasing pressure to train and retain their workforce; this change has been forced by the knowledge economy These pressures are economic, to remain effective employees need to posses the skills so the organisation can attract and retain business. Training of employees is discussed as the last competitive edge that organisations can have. Efficient use of resources will increase the value of the business and therefore enhance the wealth of its Owner(s) (T Blackwood, 1995). Garrick (1998) discussed that learning is inextricably linked to market economics, that "knowledge is prized in so far as it can generate a market advantage(Garrick 1998:5).
The UK was the first country to industrialise and the first country to begin the process of de-industrialising. The development of the manufacturing industries in the UK was associated with the development of economic stability. From 1952 until 1966 national manufacturing employment grew just slightly slower than total employment. It peaked at 9,109,000 in 1961 reaching that level again in 1966. After 1966 manufacturing employment nationwide went into a nearly continuous decline, by 1989 manufacturing employment had fallen to 5,232,000, a 42% drop from the peak in 1966 (Keil, S. 1999).
In 1920, the ratio of manual workers to knowledge workers was 2:1, by 1980; the ratio was 1:2, White-collar" workers first outnumbered "Blue-collar" workers in 1956.
Nickols (2000) commented that the pace of the shift from manual work to knowledge work seems to be nearing steady state (Nickols (2000)) cited in Ramírez, Y and Nembhard 2004:6002). The impact that knowledge workers are having on the organisation’s economic, it is perceived as an important area of opportunity, which is now being included in organisational strategic plans. Drucker (1999) commented that this was a consequence of a broader shift from an industrial to a post-industrial society The increase is a natural progression in the changing format of work (Drucker. P. 1999).
The decline in manufacturing has led to an increase in service industries, which require highly trained workers to perform complex tasks. Once principally reliant on the productivity of manual workers, industry is increasingly dependant on the productivity of knowledge workers. The percentage of knowledge workers in the workforce has increased dramatically, as organisations have moved from manual production to a more automated and knowledge-driven, production. Knowledge workers are rapidly becoming the single largest group in the work force of every developed country (Drucker, P (1999) cited in Ramírez, Y and Nembhard 2004:602)
It should be noted that with the decline of manufacturing productivity of the individual has increased.
Dissertations - Free Business Dissertations
Having problems trying to find exactly what you want?
Why not try the Search Box to your right.
Did you know that we write Essays and Dissertations to your exact specification?
Our Guarantees are the best around...
Just take a look!
