Free Business Dissertations - Dove (1998) Developed A Model Which Classified Knowledge Workers In Three
Dove (1998) developed a model which classified knowledge workers in three main groups (1) Creation of knowledge work, based on innovation. These workers are dependant on innovation to do their work; they create tools that will be used by other workers. (2) Portable knowledge work, based on wide, immediate utility, they possess knowledge that they can apply in a general manner. (3) Specialty knowledge work, based on narrow but high utility, these workers have a specific knowledge that is needed to perform a task, they are considered experts at what they do. All three classes can work in any combination to enhance each others role (Dove (1998) cited in Ramírez, Y and Nembhard 2004:610).
Knowledge differs from intellectual capital of the organisation, although it is a component part of it. Intellectual capital is often described as an intangible asset of the organisation, it consists of intellectual materials, knowledge, information, patents, and experience that when combined, contribute to organisational wealth. Fundamentally the organisation’s intellectual capital is how intelligent and enterprising it is in generating cash flows from its tangible assets. This is how organisation’s establish and maintain their competitive advantage (MacDougall, S. and Hurst, D. 2005)
Although it is frequently referred to as an asset of the firm, intellectual capital is quite different from the organisation's physical assets and can be considerably more valuable. Distinct from tangible assets, intellectual capital increases when it is shared, and has the ability to grow. A mass of knowledge tends to attract more knowledge workers, there by increasing the percentage of knowledge within the organisation (Carayannis and Alexander (1999 Cited in MacDougall, S. and Hurst, D. 2005).
It is very difficult to measure the productivity of knowledge workers, Drucker (1999) states the challenge today is not to increase manual worker's productivity but to measure and increase knowledge workers productivity. (Drucker, P.1999). The productivity of manual workers has been studied for almost a century, in 1911 Frederick Taylor published his work on scientific management, which intended to standardise work in order to improve productivity by doing the work in the most efficient manner (Taylor, F. (1911) cited in Ramírez, Y and Nembhard 2004:603).
These factors have moved organisations in the UK towards learning organisations. Dixon (1994) describes the essence of a learning organisation as the organization's ability to use the amazing mental capacity of all its members to create the kind of processes that will improve its own (Dixon 1994 cited in Wilson 1999). They are organisations where individuals constantly expand their capacity to create the results they truly desire.
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