What Are Knowledge Workers?

Knowledge workers have two meanings: one refers to practitioners in the knowledge industry; the other refers to knowledge workers working in traditional industries. In the knowledge economy, the nature of the work of knowledge workers has changed. Their jobs are no longer repetitive tasks that people already know how to do, but need to tap opportunities and problems, and effectively use opportunities and solve them. Problem of work. Knowledge workers must not only have relevant knowledge, but also be able to apply knowledge to work tasks and further innovate knowledge in the work; not only must master today's knowledge, but also have the ability to learn useful knowledge for the future. ^[1]

Knowledge worker

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Knowledge workers have two meanings: one refers to practitioners in the knowledge industry; the other refers to knowledge workers working in traditional industries. In the knowledge economy, the nature of the work of knowledge workers has changed. Their jobs are no longer repetitive tasks that people already know how to do, but need to tap opportunities and problems, and effectively use opportunities and solve them. Problem of work. Knowledge workers must not only have relevant knowledge, but also be able to apply knowledge to work tasks and further innovate knowledge in the work; not only must master today's knowledge, but also have the ability to learn useful knowledge for the future. ^[1]

On the one hand, knowledge workers can make full use of modern science and technology to improve work efficiency, and on the other hand, knowledge workers themselves have a strong ability to learn and innovate. Knowledge innovation is the main characteristic of knowledge workers. In addition, the work of knowledge employees is mainly a thinking activity, and the update and development of knowledge often adapts to changes in environmental conditions and has great flexibility. Therefore, knowledge workers have the characteristics of knowledge, creativity and flexibility.

The biggest difference between knowledge workers and other workers is that they have "knowledge expertise". And this kind of knowledge expertise is recognized by the society, such as scientists and engineers, their titles are granted by social authority, so knowledge workers are often not too worried about the issue of identification in a small area or project group;

The thinking of knowledge workers and other workers in the project operation process is also significantly different. Knowledge workers' judgments on project things are often "professional judgments". Such judgments require project managers to give them considerable respect and trust. On the other hand, it is difficult to understand the "project political environment" of the project leader (manager), which causes some conflicts;

The main difference between knowledge workers and other project workers is independent operation. During the implementation of science and technology projects, knowledge workers often think and operate independently in the execution of their own work. The relationship between other knowledge workers' work is the "interface" relationship, and the "interface" is the problem that the project leader (manager) must solve. They hope to be valued and affirmed in the "independent operation" section. Therefore, organizational guarantees must be given to the nature of their work, which is one of the reasons why matrix organizations are popular in science and technology project organizations. On the other hand, due to the disadvantages of independent operation, it is difficult for the knowledge workers of the project team to communicate with each other. The lack of communication between knowledge workers in scientific and technological projects is obviously catastrophic for the success of the project. Therefore, the technology project leader (manager) must use appropriate tools and techniques to solve this problem.

Knowledge workers often pay special attention to strength. The characteristic of these people is that it is difficult to work willingly under the responsibility of a technology project leader (manager) who is inferior to their professional knowledge. Communication with them and management of them often become The head of the technology project (manager) feels a headache. This also requires finding tools and methods with universal significance to mitigate such conflicts in project operations.

Knowledge workers' "care for their own future and perception of fairness" are much stronger than other workers. In the operation of science and technology projects, providing reasonable treatment (including incentives) and corresponding working conditions for knowledge workers has become the main regular work of the science and technology project leader (manager).